Fort Dearborn (4)
Fort Dearborn (4) (1942-1948) - An World War II Coastal Fort first established in 1942 in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Named Fort Dearborn in G.O. 25, 21 May 1943, after Major General Henry Dearborn, who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, U.S. Secretary of War (1801-1809). Fort Dearborn was bandoned in 1948.
World War II (1941-1945)
Part of the Harbor Defense of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Land for Fort Dearborne was acquired in two separate condemnation processes from private land owners. The first acquisition was for 206.08 acres formally acquired 11 May 1943 and the second was for 60 acres on 11 Oct 1943. The landowners were only given 30 days to vacate their property in 1942.
A temporary battery of four 155mm guns on concrete Panama mounts was completed in April 1942 at Odiorne's Point. The temporary battery was emplaced while three new World War II gun batteries were under construction. The temporary 155mm battery was withdrawn as the new batteries came on line in 1944.
The largest of the new batteries was Battery 103 (Battery Seaman) with two casemated 16" guns. Construction on it also started in April 1942. The second battery was rapid fire Battery 204 with two 6" shielded guns started in January 1943. The third battery was Battery AMTB - 951 with four 90mm guns designed for protection against high speed motor torpedo boats and aircraft. The AMTB battery was started and completed in 1943.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 103 Battery Seaman |
2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | 1942-1943-1944-1948 | $ 1,473,506 | Frost Point |
| Battery 204 | 2 | 6" | Shielded Barbette (SBC) | 1943-1943-1944-1948 | $ 339,029 | Odiornes Point |
| Battery 155 - Odiornes Point | 4 | 155mm | Panama Mounts | 1942-1942-1942-1944 | $ 16,952 | |
| Battery AMTB 951 | 2 | 90mm | AMTB fixed | 1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ ? | Pulpit Rock |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
Cold War (1947-1991)
Current Status
Part of Odiorne Point State Park, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
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Location: Odiorne Point State Park, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Maps & Images Lat: 43.050193 Long: -70.720150 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 499
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project, Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (CCA-P-PCC), 1945, CDSG
Links:
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