Fort Church
Fort Church (1939-1947) - A World War II Coastal Fort first established as Sakonnet Point Military Reservation in 1939 on Sakonnet Point, in Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. Named Fort Church in General Order #5, 1 May 1940 after Col. Benjamin Church, a colonial citizen soldier. The Army discontinued use in 1947.
World War II
Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.
Acquired in 1939-1942 by condemnation and purchase as three separate parcels of land and known as Fort Church (East), Fort Church (West) and Fort Church (South). First known as Sakonnet Point Military Reservation and then officially named as Fort Church in 1940. One 16", 100 series gun battery, one 8" casemated battery and one 6" 200 series gun battery were planned, one on each parcel of land.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 107 Battery Gray |
2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | 1939-1942-1942-1948 | $ 943,000 | West Reservation |
| Battery Reilly (2) | 2 | 8" | Casemated Barbette (CBC) | 1941-1941-1942-1947 | $ 248,000 | East Reservation |
| Battery 212 | 2 | 6" | Shielded Barbette (SBC) | 1941-1942-1943-1948 | $ 202,905 | South Reservation Built on |
| Battery 155 - Sakonnet Point | 2 | 155mm | Mobile Panama | 1942-1942-1942-1943 | $ 5,400 | |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
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Current Status
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Location: Sakonnet Point, in Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. Maps & Images Lat: 41.48492 Long: -71.27655 |
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 700
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG
- Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library
Links:
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Fort Church Picture Gallery
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