Battery 134

Battery 134 (1944-NC) - Battery 134 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 16 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Emory, San Diego County, California. The battery was unofficially named Battery Gatchell. Battery construction started on 27 Mar 1943, was completed on 21 Feb 1944 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 11 Nov 1944 at a cost of $ 1,044,907.29. This battery was completed and transferred unfinished in a curtailed status. Never completed and never armed.

World War II (1941-1945)

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Diego.

Originally built as an World War II reinforced concrete coastal gun battery with two Casemated 16" guns mounted on Barbette (CBC) carriages. This was a single story battery with the casemated guns located between and on the same level as a central magazine. Shells were moved from the central magazine through connecting corridors to the gun loading platform by overhead rail system. Electrical power was to be furnished by an emplacement power plant and commercial power.

A separate reinforced concrete Plotting and Switchboard Room (PSR) was located to the rear of the battery. The PSR was transferred for service on 25 Apr 1944 at a cost of $ 121,348.15. The PSR, the casemated guns and the connecting central magazine were all earth covered and camouflaged.

Battery 134 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	16" Rifle	?"	Unk		?	Unk	Casemated Barbette (CBC), Unk, # ?, Unk	Not armed	See note 1
2	16" Rifle	?"	Unk		?	Unk	Casemated Barbette (CBC), Unk, # ?, Unk	Not armed	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 7 Dec 1944, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 176-177 Note 1: No guns or carriages designated or supplied. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery 134 Plan

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Emory, San Diego County, California Maps & Images Lat: 32.601776 Long: -117.129721 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of San Diego, (HDSD-AN-45), 1 Jul 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: No

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