Battery Milliken (1921-1946) - Battery Milliken was a reinforced concrete, World War II 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Rodman, Bristol County, Massachusetts. The battery was named in G.O. 15, 10 Mar 1920, after 2nd Lt. Alfred S. Milliken, 6th U.S. Engineers, who was killed 30 Mar 1918, while serving with his regiment at Somme, France, during World War I. Battery construction started in June 1917, was completed in April 1921 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 3 May 1921 at a cost of $ 326,616.54. Deactivated in 1946.
Originally built as a World War I concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1895MI guns mounted on M1917 Barbette carriages. This was a single story battery with the guns located on open concrete gun pads on the same level as the common magazine and support structure between them. The common magazine and support structure was an earth covered reinforced concrete building that contained shell rooms, powder rooms, a power plant, plotting rooms and personnel facilities. Shells were moved from the magazine to the gun loading platform by shot carts. No shell or powder hoists were provided or needed.
The two guns were mounted on circular concrete pads with sunken gun pits. The guns and gun crews were completely in the open with no protection from incoming fire or from aircraft. The M1917 carriage and the sunken gun pit allowed a gun elevation of 35 degrees, giving the gun a range of over 16 miles.
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Sep 1921, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 154-155, 204 Note 1: Gun transferred from Watervliet 26 Jul 1918, carriage from Robert Poole 20 Aug 1918.CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun transferred from Watervliet 29 Jul 1918, carriage from Robert Poole 4 Oct 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Battery Milliken was casemated during World War II.
Battery Milliken was a part of the Harbor Defenses of New Bedford plan throughout World War II. When the war ended in 1945 the battery was declared surplus and the guns and carriages were processed for salvage.
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort Rodman, Bristol County, Massachusetts
