Battery Closson

 (1920-1948) - Battery Closson was a reinforced concrete, Taft Period 12 inch coastal gun battery at Ahua Point on Fort Kamehameha, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Named in G.O. 13, 1922, for Brigadier General Henry Whitney Closson, who served in the U.S. Civil War and who died 15 Jul 1917. Battery construction started September 1917, was completed in April 1920 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 4 May 1920 at a cost of $ 302,729.42. Deactivated in 1920.

Taft Period (1905-1915)
Originally built as a Taft Period concrete coastal gun battery at Ahua Point with two 12" M1895M1 guns mounted on M1917 Barbette carriages. This was a single story battery with the guns located on open concrete pads away from the magazine complex. Shells were moved from the magazines to the gun loading platform by shell carts. No shell or powder hoists were provided or needed. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant.

The M1917 Barbette Carriage allowed gun elevations of 35 degrees and azimuth traverses of 360 degree.



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 Closson was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Pearl Harbor plan throughout World War II. The Battery was casemated in 1942. When the war ended in 1945 the battery was declared surplus. The guns and carriages were processed for salvage in 1948.

Current Status
Battery remains on Hickam Air Force Base across from Mamala Bay Golf Course. No period guns or mounts in place.

Sources:
 * Grobmeier, Alvin H., Officers of the U.S. Army and Others in Honor of whom Coast Artillery Forts and Batteries in Hawaii Have Been Named, CDSG News, Vol. 6, No. 4 (Nov. 1992), pp. 66-67

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