Fort Sherman
Encyclopedia
Fort Sherman is a former United States Army
base located on Toro Point at the Atlantic (northern) end of the Panama Canal
, on the western bank of the Canal directly opposite Colón
(which is on the eastern bank). It was the primary defensive base for the Atlantic sector of the Canal, and was also the center for US jungle warfare
training for some time. Its Pacific-side partner was Fort Amador
. Both bases were turned over to Panama
in 1999.
protected the Pacific side. Construction of Fort Sherman began in January 1912 as a phase of the original 1910 defensive plans. Fort Sherman was named by War Department General Order No. 153 dated November 24, 1911, in honor of General William Tecumseh Sherman
.
The Fort included 23100 acres (93.5 km²) of land, about half of which was covered by jungle. The developed areas included housing, barracks for 300, a small airstrip and various recreational areas. Sherman was the site of the US's first operationally deployed early warning radar
when an SCR-270 was installed there in 1941.
the forested area was used by the United States Army South
(USARSO) Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTC). JOTC was founded in 1951 to train both US and allied Central American forces in jungle warfare, with an enrollment of about 9,000 a year. The JOTC also taught a 10-day Air Crew Survival Course, open to all branches of service, and a four-week Engineer Jungle Warfare Course. Upon completion of the course the Jungle expert badge or patch was awarded.
Between 1966 and 1979 1160 sounding rockets with maximum flight altitudes of 99 kilometres were launched at Fort Sherman http://www.astronautix.com/sites/forerman.htm
The dock at Fort Sherman is now a marina, Shelter Bay Marina, and much of the base is now reclaimed by the rain forest.
Fort Sherman was recently used in the filming of the James Bond
film Quantum of Solace
.
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...
base located on Toro Point at the Atlantic (northern) end of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, on the western bank of the Canal directly opposite Colón
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
(which is on the eastern bank). It was the primary defensive base for the Atlantic sector of the Canal, and was also the center for US jungle warfare
Jungle warfare
Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain.It has been the topic of extensive study by military strategists, and was an important part of the planning for both sides in many conflicts, including World War II and the...
training for some time. Its Pacific-side partner was Fort Amador
Fort Amador
Fort Amador and Fort Grant were former United States Army bases protecting the Pacific end of the Panama Canal at the Panama Bay. Amador was the primary on-land site, lying below the Bridge of the Americas. Grant consisted of a series of islands lying just offshore, some connected to Amador via a...
. Both bases were turned over to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
in 1999.
History
Concurrent with the Canal construction a number of defensive locations were developed to protect it, both with coastal defense guns, as well as military bases to defend against a direct infantry assault. Fort Sherman was the primary Atlantic-side infantry base, while Fort AmadorFort Amador
Fort Amador and Fort Grant were former United States Army bases protecting the Pacific end of the Panama Canal at the Panama Bay. Amador was the primary on-land site, lying below the Bridge of the Americas. Grant consisted of a series of islands lying just offshore, some connected to Amador via a...
protected the Pacific side. Construction of Fort Sherman began in January 1912 as a phase of the original 1910 defensive plans. Fort Sherman was named by War Department General Order No. 153 dated November 24, 1911, in honor of General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
.
The Fort included 23100 acres (93.5 km²) of land, about half of which was covered by jungle. The developed areas included housing, barracks for 300, a small airstrip and various recreational areas. Sherman was the site of the US's first operationally deployed early warning radar
Early warning radar
An early warning radar is any radar system used primarily for the long-range detection of its targets, i.e., allowing defences to be alerted as early as possible before the intruder reaches its target, giving the defences the maximum time in which to operate...
when an SCR-270 was installed there in 1941.
Batteries
The fort contained the following batteries- Baird 4-12-inch mortars
- Howard 4-12-inch mortars
- Stanley 1-14-inch Disappearing gunDisappearing gunA 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...
- Mower 1-14-inch Disappearing gunDisappearing gunA 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...
- Kilpatrick 2-6-inch Disappearing gunDisappearing gunA 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...
- Sedgwick Pratt 2-12-inch M1895 BarbetteBarbetteA barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection...
- Alexander Mackenzie (engineer)Alexander Mackenzie (engineer)Alexander Mackenzie was born May 25, 1844, in Potosi, Wisconsin and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1864.Commissioned in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, he served with the Union Army in Arkansas in 1864-65...
2-12-inch BarbetteBarbetteA barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection... - 4-155-mm guns
- 4-75-mm guns
Modern use
After the decommissioning of the U.S. Army Coast Artillery CorpsU.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps
The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps was a Corps level organization responsible for coastal and harbor defense of the United States between 1901 and 1950.-History:...
the forested area was used by the United States Army South
United States Army South
United States Army South is the Army's service component command of United States Southern Command whose area of focus includes 31 nations and 10 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.-Mission:...
(USARSO) Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTC). JOTC was founded in 1951 to train both US and allied Central American forces in jungle warfare, with an enrollment of about 9,000 a year. The JOTC also taught a 10-day Air Crew Survival Course, open to all branches of service, and a four-week Engineer Jungle Warfare Course. Upon completion of the course the Jungle expert badge or patch was awarded.
Between 1966 and 1979 1160 sounding rockets with maximum flight altitudes of 99 kilometres were launched at Fort Sherman http://www.astronautix.com/sites/forerman.htm
The dock at Fort Sherman is now a marina, Shelter Bay Marina, and much of the base is now reclaimed by the rain forest.
Fort Sherman was recently used in the filming of the James Bond
James Bond (film series)
The James Bond film series is a British series of motion pictures based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond , who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. Earlier films were based on Fleming's novels and short stories, followed later by films with original storylines...
film Quantum of Solace
.