Battery 247
Battery 247 (1944-1947) - Battery 247 was built at Fort Canby between 9 Feb 1943 and 31 Aug 1944 at a cost of $243,397 and was transfered 28 Oct 1944. Deactivation started Jul 1945 and troops were withdrawn by Oct 1947.
Battery 247 History
Armament consisted of two 6", Model T2, 309.9" rifled guns each mounted in a separate shielded M4 Barbette carriage. Between the two guns was a concrete bunker housing the ammunition and control mechanisms.
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 in Argentina.
Current Status
Battery 247 is located on McKenzie Head in Cape Disappointment State Park near Ilwaco, Washington. The battery is open to the public and in reasonable condition. Follow the signs to McKenzie Head and park in the small lot at the base of the trail. It's a short climb from the parking lot to the battery above. Parking is limited.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6" Rifle | 309.9" | T2-M1 | 15 | Watervliet | Shielded Barbette (SBC), M4, #3, Wellman Eng. Co. |
1944-1946 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 6" Rifle | 309.9" | T2-M1 | 17 | Watervliet | Shielded Barbette (SBC), M4, #4, Wellman Eng. Co. |
1944-1946 | See note 1 | |
| Source: CDSG Note 1: Mounted Apr 1944, sent to Battery 244, 2 Aug 1946, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA | |||||||||
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Location: Fort Canby, McKenzie Head, Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 46.28427 Long: -124.065693
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Sources:
- Lucero, Donella J. and Hobbs, Nancy L., The Long Beach Peninsula: Where the Columbia Meets the Pacific, Arcadia Publishing, North Beach Peninsula, 2004, 159 pages, ISBN 0738524573, page 48
- CDSG - Battery 247
Links:
Visited: 16 Feb 2008
Picture Gallery
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South Gun Mount -
Interior from the South Entrance -
Observation Deck -
Storage Shed Behind the Battery
