Battery Parker

Battery Parker (1907-1917) - Battery Thomas Parker is a concrete Endicott Period Coastal Battery located on Fort Casey, Washington. Named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Bvt. 1st Lt. Thomas D. Parker, U.S. Army, 2nd Lt., 2nd U.S. Infantry, who was killed in action at Gaines Mill, Virginia, 27 Jun 1862, during the U.S. Civil War. The Battery was begun August 1903 and completed August 1905 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery 22 May 1907 at a cost of $50,380. The guns were removed from the Battery in 1917.

Battery Parker History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Battery Parker was designed to protect both the Straight of Juan De Fuca and the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound.

Originally built with two, 6" M1905 rifles mounted on M1903 disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines and service rooms on the lower level. On the lower level a common shell room and a common powder room serve both gun positions. Electrical power was provided from either the plant at Battery Seymour & Schenck, the central power plant or commercial power. No shell or powder hoists were provided.

Battery Parker Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	300"	M1905		3	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1903, #74, Detrick & Harvey	1907-1917	See Note 1
2	6" Rifle	300"	M1905		12	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1903, #75, Detrick & Harvey	1907-1917	See Note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1933, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 98-99, 217 Note 1: Carriages transferred from Detrick & Harvey in Dec 1905, guns transferred to Watervliet 31 Dec 1917, carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Parker Plan a/o 1 Mar 1933

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 6" guns at Battery Parker were listed for service overseas on 27 Aug 1917 and by 18 Jul 1918 they had been transferred. The guns were actually transferred 31 Dec 1917 to Watervliet Arsenal but never actually made it overseas because the war drew to a close before they could be modified and shipped. These guns remained in the inventory until after World War II but were never remounted.

Current Status

The battery was clean and dry when visited. No guns or carriages were in place.

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Location: On Fort Casey, Whidbey Island, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 48.168411 Long: -122.68276 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 116'

Sources:

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

Links:

Visited: 18 Jul 2008

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