Battery Brannan

Battery Brannan (1899-1943) - Battery John Brannan is a concrete Endicott Period Battery located on Fort Worden, Washington. Named for Brevet Maj. General John M. Brannan who served in the Mexican War and the U.S. Civil War. The Battery was begun in 1899, completed in 1901 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 16 Jun 1902 at a total cost of $81,051.06. The mortars were dismounted in 1942 during World War II.

Battery Brannan Mortar Pit A Panorama

Battery Brannan Mortar Pit B Panorama

Battery Brannan History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound.

Designed to protect both the Straight of Juan De Fuca and the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound. Originally built with eight 12" M1890 MI mortars on M1896 MI carriages in a concrete battery with two mortar pits. Each of the mortars was capable of firing a seven hundred pound shell nine miles and proved accurate enough to hit a moving practice target seven miles away in 1913.

In May 1918 two mortars were removed from each pit leaving two mortars remaining in each pit. The mortars were removed because it proved difficult to load and fire four large mortars simultaneously and there was a requirement for mortars in the World War I European theater. Even with the removal of two mortars from each pit the rate of fire did not significantly drop.

The mortars were prepared for shipment and transported on U.S. Barge #5 towed by the U.S. Steamer Wilson to Seattle with the intent of shipping them to the war zone in Europe. This shipment arrived in Seattle on 30 May 1918 with sixteen 12" mortars, two mortars from each mortar pit of the following batteries:

• Battery Brannan, Fort Worden, 4 Total
• Battery Powell (1), Fort Worden, 4 Total
• Battery Seymour, Fort Casey (1), 4 Total
• Battery Bankhead, Fort Flagler, 4 Total

The four remaining mortars were removed in 1942, during World War II.

Battery Brannan Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
A-1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		51	Builders	Mortar 1896MI, 259, Rarig	1902-1944	See Note 1
A-2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		50	Builders	Mortar 1896MI, 258, Rarig	1902-1918	See Note 2
A-3	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		54	Watervliet	Mortar 1896MI, 256, Rarig	1902-1944	Changed to A-2 See Note 1
A-4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		32	Watervliet	Mortar 1896MI, 257, Rarig	1902-1918	See Note 2
B-1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		49	Builders	Mortar 1896MI, 255, Rarig	1902-1944	See Note 1
B-2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		24	Niles	Mortar 1896MI, 254, Rarig	1902-1918	See Note 2
B-3	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		21	Niles	Mortar 1896MI, 252, Rarig	1902-1944	Changed to B-2 See Note 1
B-4	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		56	Watervliet	Mortar 1896MI, 253, Rarig	1902-1918	See Note 2
Source: RCW Form 1, Sep 1927, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-145 Note 1: Guns and Carriages Ordered Salvaged 9 Mar 1944, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Guns Sent from Fort Worden to Morgan 24 May 1918, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Brannan Plan

Current Status

Part of the Fort Worden State Park Conference Center. The Battery is accessible to the public and the rooms are clean and dry but empty. No guns or carriages are in place.

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Location: Artillery Hill, Fort Worden State Park Conference Center, Port Townsend, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 48.138893 Long: -122.768537 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 239'

Sources:

• Seacoast Defense Photos - Great Photos!
• Fort Worden Guide, The Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum, 2005, page 20-21
• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
• Washington State Digital Archives

Links:

Visited: 17 Jun 2009, 19 Jul 2008

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