Battery 127

 (1942-1948) - A World War II era reinforced concrete coastal artillery battery built in 1942-1943 on White Point Military Reservation, a sub-post of Fort MacArthur, California. On 10 Jun 1946 War Department General Order 51 officially changed the name of Battery 127 to Battery Paul D. Bunker in honor of Colonel Paul D. Bunker, Coast Artillery Corps. Guns were scrapped and removed about 1948 but the concrete Battery support structure remains.

History
Part of the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles.

Battery 127 was a battery of two, 16", MarkII-M1, Long Range naval guns on M4-1942 Barbette carriages. Each gun position was in a reinforced concrete casemate. The casemates were 500' apart at either end of an earth covered reinforced concrete support structure. Construction began Apr 1942 and was completed Dec 1943. The Battery was turned over for service 11 Sep 1944 at a cost of $1,256,410.

The 16" guns could fire one-ton projectiles nearly 28 miles and covered most of the northern approach to the Los Angeles Harbor.



Current Status
Part of the White Point Nature Preserve. No guns or carriages in place. Casemates are open to the public but all of the interior Battery rooms are sealed off. No interpretive signage.

Sources:
 * Fort MacArthur Museum
 * Coast Defense Study Group

Links: 
 * Coast Defense Study Group