Battery Urmston

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Battery Urmston (1903-1946) - Battery Thomas Urmston was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Hancock (2), New Jersey. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Bvt. Capt. Thomas Urmston, U.S. Army (1st Lt., 12th U.S. Infantry), who was killed in action at Chapel House , Virginia, 1 Oct 1864. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1903 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 27 feb 1903 at a cost of $ 25,400.00. Deactivated in 1946.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Southern New York.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 3" M1898 Driggs-Seabury guns mounted on Masking Parapet mounts. The battery was divided into two separate sets of gun emplacements each set with two guns and its own magazine(s). In 1903 an additional set of emplacements was begun between the original two sets but the two new emplacements were not armed until 1909. They were then armed with two 3" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 pedestal mounts.

Battery Urmston Armament (edit list)
Empl
No
Caliber
Type
Barrel
Length
Model Serial
No
Manufacturer Carriage Service
Dates
Notes
1 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 89 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898,
#89, Driggs-Seabury
1903-1920 See note 1
2 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 90 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898,
#90, Driggs-Seabury
1903-1920 See note 1
3 3" Rifle 170" M1903 75 Watervliet Pedestal, M1903,
#59, Watertown
1909-1946 See note 2
4 3" Rifle 170" M1903 76 Watervliet Pedestal, M1903,
#60, Watertown
1909-1946 See note 2
5 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 101 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898,
#101, Driggs-Seabury
1903-1920 See note 1
6 3" Rifle 154.5" M1898MI 102 Driggs-Seabury Masking Parapet, M1898,
#102, Driggs-Seabury
1903-1920 See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Jul 1921, 15 Sep 1943, RCB, 31 Oct 1903, 31 Dec 1909, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 70-71, 74-75, 207
Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet 17 Aug 1920, carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Note 2: Carriages transferred from Watertown 28 Apr 1909. Guns and carriages declared obsolete 18 Oct 1945 and processed for salvaging 28 May 1946. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA
Battery Urmston 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 gun tubes of Battery Urmston were not part of the World War I redistribution but the four 3" Driggs-Seabury guns were ordered removed on 27 Mar 1920 as a part of the 1920 disarmament plan. The two 3" M1903 guns remained in place.

World War II (1941-1945)

The two remaining 3" M1903 guns were declared obsolete on 18 Oct 1945 and processed for salvage 28 may 1946.

Current Status

Part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Hancock Unit. No period guns or mounts in place.


Location: Fort Hancock, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Maps & Images

Lat: 40.4709613 Long: -74.0086859

  • Multi Maps from ACME
  • Maps from Bing
  • Maps from Google
  • Elevation: Gun #3&4= 25.5', Gun # 5&6= 25.16'

Sources:

Links:

Visited: 14 Aug 2010



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