Battery Urmston

 (1903-1946) - Battery Thomas Urmston was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 3 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Hancock (2), New Jersey. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Bvt. Capt. Thomas Urmston, U.S. Army (1st Lt., 12th U.S. Infantry), who was killed in action at Chapel House, Virginia, 1 Oct 1864. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1903 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 27 feb 1903 at a cost of $ 25,400.00. Deactivated in 1946.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 3" M1898 Driggs-Seabury guns mounted on Masking Parapet mounts. The battery was divided into two separate sets of gun emplacements each set with two guns and its own magazine(s). In 1903 an additional set of emplacements was begun between the original two sets but the two new emplacements were not armed  until 1909. They were then armed with two 3" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 pedestal mounts.



World War I (1917-1918)
The gun tubes of Battery Urmston were not part of the World War I redistribution but the four 3" Driggs-Seabury guns were ordered removed on 27 Mar 1920 as a part of the 1920 disarmament plan. The two 3" M1903 guns remained in place.

World War II (1941-1945)
The two remaining 3" M1903 guns were declared obsolete on 18 Oct 1945 and processed for salvage 28 may 1946.

Current Status
Part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Hancock Unit. No period guns or mounts in place.

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