Battery AMTB 5B - Fort Miles

 (1943-1946) - Battery AMTB 5B - Fort Miles was a reinforced concrete World War II AMTB rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Miles, Sussex County, Delaware. Battery construction started 1 Jan 1943, was completed 15 Jun 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 21 Dec 1943 at a cost of $11,000.00. Deactivated in 1946.

History
The AMTB 5B battery at Fort Miles consisted of two M1 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M3 fixed gun mounts and two M1 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M1A1 mobile gun mounts. Concrete pads for both of the fixed guns and timber platforms for the two mobile guns were laid at the point of Cape Henlopen. The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.



Current Status
Some remains visible. No period gun or mounts in place.

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