Fort Story
Fort Story (1917-Present) - Reservation acquired in 1914 and established as a Coastal Artillery fort in Feb 1917 during World War I. Named for Major General John Patten Story (Cullum 2066), chief of the Artillery School at Fort Monroe. Active military installation.
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World War I (1917-1918)
Part of the Harbor Defense of Chesapeake Bay.
As purchased in 1914 Fort Story consisted of several separate parcels of land. Parcel A was the main part of the base and contained Battery Pennington, the railroad artillery, the temporary batteries and searchlights. The other parcels contained mostly support facilities.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Pennington Battery Walke |
4 | 16" | LR Howitzer Mounts | 1921-1922-1922-1947 | $ 332,174 | Gun Positions 3 & 4 became Battery Walke in 1941 |
| Battery Emergency A | 2 | 6" | Pedestal Mounts | 1917-1919 | $ ? | Guns from Battery Montgomery (2), Fort Monroe, in surf |
| Battery Emergency B | 2 | 5" | Pedestal Mounts | 1917-1919 | $ ? | Guns from Battery Rice, Fort Andrews, in surf |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
World War II (1941-1945)
Additional land was acquired during World War II and most of Cape Henry became part of Fort Story. Additional 16" guns were added along with anti-aircraft, AMTB batteries and three 6" standard 200 series batteries. An offshore minefield was added to protect the approaches. Fort Story became the most heavily armed coastal battery on the east coast.
A combined HECP-HDCP facility was completed in the summer of 1943 to control ship traffic through Chesapeake Bay. This structure was located on the back of the secondary dune line along Coast Artillery Road on section A of Fort Story. This was an underground, reinforced concrete building, 150' long with two underground entrances.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 120 Battery Ketcham |
2 | 16" | LR Casemated Barbette | 1941-1943-1943-1948 | $ 1,553,592 | Navy Gun (16" 1940 Program) |
| Battery 121 | 2 | 16" | LR Casemated Barbette | 1942-1943-1943-1948 | $ 1,881,850 | Navy Gun (16" 1940 Program) |
| Battery 224 Battery Worcester |
2 | 6" | Pedestal Mount | 1940-1941-1941-1947 | $ ? | Prototype for 200 series |
| Battery 225 Battery Cramer |
2 | 6" | LR Shielded Barbette | 1941-1942-1943-1948 | $ 175,832 | |
| Battery 226 | 2 | 6" | LR Shielded Barbette | 1942-1943-1943-1949 | $ 234,602 | |
| Battery AMTB 19 - Fort Story Examination Battery |
2 | 3" | Pedestal Mount | 1942-1945 | $ ? | Guns from Battery Irwin, Fort Monroe |
| Battery 155 - Fort Story (1) | 4 | 155mm | Mobile Panama Mounts | 1942-194? | $ ? | |
| Battery 155 - Fort Story (2) | 4 | 155mm | Mobile Panama Mounts | 1942-194? | $ ? | |
| Battery AMTB 21 - Fort Story | 2 | 90mm | Fixed Pedestal Mounts | 1942-1942-1943-1945 | $ 5,844 | Gun pads buried |
| Battery AMTB 22 - Fort Story | 2 | 90mm | Fixed Pedestal Mounts | 1943-1950 | $ ? | In surf |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
Cold War (1947-1991)
After the war the coastal gun batteries were decommissioned. By 1950 all of the batteries were inactive. An Army NIKE missile battery was located on Fort Story from 1958 to 1974.
Current Status
Fort Story is an active sub-installation of the US Army Transportation Center and Fort Eustis. In addition to the active Army units, also stationed at Fort Story are Army Reserve units, US Navy active and Reserve units, and a USMC section. The Coast Guard also maintains a presence at the Cape Henry Lighthouse.
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Location: Located on the tip of Cape Henry 18 miles east of Norfolk Virginia at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Beach County, Virginia Maps & Images Lat: 36.92739 Long: -76.020756 |
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 824
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Chesapeake Bay, (HDCB-AP-45), 1 Nov 1945, CDSG
Links:
Visited: 21-27 Jul 2010
Picture Gallery
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Fort Story 16" Howitzer
