Battery AMTB - Fort Sumter

Battery AMTB - Fort Sumter (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB - Fort Sumter was a World War II rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Sumter, Charleston County, South Carolina. AMTB stands for Anti Motor Torpedo Boat. Battery construction started 12 Feb 1943, was completed 3 Apr 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 2 Jul 1943 at a cost of $ 13,470.53. Deactivated in 1946.

Approximate location of Gun #3 of the AMTB Battery

World War II (1941-1945)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Charleston.

The AMTB battery at Fort Sumter consisted of two 90mm M1 guns mounted on 90mm M3 fixed gun mounts and two 90mm M1 guns mounted on M1A1 mobile mounts. The mobile guns remained in storage until required. Concrete pads for both fixed guns were laid on the southeast parapet of the old fort. The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.

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 Sumter Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		6854	General Motors	Pedestal Mount, M3, #54, General Motors	1943-1946
2	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		6919	General Motors	Pedestal Mount, M3, #108, General Motors	1943-1946
M	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		540	Wellman	Mobile M1A1 #5991, Wellman	1943-1946	Note 1
M	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		550	Wellman	Mobile M1A1 #6004, Wellman	1943-1946	Note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 15 Jun 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 80-81 Note 1: One of four mobile gun/carriage sets kept in ordnance storage for use in the four mobile gun positions

Battery AMTB - Fort Sumter Plan

Current Status

No period gun or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Sumter, Charleston County, South Carolina Maps & Images Lat: 32.7523573 Long: -79.8746663 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 28'

Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Charleston, S.C., (HDCN-AN-45), 15 Mar 1945, CDSG

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 23 Jan 2010