Battery 230 (1944-1947) - Battery 230 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. Battery construction started 18 Sep 1942, was completed 15 Feb 1944, and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 29 Feb 1944 at a cost of $ 297,220.00 Deactivated in 1947.
Battery 230 Gun Emplacement #2
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Battery 230 Gun Emplacement #1
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History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Charleston.
Originally built as a World War II concrete coastal gun battery for two 6" T2 rapid fire guns mounted on M4 Shielded Barbette Carriages (SBC) placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. The M4 carriages for the installation were transferred to Battery 230 on 8 Sep 1943 but the gun tubes were not delivered and in fact were never manufactured.
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These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945).
The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
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Battery 230 Armament (edit list)
Empl No
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Caliber Type
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Barrel Length
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Model
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Serial No
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Manufacturer
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Carriage
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Service Dates
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Notes
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1
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6" Rifle
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302.90"
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T2-M1
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?
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?
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Shielded Barbette (SBC), M4, #43, York
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Not Armed
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See note 1
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2
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6" Rifle
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302.90"
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T2-M1
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?
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?
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Shielded Barbette (SBC), M4, #44, York
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Not Armed
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See note 1
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Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Jun 1944, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 104-105, 210 Note 1:
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Current Status
Currently in use as a control center. No period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.
Maps & Images
Lat: 32.757938 Long: -79.8537183
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Recent Blog Posts
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Visited: 23 Jan 2010
Picture Gallery
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Battery 230 Center Entrance
battery 230 Center Exhaust Vents
Battery 230 Gun Emplacement #1 Entrance
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