Battery Leary-Merriam
Battery Leary-Merriam (1916-1944) - Battery Leary-Merriam was a reinforced concrete Taft Period 14" gun battery located on Fort MacArthur, California. The Battery was constructed as a single two gun battery but each gun emplacement was designated as a separate battery. Gun emplacement #1 was named for Brig. Gen. Peter Leary Jr. and gun emplacement #2 was named for Brig. Gen. Henry Clay Merriam. Battery construction started 20 Jan 1916, was completed 10 Oct 1919 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 10 Oct 1919 at a total cost of $251,363. Battery was converted to an HDCP/HECP in 1944.
Battery Leary-Merriam History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Los Angeles.
Battery Leary-Merriam was a reinforced concrete Taft Period gun battery with 2, M1910 MI, 14" guns mounted on M1907MI disappearing carriages. Constructed 1916-1919 and accepted in 1919. Gun # 2 was mounted 24 Apr 1917 and gun # 1 was mounted 14 May 1917. The Battery armament was ordered scrapped 14 Jan 1944 and the Battery was converted into a Harbor Defense Command Post (HDCP) and Harbor Entrance Command Post (HECP) and accepted 7 Nov 1944.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14" Rifle | 48' 3" | M1910MI | 14 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1907MI, #18, Watertown |
1917-1944 | Gun mounted 14 May 1917 | |
| 2 | 14" Rifle | 48' 3" | M1910MI | 16 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1907MI, #19, Watertown |
1917-1944 | Gun mounted 24 Apr 1917 | |
| Source: Coast Defense Study Group, RCW Form 1 11 May 1926, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 158-159 | |||||||||
The main battery complex became the Integrated Fire Control site for the NIKE Air-Defense launch site at Whites Point (1956-1975)
Current Status
Battery is in good condition but the main battery complex was modified during the NIKE years. No guns or carriages in place. Currently the home of the Southern California Marine Exchange.
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Location: On the Upper Reservation of Fort MacArthur, California. Maps & Images Lat: 33.712359 Long: -118.293791 |
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