Battery Godfrey

 (1896-1942) - Battery Godfrey was a reinforced concrete Endicott Period 12" inch gun battery on Fort Winfield Scott (2), San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in General Order 16, 14 Feb 1902, after Captain George J. Godfrey, 22nd U.S. Infantry, killed in action 3 Jun 1899 in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Battery construction started in 1892, was completed in 1896 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 19 Aug 1896. Guns and carriages scrapped 19 Nov 1942.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Battery Godfrey was the first 12" Gun battery built on Fort Winfield Scott and the first in the United States. It was initially built as a 12", three gun, concrete battery with M1888 rifles mounted on M1892 Barbette carriages. Construction began in 1892 and was completed in 1896 and it was transferred for service 19 Jul 1896 but the last gun carriage did not arrive until 21 Jan 1897. The battery was named for Captain Godfrey in 1902.

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 three electric Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was initially furnished by an emplacement power plant in emplacement #1 until the new central power plant came on line in 1910.



World War I (1917-1918)
The 12" guns of were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.



World War II (1941-1945)
Battery Godfrey was obsolete at the beginning of the war and slated to be deactivated as the new batteries of the modernization program came on line. The guns and carriages were ordered salvaged on 19 Nov 1942 as a part of the first large scale scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status
No gun or mounts in place.

Sources:
 * , page 32

Links: 
 * California Military Museum - Battery Godfrey
 * AngelFire - Battery Godfrey
 * National Park Service - Battery Godfrey