Battery Worth (1)

Battery Worth (1) (1902-1942) - Battery William Worth is a concrete Endicott Period Coastal Battery located on Fort Casey, Washington. Named in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after BG William S. Worth, who served with distinction during the U.S. Civil War and the Spanish-American War, and who died 16 Oct 1904. The Battery was begun in 1897 and completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery 16 Jun 1902 at a cost of $51,947. The battery was inactivated in 1942 during World War II.

Battery Worth Gun #2	Battery Worth Restored Operational Shell Hoist
Battery Worth with Fort Worden in the Background
Battery Worth Gun #1

Image:Fort Casey CDSG Battery Worth.jpg

Battery Worth (1) History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Battery Worth was designed to protect both the Straight of Juan De Fuca and the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound. The 10" guns could fire a 571 pound projectile over 8 miles.

1915 BC Station at the Rear of Battery Worth

Originally built with two, 10" M1895 rifles mounted on M1896 disappearing L.F. carriages. This was a two story battery with guns on the upper level and separate magazines and support rooms below. Shell hoists were provided to move the projectiles from the magazine level up to the loading platform. Electric power could be furnished from commercial power, the central power plant or the power plant in the #3 emplacement of Battery Moore.

In 1915 a BC post was built on a free standing concrete tower at the rear of the battery and a separate plotting room was built at the rear of the center of the battery. Both were accepted for service 31 Mar 1915.

Battery Worth Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	10" Rifle	369.15"	M1895		12	Watervliet	Disappearing Carriage L.F., M1896, #59, Bethlehem	1902-1942	See note 1
2	10" Rifle	369.15"	M1895		15	Watervliet	Disappearing Carriage L.F., M1896, #60, Bethlehem	1902-1942	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 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 126-127, 217 Note 1: Guns and carriages ordered scrapped 23 Oct 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Worth Plan 1933

World War II

The original guns and carriages were declared obsolete and ordered scrapped 23 Oct 1942 during the first large scale, quota driven, scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status

Battery Worth has two 10" guns with disappearing carriages currently on display that were obtained in 1967(1963) from Battery Warwick, Fort Wint, Subic Bay, Philippines. The #1 gun is displayed in the raised position while gun #2 is shown in the retracted position. Both breech blocks are missing because they were thrown into the Pacific Ocean to prevent enemy use when Fort Wint was abandoned at the beginning of World War II.

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Location: On Fort Casey, Whidbey Island, Washington. Maps & Images Lat: 48.156913 Long: -122.678498 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 82'

Sources:

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

Links:

Visited: 14 Apr 2010, 18 Jul 2008

Battery Worth (1) Picture Gallery

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

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  Battery Worth Gun #1
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  Battery Worth Gun Emplacement #1
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  Battery Worth Tool Room
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  Battery Worth Shot Gallery
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  Battery Worth Entrance
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  Battery Worth Gun #1
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  Battery Worth Gun #1 Breech View
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  Battery Worth Gun #1 Breech
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  Battery Worth Gun #1 Muzzle
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  Battery Worth Shell Hoist
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  Battery Worth Fire Control Station
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  Battery Worth Gun #2
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  Battery Worth Gun #2
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  Battery Worth Gun #2 Breech
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  Battery Worth Gun #2 Muzzle View
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  Battery Worth Gun #2 Carriage Detail