Battery De Russy

Battery De Russy (1904-1944) - Battery DeRussy was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Monroe, Virginia. The battery was named in G.O. 105, 9 Oct 1902 after Col. Rene DeRussy, U.S. Corps of Engineers, superintending engineer of the construction of Fort Monroe and Fort Calhoon, Hampton Roads, Virginia, between 1838 and 1854 and who died on 23 Nov 1865 at San Francisco, California. Battery construction started on 20 Jul 1898, was completed in May 1903 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 7 Jun 1904 at a cost of $ 142,348.08. Deactivated in 1944.

Fort Monroe Battery DeRussy BC Station & Plotting Room	Fort Monroe Battery DeRussy Power Room
Fort Monroe, Battery DeRussy

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Chesapeake Bay.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 12" M1895 guns mounted on M1897 disappearing carriages. This is a two story battery with the guns mounted on the top level and the magazines located on the lower level. Projectiles and powder were moved from the magazines on the lower level to the loading platform on the upper level by a separate powder and shell hoist for each gun.

The shell hoists were electric motor driven Taylor-Raymond back delivery hoists accepted in 1904. The powder hoists were accepted for service in 1911 but were removed in 1933. The shell hoists were modified for the newer long point shells in 1913-14.

Power for lighting and electric motors was furnished by a power room in back of emplacements 2 and 3. The power room with two 25KW motor generator sets was accepted for service 25 May 1905. Two additional auxiliary generator sets were added apparently when retraction motors were added to the disappearing gun carriages.

The battery was modernized in 1908 to widen the platforms and add a BC Station and plotting room in the rear of emplacements 1 and 2.

Battery De Russy Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	444"	M1895		37	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #19, Bethlehem	1904-1933	See note 1
2	12" Rifle	444"	M1895		35	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #20, Bethlehem	1904-1932	See note 2
3	12" Rifle	444"	M1895		36	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #17, Bethlehem	1904-1932	See note 3
Replacement Gun Tubes 1932-1933
?	12" Rifle	444"	M1895		35	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #?, Bethlehem	1933-1944	See note 4
?	12" Rifle	444"	M1895		29	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #?, Bethlehem	1932-1944	See note 5
?	12" Rifle	444"	M1895		38	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1897, #?, Bethlehem	1932-1944	See note 6
Source: RCW Form 1, 16 Mar 1938, 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, 209 Note 1: Gun transferred to Watervliet 12 May 1933, carriages ordered scrapped 23 Jun 1944. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun transferred to Watervliet 16 Mar 1932, carriages ordered scrapped 23 Jun 1944. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 3: Gun transferred to Watervliet 15 Sep 1932, carriages ordered scrapped 23 Jun 1944. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery DeRussy 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.

World War II

All of the Battery DeRussy structures were designated a storage areas in December 1945.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place. The structures are deteriorating and off-limits to all personnel.

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Location: Fort Monroe, Virginia Maps & Images Lat: 37.012414 Long: -76.3004002 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 33.95'

Sources:

Links:

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

Visited: 22 Jul 2010

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