Battery AMTB 961
Battery AMTB 961 (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB 961 was a reinforced concrete World War II AMTB rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Williams, Cumberland County, Maine. Battery construction started 18 Feb 1943, was completed 7 Jul 1943 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 27 Nov 1943 at a cost of $ 10,920.85. Deactivated in 1946.
World War II
Part of the Harbor Defense of Portland, Maine.
The AMTB battery at Fort Williams consisted of two 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M3 fixed gun mounts and two 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M1A1 mobile gun mounts. Concrete pads were provided for both fixed guns and often wooden gun platforms were provided for the mobile guns. Two earth covered magazines provided protection for the ammunition. Electric power was provided by two M-7 auxiliary generators. A small 11' by 11' BC Station was provided between the two earth covered magazines.
The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards or 4.5 miles. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.
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The above photos were taken at Fort Monroe, Battery Parrott From FM 4-91: "This weapon consists of the 90-mm gun M1 and top carriage M1A1 on the 90-mm gun mount M3. The mount M3 is of the turret type, the shielding being constructed of boiler plates. This boiler plate shield provide fragmentation protection only. No shielding is provided at the rear due to the requirements for service of the piece. A sighting port in the shielding in front permits sighting in direction by the gun pointer." References:
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Current Status
No period gun or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort Williams Park, Cumberland County, Maine. Maps & Images Lat: 43.622021 Long: -70.208658 |
Sources:
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Portland, Maine, (HDPB-AN-45), 11 Apr 1945, CDSG
Links:
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