Battery Read
Battery Read (1899-1918) - Battery Read was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort DuPont (1), Delaware. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 feb 1902, after George Read, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Senator, and Chief Justice of the State of Delaware. Battery construction started 1 May 1898, was completed 31 Dec 1898 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 12 Jan 1899 at a cost of $ 80,829.68. Deactivated in 1918.
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Battery Read History
Part of the Harbor Defense of the Delaware.
Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1888MI1/2 guns mounted on M1892 Barbette carriages. Battery Gibson and Battery Read were built as one large four emplacement battery with the two 12" guns of Battery Read placed in the left most and right most emplacements and the two 8" guns of Battery Gibson placed in the two center emplacements.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12" Rifle | 440" | M1888MI1/2 | 37 | Morgan | Barbette, M1892, #21, Morgan | 1899-1918 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 12" Rifle | 440" | M1888MI1/2 | 38 | Morgan | Barbette, M1892, #22, Morgan | 1899-1918 | See note 1 | |
| Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Sep 1924, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 136-137, 208 Note 1: Guns transferred to Fort Hamilton, Battery Doubleday 1 Jul 1918. One carriage scrapped 16 Jun 1918, one sent to Fort Hancock. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA | |||||||||
World War I
The battery was declared obsolete in 1915 and the guns were transferred to Fort Hamilton, Battery Doubleday on 1 Jul 1918. One carriage scrapped 16 Jun 1918, one sent to Fort Hancock.
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort DuPont State Park, New Castle County, Delaware Maps & Images Lat: 39.5682412 Long: -75.5784166 |
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Visited: 6 Aug 2010
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