Battery Nash
Battery Nash (1904-1917) - Battery Nash was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Ward (2), Washington. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904 after BG Francis Nash, Continental Army, who died 17 Oct 1777, of wounds received in action at Germantown, Pennsylvania, 4 Oct 1777, during the Revolutionary War. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1903 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 18 Jan 1904 at a cost of $ 120,432.00. Deactivated in 1917.
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Battery Nash History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Built to protect the Bremerton Navy Yard and the Rich Passage.
Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 8" M1888 guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages. Battery Nash was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines and service rooms on the lower level. Each gun emplacement had an associated shot room, powder room, shell room and hoist room below. In 1907 Taylor-Raymond back delivery electric motor driven hoists were installed and transferred for use on 28 Apr 1907. A 25 KW gasoline driven power plant was installed next to emplacement #1 and transferred for use on 2 May 1910.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888 | 6 | West Point | Disappearing, M1896, #36, Watertown | 1904-1917 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888 | 42 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1896, #37, Watertown | 1904-1917 | See note 1 | |
| 3 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888 | 2 | West Point | Disappearing, M1896, #38, Watertown | 1904-1917 | See note 1 | |
| Source: RCW Form 1, Sep 1925, 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 110-111, 216 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet Dec 1917, carriages scrapped May 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA | |||||||||
World War I
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. All three of the 8" Battery Nash guns were ordered dismounted for service abroad on 24 Aug 1917. The guns were then transferred to Watervliet Arsenal for modification to a mobile configuration 31 Dec 1917. None of the guns were actually shipped overseas, they all remained stateside at various storage locations. All three of the carriages were scrapped in May 1918.
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort Ward, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 47.575541 Long: -122.519188 |
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Visited: 18 Apr 2010
Battery Nash Picture Gallery
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