Battery 104

Battery 104 (1944-1948) - Battery 104 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 16 inch coastal gun battery located on East Point Military Reservation, Nahant, Essex County, Massachusetts. Later named Battery John B. Murphy. Battery construction started in 23 Jan 1942, was completed 18 Dec 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 19 Jun 1944 at a cost of $ 1,655,582.00. Deactivated in 1948. East Point MR, Battery 104, Casemate #2 East Point MR, Battery 104, Internal Corridor Storage of Whale Skeletons East Point MR, Battery 104, Casemate #1 with the Fire Control Tower in the Background World War II Part of the Harbor Defense of Boston, Massachusetts. Rear Entrance of Emplacement #1 Interior of Casemate #2 Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 16" MarkII-M1 guns mounted on M4 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 or ammunition carts. See 16" Rifle MarkII-M1. Battery 104 Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 16" Rifle 816" MarkII-M1 49 Midvale Casemated Barbette (CBC), M4, #40, Watertown 1944-1948 See note 1 2 16" Rifle 816" MarkII-M1 76 Bethlehem Casemated Barbette (CBC), M4, #33, Mesta 1944-1948 See note 2 Source: RCW Form 1, 25 Sep 1944, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 76-77 Note 1: Gun transferred from Watervliet 13 Apr 1943, carriage transferred from Watertown May 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun transferred from Watervliet 11 Apr 1943, carriage transferred from Pittsburgh 1 Jun 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery 104 Site Plan Battery 104 Magazine Traverse Plan Battery 104 Gun Block Plan Current Status Part of Northeastern University, Nahant, Essex County, Massachusetts. Used for marine research. No period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location: Nahant, Essex County, Massachusetts. Map points approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 42.419045 Long: -70.905671 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1= 30.66', Gun #2= 30.685' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Boston, Massachusetts, (HDB-AN-45), 31 Jan 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Coast Defense - Battery Murphy Visited: 9 Jun 2012 Battery 104 Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Emplacement #2 Rear Entrance Gas Proof Doors in Corridor Rear Center Entrance