Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens

Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens was a reinforced concrete, World War II 90mm coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida. Battery construction started 7 Apr 1943, was completed 16 Jun 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 7 Jul 1943 at a cost of $ 16,810.85. Deactivated in 1946.

Fort Pickens AMTB Battery Emplacement #1 Remains	Fort Pickens AMTB Battery Emplacement #2 Remains
Fort Pickens AMTB Battery Remains

World War II (1941-1945)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola.

Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens Magazine Structure

Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 90mm, M-1 guns mounted on T-2 carriages. The battery was located 125' outside the Fort Pickens seawall. Two wooden platforms were constructed at the seawall for an elevation height finder and an elevation director. A single magazine was built into the left flank of Battery Cullum and three other magazines were built in front of old Fort Pickens, all were inside the 13' seawall.

AMTB Front View	AMTB Interior View	AMTB Side View	AMTB Back View
The above photos were taken at Fort Monroe, Battery Parrott From FM 4-91: "This weapon consists of the 90-mm gun M1 and top carriage M1A1 on the 90-mm gun mount M3. The mount M3 is of the turret type, the shielding being constructed of boiler plates. This boiler plate shield provide fragmentation protection only. No shielding is provided at the rear due to the requirements for service of the piece. A sighting port in the shielding in front permits sighting in direction by the gun pointer." References: FM 4-91 - 90-MM Gun, Fixed Mount Service of the Piece FM 4-126 - Antiaircraft Artillery, Service of the Piece, 90-mm Antiaircraft Gun TM 9-373 - 90-mm Gun M1 and 90-mm Gun Mount T3 (M3)

Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		7078	General Motors	Fixed, T-3, #211, General Motors	1943-1946	See note 1
2	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		7214	General Motors	Fixed, T-3, #252, General Motors	1943-1946	See note 1
3	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		3339	Watervliet	Mobile, M1A1, #1552, Watertown	1943-1946	See note 1
4	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		2911	Watervliet	Mobile, M1A1, #1127, York	1943-1946	See note 1
Source: 1. RCW Form 1, 30 Nov 1943 2. 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 80-81 3. NARA RG165, E257 Box 68 - Bolling Smith

Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens Plan

Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens Site Plan

Current Status

Part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore administered by the National Park Service at Fort Pickens. Concrete gun pads visible. No period guns or mounts in place. One magazine in the left flank of Battery Cullum remains.

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Location: Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 30.325735 Long: -87.292417 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 18.4167'

Sources:

• Historic Structure Report and Resource Study, Pensacola Harbor Defense Project 1890-1947, Florida Unit, National Park service, March 1982
• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Pensacola, (HDPEN-AN-45), 1 Jul 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 25 Apr 2013, 30 Dec 2011, 16 Dec 2009

Battery AMTB - Fort Pickens Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  Fort Pickens AMTB Battery Emplacement #1 Mount
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  Fort Pickens AMTB Battery Emplacement #1 Apron and Conduit
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  Fort Pickens AMTB Battery Magazine Rear View