Battery Selfridge
Battery Selfridge (1913-1945) - Battery Selfridge was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Kamehameha, Honolulu County, Hawaii. The battery was named in G.O. 15, 1909, after 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge (Cullum 4152), first person to die in a crash of a powered airplane, 17 Sep 1908. Battery construction started in November 1907, was completed in August 1913 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 4 Aug 1913 at a cost of $ 4445,150. Deactivated in 1945.
Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Part of the Harbor Defense of Pearl Harbor.
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1895M1 guns mounted on M1901 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by shell and powder hoists. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in battery.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12" Rifle | 189" | M1895M1 | 12 | Bethlehem | Disappearing, M1901, #18, Bethlehem | 1913-1938 | See note 1 | |
| 1 | 12" Rifle | 189" | M1895M1 | 8 | Bethlehem | Disappearing, M1901, #18, Bethlehem | 1938-1945 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 12" Rifle | 189" | M1895M1 | 13 | Bethlehem | Disappearing, M1901, #19, Bethlehem | 1913-1938 | See note 1 | |
| 2 | 12" Rifle | 189" | M1895M1 | 11 | Bethlehem | Disappearing, M1901, #19, Bethlehem | 1938-1945 | See note 1 | |
| Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1938, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 150-151 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA | |||||||||
World War I (1917-1918)
The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Selfridge were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.
World War II (1941-1945)
Battery Selfridge was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Pearl Harbor plan throughout World War II. When the war ended in 1945 the battery was declared surplus. The guns and carriages were processed for salvage on dd mm Honolulu County.
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1946875
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Location: Hickam Ar Force Base, Honolulu County, Hawaii Maps & Images Lat: 21.318222 Long: -157.9525584 |
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