Fort Rosecrans
Fort Rosecrans (1852-1959) - Established 26 Feb 1852 as the Fort at Ballast Point and renamed Fort Rosecrans in 1899 after Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans. Located in San Diego County, California. The military reservation was transferred to the U.S. Navy Department 1 Jul 1959.
Fort Rosecrans History
Part of the Harbor Defense of San Diego. Established to protect the entrance to San Diego Harbor.
The initial fortifications were planned for Ballast Point about the location of the old Spanish Fort Guijarros but actual construction of earthworks didn't begin until 1873. Plagued by a chronic lack of funds, the first batteries weren't completed until 7 Feb 1898. Five Endicott Period Batteries were constructed and remained active through 1943. Two Taft Period batteries, three World War II temporary batteries, and four 1940 program batteries were constructed over the years. On 1 Jul 1959 the reservation was transferred to the Navy Department.
Endicott Period (1890-1910)
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Calef-Wilkeson | 1 3 |
10" 10" |
Disappearing Disappearing |
1898-1899-1900-1942 1897-1898-1898-1942 |
$ 217,262 | Emp #1 Emp #2,3,4 |
| Battery McGrath | 2 2 |
5" 3" |
Balanced Pillar Pedestal |
1899-1900-1900-1917 1919-1943 |
$ 18,204 | Guns to France From Fort Pio Pico, Battery Meed |
| Battery Fetterman | 2 | 3" | Masked Pedestal | 1898-1903-1903-1920 | $ 8,865 | Destroyed 1940 |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
Taft Period (1905-1915)
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Whistler | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1916-1919-1919-1942 | $ 118,000 | Mortars from Battery Laidley, Fort De Soto, modified |
| Battery White (2) | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1915-1919-1919-1942 | $ 144,200 | Mortars from Battery Rodney, Fort DuPont (1) |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
World War II (1941-1945)
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Zeilin | 2 | 7" | Pedestal Mount | 1937-1943 | $ ? | Naval Guns Buried |
| Battery Gillespie | 3 | 5" | Pedestal Mount | 1937-1943 | $ ? | Naval Guns |
| Battery Strong | 2 | 8" | Barbette Carriage | 1937-1937-1942-1946 | $ 100,726 | LR Navy Guns |
| Battery 126 Battery Ashburn |
2 | 16" | Casemated Barbette | 1942-1944-1944-1948 | $ 1,323,912 | LR Navy Guns |
| Battery 237 Battery Woodward |
2 | 6" | Barbette with Shield | 1943-1943-1944-1946 | $ 255,912 | |
| Battery 238 Battery Humphreys |
2 | 6" | Barbette with Shield | 1942-1943-1944-1946 | $ 199,661 | |
| Battery 155 - Point Loma | 4 | 155mm | Panama Mounts | 1941-1941-1942-1943 | $ 7,166 | |
| Battery AMTB - Fetterman | 2 | 90mm | AMTB Fixed | 1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ 19,600* | * shared by 3 batteries |
| Battery AMTB - Cabrillo | 2 | 90mm | AMTB Fixed | 1943-1943-1943-1946 | $ 19,600* | * shared by 3 batteries |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
Current Status
Active military reservation and Cabrillo National Monument.
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Location: Point Loma, San Diego, San Diego County, California. Maps & Images Lat: 32.676012 Long: -117.237682 |
Sources:
- Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 33
- Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 29-30
- 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 85
- CABRILLO: The Guns of San Diego Historic Resource Study, NPS
- The Journal of San Diego History
Links:
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Fort Rosecrans Picture Gallery
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