Battery 249

Battery 249 (1943-194?) - A World War II era Battery built in 1943-1945 as a reinforced concrete Coastal Artillery Battery on Camp Hayden. Guns were removed about 1946 but the concrete Battery support structure remains.

Battery 249 Gun #1, 1945	Battery 249 Gun #2, 1945
Battery 249 Gun Emplacement #1, 2010	Battery 249 Gun Emplacement #2, 2010

Battery 249 History

Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" T2-M1 rapid fire guns mounted on M4 Shielded Barbette Carriages (SBC) placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. Construction began 12 Apr 1943 and was completed 2 Jan 1945. The Battery was turned over for service 5 Jan 1945 at a cost of $350,000.

6" Gun at Fort Columbia Originally at Fort McAndrew, Battery 281, Argentia, NL, Canada

These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945). The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

6" Gun Crew

Battery 249 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	309.9"	T2-M1		24	Watervliet	M4 Barbette, #5, York	1944-194?	Mounted 1944
2	6" Rifle	309.9"	T2-M1		25	Watervliet	M4 Barbette, #6, York	1944-194?	Mounted 1944
Source: 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 104-105, 217 Note 1: Guns were transferred from Watervliet 31 May 1944. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery 249 Plan

Current Status

Part of Salt Creek Recreation Area, Camp Hayden Callam County Park. No guns or carriages in place. Currently a bat habitat and the entrances are blocked by metal grates to prevent people from disturbing the bats. Special permission required for entry.

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Location: Striped Peak, Camp Hayden, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 48.161785 Long: -123.69435 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 280'

Sources:

• Battery 249
• Coastal Defense Study Group

Links:

Visited: 14 Apr 2010

Battery 249 Picture Gallery

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

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  Camp Hayden, Battery 249 Gun #2
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  Battery 249 Gun Emplacement #1 Entrance
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  Battery 249 Gun Emplacement #2 Entrance
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  Road up to Battery 249 from the Park Entrance Parking Lot