Battery Worth (2)

 (1899-1942) - Battery Worth (2) was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Pickens, Escambia County, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Bvt. Major General William J. Worth, U.S. Army, who commanded the forces engaged against the Florida Indians, 1842, and served with distinction in the Mexican-American War. Battery construction started 1897, was completed 1899 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 30 Jun 1899 at a cost of $ 123,093.14. Abandoned 17 Nov 1942 and modified for use as an HECP/HDCP.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896 mortar carriages. The battery was organized with two mortar pits with four mortars each. The two mortar pits are separated by a central magazine that services both pits. The magazine is on the same level as the mortars so no shell hoists are required.



World War I (1917-1918)
On 3 May 1918 Fort Pickens was directed to dismount and prepare for shipment four M1890MI mortars from Battery Worth. The mortars were transferred to Morgan 7 Jun 1918 for modification. These mortars were intended for use overseas but the war ended before they could be processed. The shipped mortars were not returned to Battery Worth and were later scrapped. Each mortar pit was left with two mortars in the #2 and #4 emplacement. This was a preferred configuration because it reduced crowding in the mortar pits and increased efficiency without significantly reducing the rate of fire. This configuration was adopted by most of the 12" mortar batteries in the U.S.

World War II (1941-1945)
Obsolete by the start of World War II, the four remaining mortars and carriages were scrapped early in the war, 6 Dec 1942. The magazines and bombproofs were converted into a combined Harbor Entrance Control Post and Harbor Defense Command Post (HECP/HDCP). The outside wall of Mortar Pit A was modified for a wooden Fire Control Station with two observation levels and an SCR-582 Search Radar on the upper level. This radar provided an overall view of the harbor to the HECP/HDCP.

Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.

See Also:
 * Fort Pickens WWII Radar Site (1)

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