Battery AMTB 6 - West Martello Tower

Battery AMTB 6 - West Martello Tower (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB 6 West Martello Tower was a reinforced concrete World War II rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Fort Taylor (2), Florida. AMTB stands for Anti Motor Torpedo Boat. Battery construction started and was completed in 1943. Deactivated in 1946.

Battery AMTB 6 - West Martello Tower History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Key West.
The AMTB battery at the West Martello Tower consisted of two 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M3 gun mounts and two 90mm guns mounted on mobile carriages. The two mobile 90mm guns and carriages were stored inside the Martello Tower. Concrete pads for both the fixed guns were laid at the beach just west of the West Martello Tower. The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.

The above photos were taken at Fort Monroe, Battery Parrott

From FM 4-91: "This weapon consists of the 90-mm gun M1 and top carriage M1A1 on the 90-mm gun mount M3. The mount M3 is of the turret type, the shielding being constructed of boiler plates. This boiler plate shield provide fragmentation protection only. No shielding is provided at the rear due to the requirements for service of the piece. A sighting port in the shielding in front permits sighting in direction by the gun pointer."

References:

FM 4-91 - 90-MM Gun, Fixed Mount Service of the Piece
FM 4-126 - Antiaircraft Artillery, Service of the Piece, 90-mm Antiaircraft Gun
TM 9-373 - 90-mm Gun M1 and 90-mm Gun Mount T3 (M3)

**Battery AMTB 6 West Martello Tower Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates
1	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1	A1	5571	Watervliet	Pedestal Mount, M3, #215, General Motors	1943-1946
2	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1	A1	7153	General Motors	Pedestal Mount, M3, #231, General Motors	1943-1946
3	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		2906	Watervliet	Pedestal Mount, M1, #1122, York	1943-1946
4	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1		3542	Watervliet	Pedestal Mount, M1, #3833, Worthington	1943-1946
Source: 1. 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 80-81 2. NARA RG165, E257 Box 68 - Bolling Smith

Current Status

Both gun pads are still visible but have been repurposed as gazebos. No period gun or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Taylor, Key West, Monroe County, Florida

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Lat: 24.5470939 Long: -81.7876822

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Fort Zachary Taylor at Key West Florida

Sources:

Links: CDSG

Visited: 27 Dec 2009