Category:Harbor Defense of Grays Harbor

World War II

Almost immediately after the 7 Dec 1841 Japanese attack on Pear Harbor, field artillery units from Fort Lewis were deployed to Willapa Harbor and Grays Harbor with field mounted 155mm and 75mm guns. During World War II the two harbor defenses were considered as one under the Grays Harbor name. The THD Grays Harbor was activated in December 1941.

Following these initial deployments, two 60" searchlights were deployed from the Columbia River HD, one for each harbor. Two more portable searchlights were deployed from the Puget Sound HD with one emplaced at Westport Wye and the other held in reserve.

In January 1942 four 12" Railway Mortars were deployed from the Columbia River HD to Point Brown where they were emplaced and activated.

The defense of both harbors continued under the field artillery units until 31 July 1942 when the Coast Artillery assumed command of the defenses and by 27 Sep 1942 the field artillery units were relieved by Coast Artillery units with 155mm M1A1 guns.

Two fixed Coast Artillery batteries were established, one 6" Navy gun battery (2 guns) at Westport and one 6" DC gun battery (2 guns) at Point Brown in December 1942. The railway mortar battery at Point Brown was deactivated and replaced by the 6" DC battery.

Eight portable 60" searchlights were also part of the defense.

On 1 Nov 1943 the Temporary Harbor Defenses of Grays Harbor was reorganized as a separate group under the Harbor Defenses of the Columbia and on 8 Jan 1944 the units at Grays Harbor and Willapa Harbor were deactivated.

Sources:

• The History of the Western Defense Command, Appendix No. 4 - Chronological History of The Harbor Defenses of Gray’s Harbor, Washington, typescript reprinted by the CDSG Press.