Battery Gunnison

 (1905-1946) - Battery John Gunnison was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period, 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Hancock (2), New Jersey. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Capt. John W. Gunnison, U.S. Topographical Engineers, who was killed by Mormons and Indians near Sevier Lake, 26 Oct 1853. Modernized in 1943 and renamed New Battery Peck. Battery construction started in 1903, was completed in 1905 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 5 Dec 1905 at a cost of $ 45,000. Deactivated in 1946, guns removed from carriages and stored on blocks next to battery. Gun tubes from Battery Livingston mounted sometime before 1948 when the last service practice was fired. Guns and carriages removed in 1964, then returned in 1975.

Endicott Period


Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 disappearing carriages. This was a two-story gun battery with the guns located on the upper level and the central magazine (separate shell and powder rooms) located on the lower level. Manual Hodges shell hoists were provided to move the ammunition from the lower level to the gun loading platform. Gun #2 shell hoist is shown in the photograph and was restored to operational condition for interpretation by the Army Ground Forces Association in 2005.



World War I
The guns of Battery Gunnison were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.

World War II
The gun tubes were removed and transferred back to Watervliet on 10 may 1943 and the carriages were salvaged on 19 Apr 1943. The empty battery was then modified by filling in and raising the gun platforms to accommodate the two M1900 6" guns and Barbette carriages from Battery Peck. A new plotting room was built into the back of the central magazine replacing two utility rooms. The modifications to the battery cost an additional $ 28,747.64.

The modernized battery was designated as New Battery Peck and functioned as an examination battery for ships entering New York Harbor. The examination battery fired warning shots over ships that failed to respond to challenges by the Harbor Entrance Command Post (HECP) atop Battery Potter. If an errant ship failed to respond to the warning shots, Battery Gunnison was capable of destructive fire on those ships. Sand filled warning shots were fired on 12 occasions. Destructive fire was authorized on two occasions but the ships halted as soon as it started. Battery Gunnison maintained this role through the end of World War II.

Current Status
Part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook - The Fort Hancock Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark, New Jersey. Two 6" M1900 guns on M1900 carriages in place. Gun #1 and Gun #2 have operating breech blocks and elevation. Gun #1 has operating traverse. The plotting room has been fitted out to recreate the look and the equipment of the World War II plotting room with much of the equipment operational. This restoration work was performed in partnership with the National Park Service by the Army Ground Forces Association (AGFA). Restoration work and interpretive programming continue.  See "http://www.arnygroundforces.org/" for additional information and articles on restoration/interpretation progress.

Recent Blog Posts:
 * Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook NJ

Sources:

Links: 
 * Army Ground Forces Association (AGFA)
 * Army Ground Forces Association (AGFA)