Battery Pensacola

Battery Pensacola (1898-1935) - Battery Pensacola was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 73, 29 May 1900 after the City of Pensacola. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 30 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 128,707.04. Gun tubes removed 1935 and carriages removed during World War II.

Battery Pensacola

Battery Pensacola Lower Level

History of Battery Pensacola

Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola.

Endicott Period

Battery Pensacola Shell Hoist Remains

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1895 guns mounted on disappearing M1897 carriages. This was a two story battery built into old Fort Pickens with the guns on the upper level and the magazines and support rooms on the lower level. Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists were provided to moved the heavy 12" shells from the lower level to the loading level. Electrical power was furnished by a power plant in the battery with two 25 KW gasoline engine generator sets.

Battery Pensacola Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	442.56"	M1895		7	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #3, Robert Poole	1898-1933	See note 1
2	12" Rifle	442.56"	M1895		6	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #4, Robert Poole	1898-1933	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Jun 1898, 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 148-149, 212 Note 1: Battery declared obsolete and no longer required 16 Jun 1933. Guns transferred to Watervliet 26 Oct 1934, carriages scrapped 26 Oct 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Pensacola 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. The two 12" guns of Battery Pensacola were not affected by the World War I redistribution but were both transferred back to the Watervliet Arsenal on 25 Oct 1934 and not returned. The carriages remained in place until late 1942 when they were scrapped, 26 Oct 2009.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: On the parade ground of Fort Pickens, Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 30.327064 Long: -87.290679 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 32.08'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 196-197
• De Quesada, Alejandro M., A History of Florida Forts: Florida's Lonely Outposts, SC : History Press, Charleston, 2006, ISBN 1596291044, page 192

Links:

• Gun Batteries NPS

Visited: 15 Dec 2009

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