Fort Miles
Fort Miles (1940-1948) Originally established in 1940 as the Cape Henlopen Military Reservation(MR) and built out as a Coastal Defense Fort during World War II. Named for Lt. Gen. Nelson Appleton Miles on 3 Jun 1941. Coastal Batteries declared surplus 5 May 1948.
Fort Miles History
Part of Harbor Defenses of the Delaware.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 118 Battery Smith (3) |
2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | 1941-1942-1943-1948 | $ 1,326,000 | Navy Guns |
| Battery 119 | 2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | Not Built | $ ? | |
| Battery 519 | 2 | 12" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | 1942-1943-1944-1948 | $ 857,000 | Guns from Battery Haslet, Fort Saulsbury |
| Battery 20 Battery Railway A |
4 | 8" | Railway | 1942-1942-1944-1944 | $ 47,000 | Navy Guns |
| Battery 21 Battery Railway B |
4 | 8" | Railway | 1942-1942-1944-1944 | $ 50,000 | Navy Guns |
| Battery 221 Battery Herring |
2 | 6" | Shielded Barbette (SBC) |
1942-1943-1944-1948 | $ 181,300 | |
| Battery 222 Battery Hunter (1) |
2 | 6" | Shielded Barbette (SBC) |
1942-1943-1943-1947 | $ 150,200 | |
| Battery 22 | 4 | 155mm | Mobile | 1941-1942-1944-1944 | $ 21,480 | |
| Battery AMTB 5A - Fort Miles | 2 2 |
90mm 90mm |
Fixed Pedestal Mobile |
1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ 11,000 | Mostly Buried |
| Battery AMTB 5B - Fort Miles | 2 2 |
90mm 90mm |
Fixed Pedestal Mobile |
1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ 11,000 | 1 Block covered by parking lot |
| Battery 5 | 4 | 3" | Barbette | 1942-1942-1943-1946 | $ 1,400 | |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
World War II
Fort Miles was originally planned to have two 16" gun batteries, Batttery 118 and Battery 119. Battery 119 was canceled and replaced in 1942 by Battery 519 and armed with two 12" guns from Battery Haslet, Fort Saulsbury. Two standard 200 series batteries were built, Battery 221 and Battery 222, as well as two Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat batteries, Battery AMTB 5A and Battery AMTB 5B. The two AMTB batteries replaced an older 3" battery and provided a more reliable, higher rate of fire capability.
In 1942, with the large caliber batteries under construction, 8" railway guns were brought in as temporary protection for the harbor entrance. Two sets of four emplacements were built for the 8" railway guns. These emplacements were large U shaped sand revetments with railroad tracks built through the rear. The 16" guns and the eight 8" railway guns gave Fort Miles tremendous firepower and made it a very powerful coastal fort. In 1944, as the permanent batteries came on line, the railway batteries were removed.
At peak strength, Fort Miles had over 2200 personnel assigned from many different units. To support these personnel several periods of base construction were required, the first in 1940 and another in 1942. Many temporary barracks and other facilities were constructed during during these periods and some of these remain today.
As World War II came to an end in Europe Fort Miles played a role the surrender of the German U-Boat U-858. The U-858 appeared off the Delaware coast on 14 May 1945 and U.S. naval forces took her official surrender at sea. The U-858 was instructed to dock at Fort Miles and the German crew disembarked there.
In 1948 the coastal batteries of Fort Miles were declared surplus and in 1951 portions of the fort were turned over to the U.S. Navy. In 1961 part of the reservation became Fort Miles Army Recreation Area. Defense Department transfered 564 acres to the State of Delaware for Cape Henlopen State Park in 1964. By 1996 the State Park had acquired almost all of the reservation.
Current Status
Cape Henlopen State Park, some period guns and some mounts are on display. Two 8" Railway guns are on display and perhaps one is even mounted on a railway car by the time you read this. A 12" gun tube is displayed at Battery 519 and there are several 3" and 155mm guns on display.
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Location: Lewes, Delaware. Maps & Images Lat: 38.7857278 Long: -75.0953561 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 130-131
- American Forts Network
- North American Forts
- Fort Miles.org
- Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library
Links:
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