Battery Fetterman

Battery Fetterman (1903-1920) - Battery Fetterman was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after 2nd Lt. George Fetterman, 3rd U.S. Artillery, who died 27 Jun 1844. Battery construction started in May 1898, was completed 13 Feb 1903 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 30 Apr 1903 at a cost of $ 8,865. Guns and carriages removed in 1920. Endicott Period (1890-1920) Part of the Harbor Defense of San Diego. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 3" M1898MI guns mounted on M1898 Masking parapet mounts. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electric power was furnished by the central electric plant and later by commercial power. Sometime before 31 Dec 1907 the gun tube and upper carriage #95 were replaced with gun tube and upper carriage #69. Battery Fetterman Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 95 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #95, Driggs-Seabury 1903-1907 See note 2 1 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 69 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #69, Driggs-Seabury 1907-1920 See note 1 2 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 96 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898, #96, Driggs-Seabury 1903-1920 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1,15 Sep 1925, RCB, 10 Oct 1903, 31 Dec 1907, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 70-71 Note 1: Gun transferred to Watervliet 9 Jul 1920, carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Original gun and upper carriage # 95 replaced sometime before 31 Dec 1907 with #69. Original base # 95 retained. RCB 31 Dec 1907, CDSG Battery Fetterman Plan World War I (1917-1918) The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Fetterman were not affected by the World War I redistribution but the guns and carriages were removed during the 1920 disarmament program. The removal was approved on 27 Mar 1920 and the guns were transferred to Watervliet on 9 Jul 1920. The carriages were ordered scrapped on 26 May 1920 World War II (1941-1945) The battery structure was completely demolished in 1940, just before World War II. Current Status Battery destroyed no period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California Maps & Images Lat: 32.683889 Long: -117.236944 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 22.2' Sources: CABRILLO - The Guns of San Diego Links: CDSG Visited: No