Battery Russell: Difference between revisions
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== {{PAGENAME}} History == | == {{PAGENAME}} History == | ||
A concrete [[:Category:Endicott Period Batteries|Endicott Period]] battery facing the Pacific Ocean with two, 10" M1900 rifles on M1901 disappearing carriages completed in 1904. The gun carriages were installed and in place in Dec 1905 but the two 10" rifles did not reach [[Fort Stevens]] until 20 Sep 1907. The 30 ton gun barrels were transported to the Battery by rail cars and mounted by artillery troops in Nov 1907. | A concrete [[:Category:Endicott Period Batteries|Endicott Period]] battery facing the Pacific Ocean with two, 10" M1900 rifles on M1901 disappearing carriages completed in 1904. The gun carriages were installed and in place in Dec 1905 but the two 10" rifles did not reach [[Fort Stevens]] until 20 Sep 1907. The 30 ton gun barrels were transported to the Battery by rail cars and mounted by artillery troops in Nov 1907. Originally, the planners wanted the battery to have 12" rifles because they thought that with the battery facing the Pacific Ocean, it would of been wiser for the battery to have greater range. But the battery was already under construction, and it was already too late to make the change. | ||
Battery Russell supplemented the fire of [[Battery Mishler]] and when that Battery was inactivated in 1918, Battery Russell was used as a practice battery for regular and National Guard artillery units. It was slated to be replaced by eight 12" mortars mounted on railway carriages as [[World War II]] approached. At the onset of World War II the mortars were shipped elsewhere and Battery Russell was activated from 31 Jul 1941 to 29 Dec 1944. The decision to deactivate Battery Russell was made after the completion of [[Battery 245]] just west of the deactivated [[Battery Mishler]]. | Battery Russell supplemented the fire of [[Battery Mishler]] and when that Battery was inactivated in 1918, Battery Russell was used as a practice battery for regular and National Guard artillery units. It was slated to be replaced by eight 12" mortars mounted on railway carriages as [[World War II]] approached. At the onset of World War II the mortars were shipped elsewhere and Battery Russell was activated from 31 Jul 1941 to 29 Dec 1944. The decision to deactivate Battery Russell was made after the completion of [[Battery 245]] just west of the deactivated [[Battery Mishler]]. | ||
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[[Image:Fort Stevens Battery Russell Plan.jpg|left|thumb|795px|Battery Russell Plan]] | [[Image:Fort Stevens Battery Russell Plan.jpg|left|thumb|795px|Battery Russell Plan]] | ||
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== Current Status == | == Current Status == | ||
In good condition and open to the public. No guns or carriages in place. | In good condition and open to the public. No guns or carriages in place. | ||
Revision as of 21:11, 15 June 2009
Battery Russell (1904-1944) - Battery Russell was built at Fort Stevens between Mar 1903 and Aug 1904 and was transferred for service 12 Aug 1904 at a cost of $125,000. Battery Russell was named for Bvt. Maj. Gen. David A. Russell who was killed in action 19 Sep 1864 at Opequan, VA during the U.S. Civil War(earlier in his career he served as commander of Fort Yamhill). Deactivated 29 Dec 1944 upon completion of Battery 245.
Battery Russell History
A concrete Endicott Period battery facing the Pacific Ocean with two, 10" M1900 rifles on M1901 disappearing carriages completed in 1904. The gun carriages were installed and in place in Dec 1905 but the two 10" rifles did not reach Fort Stevens until 20 Sep 1907. The 30 ton gun barrels were transported to the Battery by rail cars and mounted by artillery troops in Nov 1907. Originally, the planners wanted the battery to have 12" rifles because they thought that with the battery facing the Pacific Ocean, it would of been wiser for the battery to have greater range. But the battery was already under construction, and it was already too late to make the change.
Battery Russell supplemented the fire of Battery Mishler and when that Battery was inactivated in 1918, Battery Russell was used as a practice battery for regular and National Guard artillery units. It was slated to be replaced by eight 12" mortars mounted on railway carriages as World War II approached. At the onset of World War II the mortars were shipped elsewhere and Battery Russell was activated from 31 Jul 1941 to 29 Dec 1944. The decision to deactivate Battery Russell was made after the completion of Battery 245 just west of the deactivated Battery Mishler.
Fort Stevens and Battery Russell had the distinction of being the only stateside installation attacked by enemy forces since the war of 1812 when a Japanese submarine I-25 fired 17 shells close to Battery Russell. The Battery did not return the fire because the submarine was out of range of its older guns. The submarine left without inflicting any damage.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10" Rifle | 35' | M1900 | 11 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1901, #4, Watertown | 1907-1944 | ||
| 2 | 10" Rifle | 35' | M1900 | 4 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1901, #5, Watertown | 1907-1944 | ||
| Source: CDSG | |||||||||
Current Status
In good condition and open to the public. No guns or carriages in place.
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{"selectable":false,"width":"500"} |
Location: On Fort Stevens, Oregon Maps & Images Lat: 46.192502 Long: -123.975348 |
Sources:
- Hanft, Marshall, Fort Stevens: Oregon's defender at the river of the West, Your Town Press, 1980, page 213-226
- Coastal Defense Study Group
- Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
Links:
Visited: 18 May 2008
Battery Russell Picture Gallery
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Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! |
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Battery Russell Gun -
Gun Emplacement -
Upper Deck and Gun Emplacement -
Gun Emplacement from Above -
Control Post -
Control Post Interior -
Officers Room -
Lower Walkway -
Interior Room -
Interior Rooms & Stairs to Gun Emplacement -
Interior Room
