Battery 248

Battery 248 (1942-1946) - A World War II era Battery built in 1942-1943 as a reinforced concrete Coastal Artillery Battery on Fort Ebey. Guns were removed about 1946 but the concrete Battery support structure and fire control post remain.

Battery 248 History

Battery 248 was a battery of two, 6" rapid fire Barbette mounted guns on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. A separate earth covered reinforced concrete fire control post is located about 300 feet in front of the support structure.

The mounting of the two 6" guns and carriages was completed 1 Feb 1944.

6" Gun at Fort Columbia Originally at Fort McAndrew, Battery 281, Argentia, NL, Canada

These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945).

The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

**Battery 248 Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	309.8"	M1905	A2	13	Watervliet	Barbette, M1, #54, York	1944-(1946 or 1947)	See Note 1
2	6" Rifle	309.8"	M1905	A2	17	Watervliet	Barbette, M1, #55, York	1944-(1946 or 1947)	See Note 1
Source: CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 104-105, 217 Note 1: Guns transferred from Watervliet 17 May 1943, carriages transferred from York 11 Mar 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Current Status

Part of Fort Ebey Washington State Park. No guns or carriages in place. The support structures are in relatively good condition, dry and clean but some graffiti, especially in the fire control structure. Spectacular view of Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound..

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Location: Partridge Point, Whidbey Island, Fort Ebey, Washington

Maps & Images

Lat: 48.217333 Long: -122.762081