Battery 208

Battery 208 (1944-1948) - Battery 208 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fourth Cliff Military Reservation, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Battery construction started 8 Sep 1942, was completed 1 Oct 1943 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 9 Nov 1944 at a cost of $ 334,000.00. Deactivated in 1948.

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Boston, Massachusetts.

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 magazine and support structure. Power was supplied by internal generators and commercial power.

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 208 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	309.9"	T2-M1		5	Watervliet	Shielded Barbette (SBC), M4, #53, Watertown	1944-1948	See note 1
2	6" Rifle	309.9"	T2-M1		3	Watervliet	Shielded Barbette (SBC), M4, #54, Watertown	1944-1948	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 15 Feb 1945, CDSG, 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 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery 208 Plan

Current Status

Located on Fourth Cliff Military Reservation known as Fourth Cliff Family Recreation Area operated by Hanscom AFB. No period guns or mounts in place, generators may still be in place.

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Location: Fourth Cliff Military Reservation, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Forts Maps & Images Lat: 42.161002 Long: -70.706012 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1= 60.08', Gun #2= 60.10'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Boston, Massachusetts, (HDB-AN-45), 31 Jan 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 15 May 2012

Battery 208 Picture Gallery

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