Battery Kirby

Battery Kirby (1900-1941) - Battery Kirby is a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 12" gun battery located on Fort Baker, California. Named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after 1st. Lt. Edmund Kirby, 1st U.S. Artillery, Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, who died 28 May 1863 of wounds received at Chancellorville, Virginia, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction was begun in 1899, completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 5 Aug 1900 at a total cost of $70,334.18. Deactivated in 1941.

Battery Kirby Emplacement #2

Battery Kirby Emplacement #1

Battery Kirby History

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.

Battery Kirby was a concrete gun battery with two M1895 12" guns mounted on M1897 disappearing carriages.

Gun #1 was emplaced 10 Oct 1900, dismounted 21 Sep 1933, shipped to Fort Scott and then shipped and emplaced in Battery Cheney, Fort Mills, Corregidore, Phillipines.

Gun #2 was emplaced 20 Sep 1900, dismounted 28 Aug 1941 and also shipped to Fort Mills, Battery Cheney in the Philippine Islands but was never mounted. Both carriages were scrapped 11 Oct 1942.

Battery Kirby Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	436"	M1895		12	Watervliet	Disappearing Carriage, M1897, #14, Morgan	1900-1933	To Battery Cheney Fort Mills
2	12" Rifle	436"	M1895		16	Watervliet	Disappearing Carriage, M1897, #15, Morgan	1900-1941	To Battery Cheney Fort Mills
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, CDSG

Battery Kirby Plan

Current Status

Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. No period guns or carriages in place.

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Location: Fort Baker, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.827316 Long: -122.490256 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 40'

Sources:

• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
• Angel Fire
• Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 146-147

Links:

Visited: 20 Aug 2009

Battery Kirby Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  Battery Kirby BC Station Front
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  Battery Kirby BC Station Interior
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  Battery Kirby BC Station Side View
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  Battery Kirby Emplacement #1
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  Battery Kirby Emplacement #1
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  Battery Kirby Magazine Room
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  Battery Kirby Magazine Room
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  Battery Kirby Magazine Room