Fort Stevens WWII Radar Site

 (1944-1946) - A World War II U.S. Army Radar Site established in 1944. Used to provide fire control information to large caliber (6" and above) coastal gun batteries in the Harbor Defense of the Columbia against enemy warships. Located on Fort Stevens in Clatsop County, Oregon. Closed in 1946.

History


This World War II radar site was located at the rear of the fire control complex on "Fire Control Hill" near the southern boundary of Fort Stevens military reservation.

Constructed under project No. RAD 9-1013 and transferred for use on 5 Apr 1944 as Fort Stevens SCR-296A Radar Site. Construction costs to date of transfer were $7, 413.41. The physical plant consisted of a transmitter building, two power houses each with a 1000 gallon fuel tank, a 100' steel tower and a antenna housing disguised as a Water tank atop the tower. The three buildings and the tower were prefabricated steel units furnished by the Signal Corps. The buildings and the tower were placed on concrete pads and footings installed by the Corps of Engineers who erected all of the structures. Access to the antenna on top of the tower was by a small elevator operated by a 4 horsepower electric motor. The engineering construction work was done by government forces who started on 26 Nov 1943 and finished on 15 Mar 1944.

The radar equipment was installed by the Signal Corps. It required 16.3kW of 120/240 AC, 1 phase, 60 cycle power furnished by commercial power backed up by the two on-site generators. The two 25 kW generators were furnished and installed by the Signal Corps. A small barracks was located between the two generator buildings (not part of the project).

Site Operation
The Radar track data was provided by telephone to support Battery 245 as the primary battery and to secondary batteries including Battery 246 and Battery 247. Battery 245 was a 6" gun battery located on Fort Stevens.

The SCR-296A Radar equipment was declared obsolete by AG letter on 17 Jan 1946. The Tower and radar equipment were to be disposed of while the buildings were to be retained.

Closure
Closed in 1946.

Current Status
Foundation remains of tower base and buildings.

See Also:
 * Fort Stevens
 * Battery 245
 * US Radar Sets
 * SCR-296-A Radar Set
 * Western WWII Radar Sites

Sources:

Links:
 * Fort Stevens RCW-Corrected to 20 Apr 1944, CDSG.