Battery AMTB - Baker Beach (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB - Baker Beach was a reinforced concrete World War II rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Winfield Scott, California. AMTB stands for Anti Motor Torpedo Boat. Battery construction started 29 Jun 1943, was completed 6 Sep 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 18 Jan 1944. Deactivated in 1946.
The AMTB battery at Baker Beach consisted of two 90mm gun mounted on 90mm M3 gun mounts and two 90mm guns on mobile M1A1 carriages. Concrete pads for both these guns were laid at Baker Beach directly in front of the MCII and MCIII Combined Mine Casemate. 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.
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)
Source: 1. RCW Form 1, Oct 1943 2. CDSG 3. 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, 217. 4. Armament Data - Harbor Defenses of San Francisco, undated, NARA RG165, E257 Box 68 - Bolling Smith.
Battery AMTB - Baker Beach Plan
Current Status
Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. No period guns or mounts in place, concrete pads not visible.
