Battery Drew

Battery Drew (1900-1917) - Battery Drew was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort McDowell (1), Angel Island, San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902 after 1st Lt. Alfred W. Drew (Cullum 3446), 12th U.S. Infantry, who was killed in action at Angles, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 19 Aug 1899. Battery construction started in 1898, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 1 May 1900 at a cost of $ 34,836.82. Deactivated in 1917. Battery Drew from the rear GGNRA Battery Drew Overlooking San Francisco Bay Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 8" M1888MII gun mounted on a M1892 Barbette carriage. The Battery had no shell hoists and no powder hoists because the munitions were stored on the same level as the gun loading platform. The electric plant was a 10 hp Hornsby-Akroyd oil engine belted to a 6 kw, 120 volt Eddy Generator used primarily for lighting. 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. On 24 Aug 1917 the gun at Battery Drew was ordered dismounted for use abroad. The M1888MII gun tube was removed from Battery Drew 31 Dec 1917 and shipped to Watervliet Arsenal. The gun tube was moved among several storage locations and was finally listed as "Being Salvaged" at Watervliet 28 Jul 1942. The carriage was scrapped at Fort McDowell (1) 21 Oct 1918. Battery Drew Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 36 Watervliet Barbette, M1892, #6, Watertown 1900-1917 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, RCB, 31 Dec 1903, 31 Dec 1909, 31 Dec 1910, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 106-107, 215. Note 1: Gun to Watervliet Arsenal 31 Dec 1917, carriage scrapped 21 Oct 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Drew Plan Current Status Angel Island California State Park. No gun or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location: Fort McDowell, Angel Island, San Francisco County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.8552115 Long: -122.4344301 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 255.14' Sources: Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 130-132 Links: California State Military Museum - Battery Drew CDSG Visited: 29 Aug 2009 Battery Drew Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!