Battery Berry

 (1901-1943) - Battery Berry was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort McKinley, Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Major General Hiram G. Berry, U.S. Volunteers, a native of Maine, who was killed in action at Chancellorsville, Virginia, 2 May 1863, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1897, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 16 Apr 1901 at a cost of $ 111,056.92. Deactivated in 1943.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing 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 Taylor-Raymond back delivery shell hoists. No powder hoists were provided. Both M1896 disappearing carriages were supplied with retracting motors. Electrical power was furnished by the central 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 Berry was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland plan during World War II until 15 Aug 1943 when the battery was declared obsolete and ordered salvaged. The guns and carriages were ordered salvaged on 31 Aug 1943.

Current Status
Mostly private property on Great Diamond Island, Cumberland County, Maine. No period guns or mounts in place.

Sources:
 * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort McKinley Military Reservation D01ME042402, December 1994, Portland, ME. Large pdf download

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