Battery 109

Battery 109 (1944-NA) - Battery 109 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 16 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Greene (2), Washington County, Rhode Island. Battery construction started 25 Aug 1942, was completed 31 Oct 1943 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 18 Jul 1944 at a cost of $ 1,705,667. Deactivated in NA.

Battery 109 Side View

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

Originally built as an World War II casemated concrete coastal gun battery with two 16" MarkII-M1 guns, one mounted on an M4 Barbette carriage and the other mounted on an M5 Barbette carriage. This battery was a single level battery with the guns located on the same level as the central magazine. Each gun emplacement was casemated with heavy, reinforced concrete overhead protection and earth covering. The central magazine was built between and connecting the gun emplacements so that the powder and shells could be brought directly to the guns using overhead tracks and chain hoists. See 16" Rifle MarkII-M1.

Construction on this battery was ordered curtailed 20 Nov 1943 with the #1 carriage partially mounted and the remaining carriage and guns stored in the battery. The battery itself was almost complete except for the power units which were also deferred. The battery was accepted for service 18 Jul 1944 with the guns and carriages not installed.

The battery was declared excess on 30 Apr 1947 and ordered disposed 10 May 1948.

Battery 109 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	16" Rifle	811"	MarkII-M1		56	Navy	Casemated Barbette (BC), M4, #35, Mesta	NA	See note 1
2	16" Rifle	811"	MarkII-M1		50	Navy	Casemated Barbette (BC), M5, #47, Wellman	NA	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, Aug 1944, 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 176-177, 205 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery 109 Plan

Current Status

Part of Fisherman's Memorial State Park. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fisherman's Memorial State Park, Washington County, Rhode Island Maps & Images Lat: 41.3796665 Long: -71.4916018 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 51.67'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

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

Visited: No

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