Battery Call

Battery Call (1916-1921) - Battery Loren D. Call was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 5 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Miley, San Francisco County, California. The battery was named after 1st Lt. Loren D. Call, CAC, who was killed in a plane crash at Texas City, TX on 9 Jul 1913. Battery construction started in December 1914, was completed 1916 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 13 Jun 1916 at a cost of $ 3,719.97. Deactivated in 1921.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 5" M1900 guns mounted on M1903 Barbette carriages from Battery Ledyard, Fort McDowell. This was a single story battery with no magazines or galleries. No shell or powder hoists were needed or provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in Battery Chester.

Battery Call Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	5" Rifle	258.5"	M1900		1	Watervliet	Barbette Pedestal, M1903, #14, Morgan	1915-1921	See note 1
2	5" Rifle	258.5"	M1900		7	Watervliet	Barbette Pedestal, M1903, #15, Morgan	1915-1921	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 90-91, 215 Note 1: Guns & Carriages from Battery Ledyard, Fort McDowell (1) in 1915. Guns transferred to Watervliet 10 Feb 1921, carriages ordered scrapped 13 Dec 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Call Plan

World War I (1917-1918)

The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Call were not affected by the World War I redistribution but were removed in the following 1920 disarmament program. The guns transferred to Watervliet 10 Feb 1921 and the carriages were ordered scrapped 13 Dec 1920.

Current Status

The Battery was destroyed when the VA Hospital was built, no period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Miley, San Francisco County, California. Map point is approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 37.781862 Long: -122.507043 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 334.2'

Sources:

Links:

• California Military Museum - Battery Call
• CDSG

Visited: 23 Aug 2009

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