Battery Whistler

Battery Whistler (1919-1942) - Battery Whistler was a reinforced concrete, Taft Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California. The Battery was named in G.O. 15, 1916 after Colonel Joseph N.G. Whistler who fought in the Mexican War and the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started 15 Mar 1916, was completed 19 Aug 1919 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 19 Aug 1919 at a cost of $ 118,000. Deactivated in 1942.

World War I

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Diego.

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.

Originally built as an Taft Period concrete coastal mortar battery with four 12" M1890 mortars mounted on M1896 mortar carriages divided into two mortar pits (A-B) with two mortars in each pit (1-2).

Each mortar pit had a data booth at the rear that conveyed azimuth and elevation information to the gun crews and directed the firing. The data booth was connected to the plotting room via telephone. Between the mortar pits was a concrete magazine that stored the shells and powder. The magazine was protected with a 20' covering of earth. Shells and powder were wheeled from the magazine to the mortar loading platforms on shot carts.

Battery Whistler Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
A1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		76	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #186, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
A2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		85	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #188, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
B1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		107	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #189, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
B2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		127	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #190, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 19 Aug 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 3rd Edition - PDF, CDSG ePress, McLean, VA, 2012, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-142 Note 1: Guns transferred 1 Jul 1917 & mounted 31 Dec 1917, scrapped 18 Dec 1943, Carriage from Fort DeSoto ordered salvaged 5 Nov 1942

Battery Whistler Plan

World War II

The mortars were obsolete at the beginning of World War II and the first major scrap drive of the war in 1942 saw them scrapped.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California Maps & Images Lat: 32.7029515 Long: -117.2486093 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 354.92'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of San Diego, (HDSD-AN-45), 1 Jul 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

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