Battery Quarles

Battery Quarles (1902-1941) - Battery Quarles was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 10 inch gun battery on Fort Worden, Washington. The Battery was named after Capt. Augustus Quarles who was killed August 30, 1847 at the Battle of Churubusco, Mexico. Battery construction started in 1898, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 16 Jun 1902. Deactivated in 1941.

Battery Quarles, Gun Emplacement #1, 180 degree Panorama

Battery Quarles, Gun Emplacement #2, 180 degree Panorama

Battery Quarles, Gun Emplacement #3, 180 degree Panorama

Battery Quarles History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound.

As originally built, Battery Quarles, Battery Randol and Battery Ash were a part of a larger seven gun unnamed battery that contained five 10" and two 12" guns, all in Barbette carriages. This was the original "main gun line" located on the top of Artillery Hill. These batteries were all accepted for service on 16 Jun 1902 shortly after the Fort was first garrisoned. The total cost for the three batteries came to $ 232,554.97 (not including guns and carriages).

The batteries were all named in 1904. In 1909 a significant structural upgrade was undertaken on the main gun line. The original 4-2-1 configuration of four 10" guns, two 12" guns and one 10" gun had been changed by swapping the last 10" gun with the first 12" gun to produce a 5-2 configuration. The final configuration had the emplacements as Battery Randol with two 10" guns, Battery Quarles next with three 10" guns and Battery Ash last with two 12" guns. The cost of modifications to the three batteries had reached $50,215.00 by the end of 1909.

Battery Benson was added to the "main gun line" located on the top of Artillery Hill in 1908 with two more 10" guns. These guns were more modern and had disappearing carriages not the Barbette mounts of the initial emplacements. The addition of Battery Benson (and several other batteries) improved coverage of the Straight of Juan de Fuca to the North and West.

Original Main Gun Line Emplacements a/o 10 Oct 1903

Emp1	Emp2	Emp3	Emp4	Emp5	Emp6	Emp7
10" M1888MII #39	10" M1888MII #6	10" M1888MII #36	10" M1888MII #37	12" M1888MII #10	12" M1888MII #9	10" M1888 #11
Source: Puget Sound RCB dtd 10 Oct 1903, CDSG Digital Library

Modified Main Gun Line Emplacements a/o 31 Dec 1909

Battery Randol		Battery Quarles			Battery Ash
Emp1	Emp2	Emp1	Emp2	Emp3	Emp1	Emp2
10" M1888MII #39	10" M1888MII #6	10" M1888MII #36	10" M1888MII #37	10" M1888 #11	12" M1888MII #10	12" M1888MII #9
Source: Puget Sound RCB dtd 31 Dec 1909, CDSG Digital Library

Battery Quarles Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	10" Rifle	367.25"	M1888MII		36	Bethlehem	Barbette, M1893, #9, Morgan	1902-1941	Rounds fired: 76 See Note 1
2	10" Rifle	367.25"	M1888MII		37	Bethlehem	Barbette, M1893, #1, Watertown	1902-1941	Rounds fired: 77 See Note 1
3	10" Rifle	367.25"	M1888		12	Watervliet	Barbette, M1893, #11, Watertown	1902-1941	Rounds fired: 61 See Note 1
Source: RCW Form 1,Aug 1921, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 120-121, 217 Note 1: Guns & Carriages sent from Fort Worden to York Safe & Lock, Canada, 12 May 1941, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Quarles Plan

On 31 Mar 1915 a B.C. Station was added to the building behind emplacements 1 and 2 of Battery Quarles that contained the plotting room, chart room, oil room, latrine and two store rooms.

All three guns and carriages were removed from the battery on 25 Mar 1941. The guns and carriages were shipped to York Safe & Lock Company, Canada. At least two of the guns are said to be at Fort McNutt, Nova Scotia (interpretive sign at the battery).

Current Status

Part of the Fort Worden State Park. No gun or mounts in place.

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Location: Artillery Hill, Fort Worden, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 48.140533 Long: -122.765672 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Guns 1 & 2 at 252.39', Gun 3 at 257.34'

Sources:

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

Links:

Visited: 17 Jun 2009

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