Camp Hayden
Camp Hayden (1944-1948) - A World War II Coastal Artillery Camp. Named for Gen. John L. Hayden a former commanding officer of the Puget Sound harbor defenses. Camp Hayden was abandoned in 1948.
Camp Hayden History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound.
In 1941, temporary batteries were installed near Port Angeles and Angeles Point to protect the entrance to Puget Sound, the Victoria BC harbor, and the Canadian naval base at Esquimalt. These batteries supplemented the fixed batteries at Fort Casey, Fort Flagler and Fort Worden.
The temporary installations were eventually replaced by the Camp Hayden military reservation and it's two fixed gun batteries. Battery 249 contained two 6" guns and Battery 131 housed two large 16" guns mounted in reinforced concrete casemates. The 16" guns could fire a one ton projectile almost 28 miles and the 6" rapid fire guns could fire a 105 pound armor-piercing shell 15 miles at a rate of 5 rounds per minute.
Facitities, including barracks for about 150 men, were build along Salt Creek.
The guns were test-fired only once before the Camp closed in 1948.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 249 | 2 | 6" | Shielded Barbette (SBC) | 1943-1945-1945-1947 | $ 350,000 | |
| Battery 131 | 2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | 1942-1945-1945-1948 | $ 1,557,500 | |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
Current Status
Part of the Clallam County Salt Creek Recreation Area in Washington State. No period guns or carriages in place. Battery 131 accessible to the public but no access to internal rooms. Battery 249 accessible via overgrown trail not recommended by staff.
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Location: Camp Hayden is located off Washington Hwy. 112 on strip of land called Tongue Point west of Port Angeles. Maps & Images Lat: 48.163824 Long: -123.698587 |
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Links:
Visited: 22 Jun 2009
Camp Hayden Picture Gallery
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