Battery Mishler

Battery Mishler (1900-1941) - Battery Lyman Mishler was built at Fort Stevens between Aug 1898 and Jun 1900 and was transferred for service 28 Jun 1900. Battery Mishler was named for Bvt. Capt. Lyman Mishler who was killed in action 21 Feb 1862 at Valverde NM during the U.S. Civil War.

Entrance to Battery Mishler 18 May 2008

Battery Mishler Plan

Battery Mishler History

A concrete Endicott Period battery facing the mouth of the Columbia River with 2, 10" rifles on disappearing carriages. The battery was unusual in that had two 360 degree emplacements that allowed full coverage of the area.

Legend has it that one of the early firings of one of these rifles killed six of the crew. The problem was that the guns were surrounded by thick walls on all sides in the circular gun pits. This would create a concussion effect when the gun was fired. If crew members did not protect themselves from the concussion effect by jumping and saying "ahh" when firing the gun, they could suffer major internal injuries and shattered bones.

There was a casualty at Battery Mishler. One of the gun crew did not make it fast enough to the enclaves in the wall when the gun was fired. The recoil of the gun hit the crew member and killed him. This was the only confirmed military causality at Fort Stevens.

At the beginning of World War II in 1941 the emplacements and the rifles were covered with sand and the control structure below was pressed into service as a center for controlling the defense of the Columbia river entrance. After the war in 1946-47 the sand was removed and the rifles and carriages scrapped. A concrete roof that still exists was built over the two emplacements.

AN/CPS-5D Radar set antenna and tower on concrete roof of Battery Mishler circa 1950-52 (photo from USAF HQ/NORAD Historian) Note the West Battery Control Station in the background

In Sep 1950, just after the start of the Korean War, the Air Force established Fort Stevens Air Force Station (759th AC&W) on the Fort Steven post. The Air Force Station provided long range radar surveillance using CPS-5D and TPS-1B radar sets mounted on concrete roof of Battery Mishler. The unit headquarters was located in the "Guard House" and control structure of Battery Mishler served as the operations and maintenance center for the squadron.

Fort Stevens Air Force Station moved to Naselle AFS in Washington Feb 1952.

This is the only example of this type of battery left in the world. Battery Heileman at Fort San Jacinto had one ARF but the battery was destroyed to make way for a hotel.

Battery Mishler Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	10" Rifle	367.25"	M1888MII		33	Bethlehem	Disappearing Carriage A.R.F., M1896, #2, Watertown	1900-1941
2	10" Rifle	367.25"	M1888MII		32	Bethlehem	Disappearing Carriage A.R.F., M1896, #3, Watertown	1900-1941
Source: Coast Defense Study Group

Current Status

The Battery is in poor condition and not accessible to the general public except by guided tour.

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Location: On Fort Stevens, Oregon Maps & Images Lat: 46.207202 Long: -123.970494 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 34'

Sources:

• Coastal Defense Study Group

Links:

Visited: 22 Aug 2008, 18 May 2008

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