Battery 234

Battery 234 (1944-1947) - Battery 234 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Florida. Battery construction started 16 Jan 1943, was completed 1 Jul 1943 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 5 Jun 1944 at a cost of $ 212,482.42. Never armed. Deactivated in 1947.

Battery 234 Gun #1	Battery 234 Gun #2
Battery 234 Front View with Both Guns and the Fire Control Tower in View

Battery 234 History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola.

World War II

Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery for two 6" rapid fire guns mounted on M4 carriages placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. A steel and concrete fire control tower was constructed behind the battery. The gun tubes were never delivered and the battery was never armed.

6" Gun at Fort Columbia Originally at Fort McAndrew, Battery 281, Argentia, NL, Canada

These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945). The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

6" Gun Crew

Battery 234 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	?"	?		?	?	Shielded Barbette, M4, #61, Watertown	1944-1947	See note 1
2	6" Rifle	?"	?		?	?	Shielded Barbette, M4, #62, Watertown	1944-1947	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, Jun 1944, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 104-105, 212 Note 1: Carriages transferred from Watertown Nov 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery 234 Plan

Current Status

Two guns were installed in 1976 from Fort John Custis as display pieces.

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Location: Fort Pickens, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 30.321082 Long: -87.284894 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 19.02'

Sources:

• Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library

Links:

Visited: 15-16 Dec 2009

Battery 234 Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  Battery 234 Fire Control Tower
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  Battery 234 Gun #1 Entrance
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  Battery 234 Gun #2 Entrance
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  Battery 234 Interior Corridor