Battery 225

Battery 225 (1943-1948) - Battery 225 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Story, Virginia. Named Battery Cramer in G.O. 63, 14 Nov 1942, after Lt. Colonel Raymond V. Cramer, CAC. Battery construction started on 8 Oct 1941, was completed 15 May 1942 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 23 Nov 1943 at a cost of $ 175,832.00. Deactivated in 1948.

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Chesapeake Bay.

Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" M1903-A2 rapid fire guns mounted on T2-M2 Shielded Barbette Carriages (SBC) placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure.

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 225 Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	310.4"	M1903		18	Watervliet	Shielded Barbette (SBC), T2-M2, #2, Watertown	1943-1948	See note 1
2	6" Rifle	310.4"	M1903		62	Watervliet	Shielded Barbette (SBC), T2-M2, #1, Watertown	1943-1948	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 29 May 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 104-105, 210 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery 225 Plan

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Story, Virginia Beach City, Virginia Maps & Images Lat: 36.917981 Long: -75.9961545 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 26.53'

Sources:

Links:

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

Visited: 21-27 Jul 2010

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