Battery Whiting (1)

Battery Whiting (1) (1910-1942) - Battery Whiting (1) was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Getty, Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Lieutenant Colonel Levi Whiting, 1st U.S. Artillery, who served from 1812 to 1852, and who died 3 Aug 1852. Battery construction started in January 1903, was completed in September 1903 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 7 Jun 1910 at a cost of $ 13,715.13. Guns and carriages moved to Fort Burnside, Battery Whiting (2) in 1942.

Battery Whiting Gun Emplacement #1	Battery Whiting Gun Emplacement #2
Fort Getty, Battery Whiting

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 3" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 Barbette carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines below. No powder or shell hoists were provided. Electric power was furnished from the emplacement power plant at Battery Tousard.

**Battery Whiting (1) Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	3" Rifle	170"	M1903	34	Watervliet	Barbette, M1903, #31, American & British	1910-1942	See note 1
2	3" Rifle	170"	M1903	43	Watervliet	Barbette, M1903, #32, American & British	1910-1942	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Sep 1921, 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 74-75, 205 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Whiting 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 and carriages of Battery Whiting were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.

Battery Whiting CRF Station Plan

In 1922 a concrete C.R.F. station was built 40' southeast of gun emplacement #1 to house a 9' Barr & Stroud coincident rangefinder for Battery Whiting. The C.R.F. station was accepted for service 8 Aug 1922.

World War II

The guns and carriages of Battery Whiting were transferred to Fort Burnside, Battery Whiting (2), in July of 1942.

Current Status

Part of Fort Getty City Park. No period guns or mounts in place.

Location: Fort Getty City Park, Newport County, Rhode Island

Maps & Images

Lat: 41.487825 Long: -71.397883

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 20.84'

Sources:

U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

CDSG

Visited: 29 May 2012