Battery Howe (1)

Battery Howe (1) (1893-1920) - Battery Howe is a concrete Endicott Period 12" mortar battery located on Fort Winfield Scott, California. Named after Col. Albion P. Howe, 4th U.S. Artillery, who served in the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War. The Battery was begun in 1893, completed in 1895 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 1 Jun 1900 at a total cost of $144,247.15. All mortars were removed by 1920, possibly in 1918 during World War I.

Battery Howe Mortars

Battery Howe Mortar Pit B

Battery Howe (1) History

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.

Originally built with sixteen 12" M1886 and M1886M rifled mortars on M1891 mortar carriages in a concrete battery with four mortar pits (A-D). In 1902 mortar pits C and D were renamed Battery Wagner and pits A and B retained the Battery Howe name.

Each of the mortars was capable of firing a seven hundred pound shell eight miles.

Battery Howe Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
A-1	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		43	Builders	Mortar M1891, 22, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
A-2	12" Mortar	129"	M1886		29	Builders	Mortar M1891, 26, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
A-3	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		38	Builders	Mortar M1891, 21, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
A-4	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		39	Builders	Mortar M1891, 23, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
B-1	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		47	Builders	Mortar M1891, 51, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
B-2	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		46	Builders	Mortar M1891, 40, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
B-3	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		44	Builders	Mortar M1891, 45, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
B-4	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		35	Builders	Mortar M1891, 47, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1
C-1	12" Mortar	129"	M1886		8	Builders	Mortar M1891, 34, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
C-2	12" Mortar	129"	M1886		6	Builders	Mortar M1891, 32, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
C-3	12" Mortar	129"	M1886		7	Builders	Mortar M1891, 33, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
C-4	12" Mortar	129"	M1886		5	Builders	Mortar M1891, 31, Builders	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
D-1	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		40	Builders	Mortar M1891, 51, Robert Poole	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
D-2	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		42	Builders	Mortar M1891, 40, Robert Poole	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
D-3	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		36	Builders	Mortar M1891, 45, Robert Poole	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
D-4	12" Mortar	129"	M1886M		53	Builders	Mortar M1891, 47, Robert Poole	1900-1920	See note 1 & 2
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, RCB 31 Dec 1903, RCB 31 Dec 1909, CDSG Note 1: Mortars and carriages were ordered scrapped in accordance with Ordnance Dept. Instructions, 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Re-designated part of Battery Wagner (1) 1906. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Howe Plan 1920

Current Status

No guns or carriages are in place. Only mortar pit A is visible today the other three are buried.

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Location: Fort Winfield Scott, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.802222 Long: -122.471944 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 181'

Sources:

• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
• Angelfire
• California Military Museum
• National Park Service

Links:

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