Battery Reilly (2)

Battery Reilly (2) (1942-1947) - Battery Reilly (2) was a reinforced concrete, World War II 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Church, Newport County, Rhode Island. Named after Henry J. Reilly. Battery construction started on 1 Feb 1941, was completed on 27 Dec 1941 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 5 Jan 1942 at a cost of $ 248,000.00. Deactivated in 1947.

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 8" MarkVI-3 guns mounted on M1 Casemated Barbette Carriages (CBC). 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.

Both of the 8" Navy guns were taken from scrapped U.S. battleships, the USS Minnesota and the USS New Hampshire. These ships were scrapped in 1924 in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Most of the guns were removed from battleships scrapped under this treaty and some were reused in coastal batteries.

Battery Reillly (2) Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	8" Rifle	369.12"	Mark VI M3	A2	205	Bethlehem	Casemated Barbette (CBC), M1, #3, Watertown	1942-1947	See note 1
2	8" Rifle	369.12"	Mark VI M3	A2	111	Bethlehem	Casemated Barbette (CBC), M1, #4, Watertown	1942-1947	See note 2
Source: RCW Form 1, 5 Jan 1942, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 114-115, 204 Note 1: Navy gun from USS New Hampshire. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Navy gun from USS Minnesota. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Reilly Plan

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Church, Newport County, Rhode Island Maps & Images Lat: 41.475688 Long: -71.171858 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 20.92'

Sources:

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

Links: CDSG

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