Battery Barlow (2)

Battery Barlow (2) (1901-1943) - Battery Barlow (2) was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort H.G. Wright, Fishers Island, Suffolk County, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 30, 19 Mar 1902, after MG Francis C. Barlow, U.S. Volunteers, who distinguished himself in the battle of Spottsylvania, 9 May 1864, during the U.S. Civil War, and who died on 11 Jan 1896. Battery construction started in December 1898, was completed in the Fall of 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 7 Mar 1901 at a cost of $ 110,000.00. Deactivated in 1943. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Long Island Sound. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 10" M1895 guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform originally by two electric Hodges back delivery shell hoists. These hoists were replaced in 1915 by two Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists that were accepted for service on 6 Aug 1915. Electric power was furnished by the Battery Butterfield emplacement power plant. The original set of 10" M1895 guns was swapped out in 1914 for a set of M1888II guns. In 1914 a BC station and plotting room were built in the rear of Battery Barlow and accepted for service on 27 Mar 1914. Battery Barlow (2) Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes Original Set 1 10" Rifle 369.15" M1895 5 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #54, Watertown 1901-1914 See note 1 2 10" Rifle 369.15" M1895 10 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #66, Walker 1901-1914 See note 1 Second Set 1 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 47 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #54, Watertown 1914-1936 See note 2 2 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 38 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #66, Walker 1914-1936 See note 2 Third Set 1 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 41 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #54, Watertown 1936-1943 See note 3 2 10" Rifle 367.25" M1888MII 45 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #66, Walker 1936-1943 See note 3 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Nov 1927, 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 124-125, 205 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Guns mounted 17, 23 Oct 1914. Guns ordered scrapped 29 Jan 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 3: Guns transferred from Fort Wetherill 2 Dec 1936. Guns & carriages ordered scrapped 29 Jan 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Barlow Plan World War I 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 Barlow were not affected by the World War I redistribution and the following 1920 disarmament program. In 1936 the 10" M1888MII guns (#47 & #38) were swapped out for a new set (#41 & #45). World War II This battery was not listed in the WWII Harbor Defense Project at all, so it must have been deactivated before the war started but the guns and carriages were retained. On 29 Jan 1943 both the guns and the carriages were ordered scrapped. Current Status Partially buried. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fishers Island, Suffolk County, New York Maps & Images Lat: 41.254545 Long: -72.034347 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=26.31', Gun #2=27.31' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Long Island Sound, (HDLIS-AN-45), 15 Feb 1945, CDSG Links: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Visited: No