Battery Spencer

Battery Spencer (1897-1943) - Battery Spencer is a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 12" gun battery located on Fort Baker, California. Named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after Maj. Gen. Joseph Spencer, a Revolutionary War hero who died 13 jan 1789. Battery construction was begun in 1893, completed in 1897 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 24 Sep 1897 at a total cost of $110,352.70. Deactivated in 1943 during World War II.

Battery Spencer Gun #2

Battery Spencer Gun #3

Battery Spencer History

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.

Endicott Period

Battery Spencer was a concrete coastal gun battery with three M1888 12" guns mounted on long range Barbette M1892 carriages. Emplacements #1 and #2 were separated by a magazine with two shell rooms, a powder room and a shell hoist room. Emplacement #3 had it's own shell room, powder room and hoist room. This was a two story battery with the magazines on the lower level and the gun emplacements on the upper level. The projectiles were originally moved from the magazine level to the loading level with hand powered projectile hoists. These were replaced in 1908 with electric Taylor-Raymond front delivery hoists. The new hoists were accepted for service 30 Sep 1908. There were no powder hoists.

North of Emplacement #1 was the BC Post and a separate building that had four rooms, a CO room, a guard room, an oil room and a large 12' by 43' plotting room. On the other side of the road were two other buildings, one housing the tools and rammers and a latrine building with separate facilities for officers and enlisted.

World War I

The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. One gun was moved in 1918 to Battery Chester at Fort Miley and it was not replaced.

Battery Spencer Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	436"	M1888		10	Watervliet	Barbette Mounts, M1892, #4, Watertown	1897-1942	See note #1
2	12" Rifle	436"	M1888		16	Watervliet	Barbette Mounts, M1892, #1, Watertown	1897-1942	See note #1
3	12" Rifle	436"	M1888MI		17	Watervliet	Barbette Mounts, M1892, #5, Watertown	1897-1918	See note #2
Source: RCW Form 1, 1923, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, page 136-137, 215 Note #1: Guns and carriages salvaged 19 Nov 1942, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note #2: Gun transferred to Fort Miley, Battery Chester Carriage ordered salvaged 10 Jan 1927, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Spencer Plan

World War II

The remaining two guns and carriages were ordered scrapped in 1942.

Current Status

Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

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Location: Fort Baker, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.827894 Long: -122.481913 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 475'

Sources:

• Battery Spencer NPS
• Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
• Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 72-75
• California Military Museum
• Angelfire

Links:

Visited: 20 Aug 2009

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