Battery King

Battery King (1900-1935) - Battery King was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Totten, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900 after Ltc. William R. King, (Cullum 1999), U.S. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, who served with distinction during the U.S. Civil War and was the designer of a successful counterpoise gun carriage for seacoast guns. Battery construction started in 1898, was completed on 6 Aug 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 6 Aug 1900 at a cost of $ 19,329.49. Deactivated in 1935. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Eastern New York. The Endicott Period mortar battery was built over an 1870s muzzle loaded mortar battery. The battery was built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896 mortar carriages. Battery King Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes A1 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 14 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #51, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 A2 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 16 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #50, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 A3 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 31 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #53, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 A4 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 17 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #52, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 B1 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 13 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #55, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 B2 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 11 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #47, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 B3 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 27 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #54, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 B4 12" Mortar 141.125" M1890MI 18 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #48, Robert Poole 1900-1935 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 15 Apr 1920, 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 144-145, 206 Note 1: Battery King 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 mortars of Battery King were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the subsequent 1920 disarmament program. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Battery buried by the WPA in the 1930s. Location: Fort Totten, New York Queens Countyy, New York Maps & Images Lat: 40.79472 Long: -73.77889 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 76.50' Sources: Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library Links: Visited: 21 Aug 2010