Battery Crosby

Battery Crosby (1900-1943) - Battery Crosby was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Winfield Scott (2), San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after 1st Lt. Franklin B. Crosby, 4th U.S. Artillery, who was killed in the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, on 3 May 1863 during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started 3 Jun 1899, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 2 Aug 1900 at a cost of $59,038.57. Deactivated in 1943. Battery Crosby Firing Practice Round Battery Crosby Emplacement #2 Battery Crosby Lower Level Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. Battery Crosby Shell Delivery Platform Originally built between 1899 and 1900 as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" M1897MI rapid fire guns mounted on Limited Fire (L.F.) M1898 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, back delivery, hand operated, Hodges Hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the central power plant. Battery Crosby Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 6" Rifle 277.85" M1897MI 30 Watervliet Disappearing, M1898, #6, Watertown 1900-1943 See note 1 2 6" Rifle 277.85" M1897MI 28 Watervliet Disappearing, M1898, #5, Watertown 1900-1943 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1,1 Sep 1923, 1 Mar 1920, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 94-95, 215 Note 1: Guns shipped to Watervliet 6 Dec 1943, carriages ordered salvaged 24 Jul 1943, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Crosby 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 Crosby were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. Battery Crosby Aerial 1938 World War II (1941-1945) Used to protect the approaches to the Golden Gate and the mine fields in the main shipping channel. Declared obsolete in 1943 and the guns and carriages were removed that year. The guns were sent back to Watervliet Arsenal and the carriages were scrapped. Current Status Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. No gun or mounts in place. Location: Fort Winfield Scott, above Baker Beach, San Francisco County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.798412 Long: -122.48032 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 176.4' Sources: Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 37 U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project Harbor Defenses of San Francisco, (CCA-P-SFB), 15 Nov 1945, CDSG Links: AngelFire - Battery Crosby NPS - Battery Crosby California Military Museum - Battery Crosby CDSG Visited: 22 Aug 2009