Battery Berry

Battery Berry (1901-1943) - Battery Berry was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort McKinley, Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Major General Hiram G. Berry, U.S. Volunteers, a native of Maine, who was killed in action at Chancellorsville, Virginia, 2 May 1863, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 16 Apr 1901 at a cost of $ 111,056.92. Deactivated in 1943. Battery Berry Aerial View Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Portland, Maine. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by two Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Both M1896 disappearing carriages were supplied with retracting motors. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant. Battery Berry Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 12" Rifle 440" M1888MII 2 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #5, Watertown 1901-1943 See note 1 2 12" Rifle 440" M1888MII 1 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #7, Watertown 1901-1943 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 31 May 1919, RCB, 31 Dec 1910, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 138-139 Note 1: Guns and carriages ordered salvaged 31 Aug 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Berry Plan World War I (1917-1918) 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 Berry were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. World War II (1941-1945) Battery Berry was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland plan during World War II until 15 Aug 1943 when the battery was declared obsolete and ordered salvaged. The guns and carriages were ordered salvaged on 31 Aug 1943. Current Status Mostly private property on Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine Maps & Images Lat: 43.687755 Long: -70.192082 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1= 69.078', Gun #2= 69.017' Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort McKinley Military Reservation D01ME042402, December 1994, Portland , ME. Large pdf download U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Portland, Maine, (HDPB-AN-45), 11 Apr 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: No