Battery 240

Battery 240 (1942-195?) - A World War II era Battery built in 1942-43 as a reinforced concrete Coastal Artillery Battery on Fort MacArthur. The Battery was turned over for service in 1943 at a cost of $219,000. Renamed Battery Barnes after Col. Harry C. Barnes in early 1948. Decommissioned late in 1948.

Battery 240 History

Part of the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles.

Battery 240 was a battery of two, 6" rapid fire Barbette mounted guns on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure.

Proof fired 25 Oct 1943.

Decommissioned in 1948.

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 240 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	302.9"	M1903	A2	63	Watervliet	Barbette, M1, #105, Wellman	1943-1948
2	6" Rifle	302.9"	M1903	A2	64	Watervliet	Barbette, M1, #106, Wellman	1943-1948
Source: Coast Defense Study Group Note:Serial numbers may not be in the correct gun emplacement

Battery 240 Plan

Current Status

Active military facility. No period guns or carriages in place.

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Location: Fort MacArthur, California Maps & Images Lat: 33.744684 Long: -118.406741 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: '

Sources:

• Fort MacArthur Museum, Battery Barnes #240
• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums

Links:

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

Visited:

Battery 240 Picture Gallery

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