Battery Putnam

Battery Putnam (1899-1943) - Battery Haldimand Putnam is a concrete Endicott Period Battery located on Fort Worden, Washington. Named for Col. Haldimand S. Putnam who was killed while leading a charge on the parapet of Fort Wagner in July, 1863 during the U.S. Civil War. The Battery was begun in Jun 1903, completed in 1906 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 21 May 1907 at a total cost of $12,000. The guns were removed in 1946 after World War II.

Battery Putnam Rear View

Battery Putnam Gun position #1

Battery Putnam History

Designed to protect the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound from small fast boats and secondarily to provide anti-aircraft protection.

Battery Putnam is a small concrete battery housing two 3" M1903 rapid fire guns on M1903 pedestal mounts separated by a three room support facility. Each gun position had a separated magazine in the support facility and a storeroom separated the magazines. Battery Putnam was in service until the end of World War II in 1945. In 1946 the gun carriages were sold for scrap and the gun-tubes were put into storage for use as spares at Battery Walker (2). The rapid fire 3" guns could fire a 15 pound shell about 6 miles.

Battery Putnam Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	3" Rifle	154.5"	M1903		23	Watervliet	Pedestal, M1903, #14, Watertown	1907-1946	See Note 1
2	3" Rifle	154.5"	M1903		24	Watervliet	Pedestal, M1903, #15, Watertown	1907-1946	See Note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, Apr 1932, 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 74-75, 217 Note 1: Guns and carriages declared obsolete 18 Oct 1945 and processed for salvage 7 Mar 1946. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Current Status

Part of the Fort Worden State Park Conference Center. The Battery is accessible to the public but all three of the battery room doors were locked or welded shut. No guns or carriages are in place.

The mooning scene in the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" was photographed from Battery Putnam.

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Location: Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, Port Townsend, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 48.135564 Long: -122.763569 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 97'

Sources:

• Seacoast Defense Photos
• Fort Worden Guide, The Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum, 2005, page 19

Links:

Visited: 19 Jul 2008

Battery Putnam Picture Gallery

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  Battery Putnam Gun Position #2