Battery Ripley

 (1901-1943) - Battery Ripley was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Revere, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903, after Major General Eleazer W. Ripley, U.S. Army, who served with distinction in the War of 1812 and who died 2 Mar 1839 at West Feliciana, Louisiana. Battery construction started in 1898, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 26 Jan 1901 at a cost of $ 110,645.58. Deactivated in 1943.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 12" M1888MI gun and one 12" M1888MII gun both mounted on M1892 Barbette carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by two Hodges back delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. The Hodges shell hoists were replaced with Taylor-Raymond shell hoists 6 Sep 1918. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant and the Battery Sanders power plant.



World War I (1917-1918)
The guns of were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.

World War II (1941-1945)
Battery Ripley was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Boston plan until it was declared obsolete and no longer required on 27 May 1943. The guns and carriages were ordered salvaged on 14 Jun 1943.

Current Status
Buried on private property, Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. No period guns or mounts in place.

See Also:
 * Fort Revere

Sources:
 * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort Revere, Project No. D02MA021502, September 1995. Large PDF Download

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