Battery 218 (1944-1958) - Battery 218 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Wadsworth (1), Richmond County, New York. Battery construction started 22 Oct 1942, was completed 24 Apr 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 22 Apr 1944 at a cost of $ 203,277.00. Deactivated in 1958.
Originally built as an World War II concrete coastal gun battery for two 6" rapid fire guns mounted on Shielded Barbette Carriages (SBC) placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. Never armed.
These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945).
The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
6" Gun Crew
Battery 218 Plan
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.
{"selectable":false,"width":"500"}
Location: Fort Wadsworth, Richmond County, New York
