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 Colonel 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 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. An unnamed 155mm battery was removed in 1943 to clear the field of fire for Battery 212.

Fort Church World War II Battery (edit list)

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

Fort Church East Plan

Fort Church South Plan

Fort Church North Plan

Current Status

{"selectable":false,"width":"500"}

Location: Sakonnet Point, in Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. Maps & Images Lat: 41.469615 Long: -71.177673 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: '

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
• CDSG

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Church

Visited: No

Fort Church Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!