Battery Palmer

Battery Palmer (1900-1945) - Battery Palmer was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Michie, Great Gull Island, Suffolk County, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 30, 19 Mar 1902, after Col. Innis N. Palmer, U.S. Army (Bvt. MG of Volunteers), who served with distinction during the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War, and who died on 10 Sep 1900. Battery construction started in May 1897, was completed 1 Jul 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 12 May 1900 at a cost of $ 129,930.00. Deactivated in 1945. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Long Island Sound. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1897 guns mounted on M1897 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story gun battery with the guns located on the upper level and the two magazines located on the lower level. Shells were moved from the magazine level up to the gun loading platform by two back delivery Taylor-Raymond electric shell hoists. The hoists were transferred for use on 23 Feb 1907. Electrical power was furnished from an internal emplacement power plant. A mine casemate was built at the rear of the center traverse in 1908 and accepted for service on 29 Apr 1908. In 1914 a BC station was built atop the rear traverse of Battery Palmer, it was accepted for service 20 Mar 1914. Battery Palmer Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 12" Rifle 442.56" M1895 26 Watervliet Disappearing, M1897, #2, Robert Poole 1900-1945 See note 1 2 12" Rifle 442.56" M1895 27 Watervliet Disappearing, M1897, #1, Robert Poole 1900-1930 See note 2 2 12" Rifle 442.56" M1895 2 Watervliet Disappearing, M1897, #1, Robert Poole 1931-1945 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 148-149, 206 Note 1: Gun transferred to Watervliet 10 Jan 1946, carriage scrapped 19 Dec 1945. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun to Fort H.G. Wright 4 Jun 1930. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 3: Gun transferred from Watervliet 27 Mar 1931, back to Watervliet 10 Jan 1946, carriage scrapped 19 Dec 1945. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Palmer 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 Palmer were not involved in the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program. Gun # 27 was removed to Fort H.G. Wright on 7 May 1930 to replace gun #2 that had been sent back to Watervliet. When gun #2 was returned from Watervliet it was sent back to the empty emplacement #2 at Battery Palmer, transferred 27 Mar 1931. World War II Battery Palmer was eliminated from the Harbor Defense Project, Harbor Defense of Long Island Sound and declared excess on 10 Dec 1945. Carriages began to be processed for salvage on 19 Dec 1945 and the remaining guns were transferred to Watervliet 10 Jan 1946. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Great Gull Island, Suffolk County, New York. Maps & Images Lat: 41.202035 Long: -72.118496 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 37.43' 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