Battery Hawley

Battery Hawley (1905-1924) - Battery Joseph Hawley was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Baldwin, Sagadahoc County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 20, 25 Jan 1906, after Brevet Major General Joseph R. Hawley, U.S. Volunteers (Brigadier General, U.S. Army), who served with distinction during the U.S. Civil War, and who died 18 Mar 1905. Battery construction started in 1905, was completed in 1908 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 13 Nov 1908 at a cost of $ 45, 550.00. Deactivated in 1924.

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Battery Hawley Modified for 155mm Guns

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of the Kennebec River, Maine.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" M1900 guns mounted on M1900 Pedestal mounts. This was a single story battery with the guns located on a raised platform and the magazines on the lower level. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided.

Battery Hawley Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	310.4"	M1900		47	Watervliet	Pedestal, M1900, #31, Watertown	1905-1917 1919-1924	See note 1
2	6" Rifle	310.4"	M1900		48	Watervliet	Pedestal, M1900, #45, Watertown	1905-1917 1919-1924	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 20 May 1920, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 96-97 Note 1: Guns were transferred to Morgan 4 Dec 1917 and transferred back to the battery 3 Apr 1919 and remounted. Guns and mounts transferred to Fort Preble for storage in February and March 1924. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Hawley Plan

World War I (1917-1918)

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. The guns of Battery Hawley were listed for use overseas on railway mounts on 24 Aug 1917. On 4 Dec 1917 the guns were transferred to Morgan. The two guns from Battery Hawley did not make it overseas and they were transferred back to the battery on 3 Apr 1919 and remounted. The guns are listed as transferred to Fort Preble for storage in February and March 1924 as Fort Baldwin was deactivated.

World War II (1941-1945)

A battery of four 155mm mobile guns was deployed to Fort Baldwin in the first six months of 1942 as an emergency measure until the newer batteries could be completed. Two of the 155mm battery Panama mounts were built into the gun pits of abandoned Battery Hawley. The 155mm battery was removed 17 Jan 1944.

Current Status

Part of Fort Baldwin Memorial State Park, Sagadahoc County, Maine. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Baldwin, Popham Beach State Park, Sagadahoc County, Maine Maps & Images Lat: 43.749227 Long: -69.789705 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1= 151.82' Gun #2= 151.62'

Sources:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort Baldwin Military…ME011702, Phippsburg, ME. Large pdf download
• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Portland, Maine, (HDPB-AN-45), 11 Apr 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 14 Jun 2012

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