Battery 155 - Bolsa Chica

Battery 155 - Bolsa Chica (1942-1944) - Battery 155 - Bolsa Chica was a reinforced concrete, World War II 155mm inch coastal gun battery on Bolsa Chica Military Reservation, Orange County, California. Battery construction started in December 1941, was completed in February 1942 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 15 Nov 1943 at a cost of $ 8,783.43. Deactivated in 1944. Also known as Battery 7 - Bolsa Chica.

Battery 155 - Bolsa Chica Panama Mount #2	Battery 155 - Bolsa Chica, Panama Mount #1
Battery 155 - Bolsa Chica, Panama Mount #2 Overlooking the Beach

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Los Angeles.

Originally built as a World War II concrete coastal gun battery with two 155mm M1918MI guns mounted on M1918 mobile carriages emplaced on 360 degree Panama mounts. A covered trench system connected the two gun emplacements. Guns withdrawn when Battery 242 became operational.

**Battery 7 - Bolsa Chica Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	155mm Rifle	232.2"	M1918MI	?	Unknown	Mobile, M1918, #?, Unknown	1942-1944	See note 1
2	155mm Rifle	232.2"	M1918MI	?	Unknown	Mobile, M1918, #?, Unknown	1942-1944	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 3 Dec 1943, 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 190-191, 214

Current Status

Located along a trail of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Reserve. Panama mounts remain but no period guns or mounts in place. Interpretive signs. Closest access point is a parking lot on the east side of U.S. 1 about .7 of a mile south of the site. The shortest trail leads north alongside U.S. 1.

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Location: Bolsa Chica Wetlands Reserve trail, Orange County, California.

Maps & Images

Lat: 33.704097 Long: -118.053055

Multi Maps from ACME
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Maps from Google
Elevation: 26'

Sources:

U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles, (LA-AN-WDC-44), 31 Aug 1944, CDSG
Berhow, Mark, A Brief History of the Bolsa Chica Military Resewation 1941-1948 (pdf), The Coast Defense Study Group Journal, February 1995, page 60-63

Links:

CDSG

Visited: 1 Jan 2013