Battery Slemmer

Battery Slemmer (1900-1918) - Battery Slemmer was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort McRee, Escambia County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 16, 14 Feb 1902, after Ltc. Adam J. Slemmer, 4th U.S. Infantry, who was in temporary command of Fort McRee, Florida in 1861. Battery construction started in April 1898, was completed in 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 21 May 1900 at a cost of $ 113,806.47. Deactivated in 1918. Battery Slemmer Observation Station Remains of the Battery Center CRF Station Built on Emplacement #2 of Battery Slemmer Remains of Battery Slemmer on Fort McRee Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 8" M18888MII 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 shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant. Battery Slemmer Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 41 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #14, Pond 1900-1918 See note 1 2 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888MII 10 Bethlehem Disappearing, M1896, #15, Pond 1900-1918 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, 22 Jan 1929, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 110-111 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Slemmer 1898 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. Battery Slemmer's two 8"guns were removed for service abroad in March 1918 and one of the guns actually made it to France before the end of the war, the other gun did not. Battery Slemmer was not rearmed but a C.R.F. station was placed in emplacement #2 and a searchlight was placed in emplacement #1. Current Status Part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key. Open access to all of the Fort McRee area. The remains of Battery Slemmer can be seen but are mostly buried in sand. The battery was originally a two story battery but only the very top level is now exposed and all of the original two stories below are buried in the sand. Normal access to the site is by boat but it is possible to hike along Perdido Key to the fort site. The fort is about five miles from the end of the nearest park road. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort McRee, Escambia County, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 30.325272 Long: -87.317163 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=26.95', Gun #2=27.11' Recent Blog Posts: USForts - Fort McRee on Perdido Key, Florida Sources: Historic Structure Report and Resource Study, Pensacola Harbor Defense Project 1890-1947, Florida Unit, National Park service, March 1982 Links: CDSG Visited: 26 Apr 2013