Battery Hale

 (1898-1942) - Battery Hale was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10‑inch coastal gun battery on Fort Greble (2), Newport County, Rhode Island. The battery was named in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Captain Nathan Hale, of the revolutionary forces, who was captured by the British and hanged as a spy, 22 Sep 1776. Battery construction started in March 1879, was completed in May 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 6 Jun 1898 at a cost of $ 99,034.66. Deactivated in 1942.

Endicott Period
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 10" M1888MII guns mounted on M1896 Disappearing carriages. This was a two story battery with the three guns mounted on the upper level and three magazines on the lower level. Three electric Taylor-Raymond back deliver shell hoists, installed in April 1905, moved the shells from the magazine level up to the gun loading platform. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in Battery Mitchell (2).



World War I
On 25 May 1918 one gun of Battery Hale was ordered dismounted for service abroad with a shipping date of 18 Jun 1918. Gun #14 was dismounted and transferred to Watervliet on 18 Jun 1918 but was replaced with a similar model gun, #50, from Fort Wetherill, Battery Walbach, on 13 Dec 1918.

World War II
By the beginning of World War II the three guns and carriages of Battery Hale were obsolete and they were ordered scrapped on 4 Nov 1942 during the first large scale scrap drive of World War II.

Current Status
Part of Dutch Island State Wildlife Management Area Park, Dutch Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. No period guns or mounts in place.

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