Battery Steele

 (1900-1942) - Battery Steele was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort Terry, Plum Island, Suffolk County, New York. The battery was named in G.O. 30, 19 Mar 1902, after Bvt. MG Frederick Steele, U.S. Army, who served with distinction during the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War, and who died on 12 Jan 1868. Battery construction started in September 1897, was completed in March 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 31 Mar 1900 at a cost of $ 102,593.00. Deactivated in 1942.

Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 10" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines on the lower level. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by two Taylor-Raymond electric shell hoists, one back delivery and one front delivery. One type C powder hoist located in emplacement # 1. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant located in emplacement #2.

In 1914 a combined BC station and plotting room was constructed about 250' to the rear of Battery Steele. The combined facility was accepted for service on 20 Mar 1914 at a cost of $ 4,243.61.



World War I
The two 10" guns of Battery Steele were ordered dismounted for service abroad on 24 Aug 1917 and they were on the dock on 26 Feb 1918. The guns were later ordered remounted and retained and it is assumed that the first set of guns (#4 & #5) was unavailable and that a second set of guns (#25 & #31) was obtained and mounted.

World War II
Guns and carriages ordered salvaged 16 Oct 1942 during the first major scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status
Now on Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) operated by U.S. DHS. No period guns or mounts in place.

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