Battery Parrott (1)

 (1906-1943) - Battery Parrott was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Monroe, Virginia. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903 after Capt. Robert P. Parrott, Ordnance Department, U.S. Army, inventor of the Parrott guns and projectiles, who died 24 Dec 1877, at Cold Spring, New York. Battery construction started on 2 May 1902, was completed in April 1906 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 29 Jun 1906 at a cost of $ 211,500.00. Deactivated in 1943.

Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1900 guns mounted on M1901 disappearing carriages.

This is a two-story battery with the guns mounted on the top level and the magazines located on the lower level. Projectiles and powder were moved from the magazines on the lower level to the loading platform on the upper level by hoists, one for each gun emplacement.

The shell hoists were electric motor driven Taylor-Raymond back delivery hoists accepted in 1906. The shell hoists were modified for the newer long point shells in 1913-14.

Power for lighting and electric motors was furnished by a power room in the right flank of the battery and a separate reserve powerhouse also on the right flank of the battery.

A BC Station and plotting room in the rear traverse of the battery was accepted for service 7 Nov 1910 at a cost of $ 3,696.12.



World War I
The guns of Battery Parrott were not affected by the World War I redistribution but the two M1900 gun tubes were swapped out for one M1895 gun tube and one M1895MI gun tube in 1928.

World War II
The guns and carriages were removed in May 1943 to make way for Battery AMTB 23 - Parrott which was built into Battery Parrott's two gun emplacements.

Current Status
Battery Parrot was modified for an AMTB Battery in 1943 and Gun Emplacement #1 now contains one of the few nearly complete AMTB 90mm guns and mounts remaining. This gun is not the original at Fort Monroe but came from the Battery AMTB Fisherman Island installation at Fisherman Island, Virginia. The battery is deteriorating and off limits to all personnel.

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