Battery Spencer

Battery Spencer (1897-1942) - 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 1942 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. It was constructed on top of an existing 1879 Battery Cliff.

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, along the access road, 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.

In 1910 the BC post and the plotting room were modified and updated. The work was accepted for service on 5 Aug 1910 at a cost of $ 1680.68.

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 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 removed from emplacement #3 in 1918 and sent to Battery Chester at Fort Miley, it was not replaced and the emplacement was considered abandoned. The carriage remained in place until it was ordered salvaged on 10 Jan 1927.

In 1921 the abandoned emplacement #3 magazine powder room was converted to a power room, with two 25 KW motor-generator sets. The abandoned shell room was converted into a fire control switchboard and the hoist room became a radiator room for the motor generator sets. This work was accepted in Jul 1921 at a cost of $2,311.50.

World War II

The remaining two guns and carriages were ordered scrapped 19 Nov 1942 in conjunction with the first large scale scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status

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

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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

Battery Spencer Picture Gallery

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

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  Battery Spencer
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  Battery Spencer BC Station
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  Battery Spencer BC Station Interior
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  Battery Spencer BC Station
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  Battery Spencer TR Shell Hoist Gallery
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  Battery Spencer Gun Emplacement #1
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  Battery Spencer Gun Emplacement #2
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  Battery Spencer Gun Emplacement #3
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  Battery Spencer Outbuildings
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  Battery Spencer Tool & Rammer Room
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  Battery Spencer Latrine
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  Battery Spencer Old Generator & Radiator Building