Battery Worth (2)

Battery Worth (2) (1899-1942) - Battery Worth (2) was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Bvt. Major General William J. Worth, U.S. Army, who commanded the forces engaged against the Florida Indians, 1842, and served with distinction in the Mexican-American War. Battery construction started 1897, was completed 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 30 Jun 1899 at a cost of $ 123,093.14. Abandoned 17 Nov 1942 and modified for use as an HECP/HDCP. Battery Worth Mortar Pit B. Battery Worth Mortar Pit A. Battery Worth Observation Post and WWII HECP. Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896 mortar carriages. The battery was organized with two mortar pits with four mortars each. The two mortar pits are separated by a central magazine that services both pits. The magazine is on the same level as the mortars so no shell hoists are required. Battery Worth (2) Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes A1 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 23 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #109, Providence 1899-1942 See note 1 A2 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 38 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #97, Robert Poole 1899-1942 See note 2 A3 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 3 Niles Mortar, M1896, #99, Robert Poole 1899-1942 See note 1 A4 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 45 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #98, Robert Poole 1899-1942 See note 2 B1 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 5 Niles Mortar, M1896, #129, Robert Poole 1899-1942 See note 1 B2 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 4 Niles Mortar, M1896, #111, Providence 1899-1942 See note 2 B3 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 21 Builders Mortar, M1896, #128, Robert Poole 1899-1942 See note 1 B4 12" Mortar 11.76" M1890MI 18 Builders Mortar, M1896, #110, Providence 1899-1942 See note 2 Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Jun 1925, 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 140-141, 212 Note 1: Mortar tubes sent to Morgan 7 Jun 1918 and carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Mortar tubes and carriages salvaged 6 Dec 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Worth (2) 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. On 3 May 1918 Fort Pickens was directed to dismount and prepare for shipment four M1890MI mortars from Battery Worth. The mortars were transferred to Morgan 7 Jun 1918 for modification. These mortars were intended for use overseas but the war ended before they could be processed. The shipped mortars were not returned to Battery Worth and were later scrapped. Each mortar pit was left with two mortars in the #2 and #4 emplacement. This was a preferred configuration because it reduced crowding in the mortar pits and increased efficiency without significantly reducing the rate of fire. This configuration was adopted by most of the 12" mortar batteries in the U.S. World War II (1941-1945) Obsolete by the start of World War II, the four remaining mortars and carriages were scrapped early in the war, 6 Dec 1942. The magazines and bombproofs were converted into a combined Harbor Entrance Control Post and Harbor Defense Command Post (HECP/HDCP). The outside wall of Mortar Pit A was modified for a wooden Fire Control Station with two observation levels and an SCR-582 Search Radar on the upper level. This radar provided an overall view of the harbor to the HECP/HDCP. Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Pickens, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida. Maps & Images Lat: 30.32348 Long: -87.27935 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 35.33' See Also: Fort Pickens WWII Radar Site (1) Sources: Historic Structure Report and Resource Study, Pensacola Harbor Defense Project 1890-1947, Florida Unit, National Park service, March 1982 Links: CDSG Visited: 5-6 Jan 2018, 30 Dec 2011, 16 Dec 2009 Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Battery Worth Data Booth Battery Worth Center Stairs & Entrance Battery Worth Pit A Entrance