16 inch Coast Gun M1919
Encyclopedia
The 16 inch Coastal Defense Gun M1919 was a large artillery piece installed to defend the United States
' major seaports between 1920 and 1946.
. It was eventually mounted on a disappearing carriage
in Fort Grant, Panama Canal Zone
, where it served until scrapped in 1943.
The second 16 inches (406.4 mm) was the United States Army
50 caliber Model 1919 (M1919). It was deployed to Fort Michie
, Great Gull Island
, New York
. An additional six of the Army designed M1919 gun were built and deployed.
In 1922, the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty
caused the US Navy to cancel the South Dakota class battleship
s and the Lexington class
battlecruiser
s, surplusing 16-inch/50 caliber Mark II and Mark III barrels. These 20 guns were transferred to the Army, who built a new version of the M1919 mount for the naval guns.
On 27 July 1940, the Army's Harbor Defense Board recommended the construction of 27 16-inch gun batteries to protect strategic points along the US coastline. Typical of this plan were the guns placed to protect Narragansett Bay
, two 16-inch guns were placed in Battery Gray, Fort Church, Little Compton, Rhode Island
and two more were placed in Battery Hamilton, Fort Greene, Point Judith
. A second battery of 16-inch guns at Fort Greene, Battery 109, had construction suspended in 1943 and never received guns. These batteries were placed such that they not only protected Narraganset Bay, but interdicted the main channels into Buzzards Bay
and the east end of Long Island Sound
.
was used in directing these guns.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' major seaports between 1920 and 1946.
History
The first 16-inch gun was started in 1895 (M1895) and completed in 1902 by the Watervliet ArsenalWatervliet Arsenal
The Watervliet Arsenal is an arsenal of the United States Army located in Watervliet, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River. It is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States, and today produces much of the artillery for the army, as well as gun tubes for cannons, mortars,...
. It was eventually mounted on a disappearing carriage
Disappearing gun
A disappearing gun is a type of heavy artillery for which the gun carriage enabled the gun to rotate backwards and down into a pit protected by a wall or a bunker after it was fired...
in Fort Grant, Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, where it served until scrapped in 1943.
The second 16 inches (406.4 mm) was the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
50 caliber Model 1919 (M1919). It was deployed to Fort Michie
Fort Michie
Fort Michie was a US coastal defense site on Great Gull Island, New York. Along with Fort H. G. Wright, Fort Terry and Camp Hero, it defended the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound....
, Great Gull Island
Great Gull Island
Great Gull Island is a island separating Long Island and Block Island sounds, located approximately southwest of Little Gull Island. Both islands are located in Suffolk County, New York, and lie roughly midway between Plum Island and Fishers Island....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. An additional six of the Army designed M1919 gun were built and deployed.
In 1922, the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty
Washington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
caused the US Navy to cancel the South Dakota class battleship
South Dakota class battleship
South Dakota class battleship may refer to either of two battleship classes of the United States Navy:*South Dakota class battleship , a class of six ships authorized but never completed...
s and the Lexington class
Lexington class battlecruiser
The Lexington-class battlecruisers were the only class of battlecruiser to ever be ordered by the United States Navy.The Lexington class were the only class of U.S. Navy ships to be officially referred to as battlecruisers. The World War II-era , officially classified as "large cruisers", but some...
battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
s, surplusing 16-inch/50 caliber Mark II and Mark III barrels. These 20 guns were transferred to the Army, who built a new version of the M1919 mount for the naval guns.
On 27 July 1940, the Army's Harbor Defense Board recommended the construction of 27 16-inch gun batteries to protect strategic points along the US coastline. Typical of this plan were the guns placed to protect Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
, two 16-inch guns were placed in Battery Gray, Fort Church, Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. Its population was 3,492 at the time of the 2010 census. Little Compton is located in southeastern Rhode Island, between the Sakonnet River and the Massachusetts state border...
and two more were placed in Battery Hamilton, Fort Greene, Point Judith
Point Judith
Point Judith is a village and a small cape, on the coast of Narragansett, Rhode Island, on the western side of Narragansett Bay where it opens out onto Rhode Island Sound....
. A second battery of 16-inch guns at Fort Greene, Battery 109, had construction suspended in 1943 and never received guns. These batteries were placed such that they not only protected Narraganset Bay, but interdicted the main channels into Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay (bay)
Buzzards Bay is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is approximately 28 miles long by 8 miles wide. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and tourism. Since 1914, Buzzards Bay has been connected to Cape Cod Bay by the Cape Cod Canal...
and the east end of Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
.
Specifications
The gun fired a 2240 lb (1,016 kg). projectile to a range of 26 miles (41.8 km). The estimated cost of the gun and barbette was $520,000 in 1938. The new M1 Gun Data ComputerGun Data Computer
The gun data computer is a series of artillery computers used by the U.S. Army, for coastal artillery, field artillery, and antiaircraft artillery applications...
was used in directing these guns.
Surviving examples
- All but one of these guns were scrapped by 1950. The remaining piece is at the US Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, MarylandAberdeen, MarylandAs of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
, 39°29′22.9"N 76°08′21.6"W.
See also
- List of the largest cannon by caliber
- Seacoast defense in the United States
General references
- TM 9-2300 Standard Artillery and Fire Control Materiel FEB. 1944
- TM 4-210 Seacoast Artillery Weapons Oct. 1944
- TM 9-471
- SNL E-10
- SNL E-20
- SNL E-58
- American Coast Artillery Materiel 1922 http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15040coll1/id/361/rec/2 (extensive manufacturing information)
External links
- United States War Department TM 9-471 Technical Manual 16-inch Seacoast Gun Matériel Gun Mk II M1 Barbette Carriage M4. November 3, 1942
- History of Fort Tilden - 16-inch Gun Technical Data (Archived 2009-05-06)
- http://www.cdsg.org/
- http://www.cdsg.org/press2.htm TM 4-210