Battery Chamberlin

 (1904-1917) (1920-1948) - Battery Lowell Chamberlin was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Winfield Scott (2), San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904, after Captain Lowell Chamberlin, 1st U.S. Artillery, a U.S. Civil War veteran who died in 1899. Battery construction started in 1903, was completed in 1904 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 24 Dec 1904 at a cost of $ 100,803.45. Deactivated in 1917. Reactivated and rearmed in 1920 and active until 1948.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with four 6" M1903 guns mounted on M1903 disappearing carriages. No electric power furnished until the new central power plant was brought on line in 1910. Later switched to commercial power.



World War I (1917-1918)


On 24 Aug 1917 it was reported that the four guns of Battery Chamberlin had been ordered dismounted for use abroad and on 18 Jul 1918 it was further reported that they had been transferred to service abroad. The gun cards indicate that these guns were removed and transferred to the Watervliet Arsenal on 31 Dec 1917 for modification and further shipment to France. All four of the guns actually made it to France and they were all returned to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1919.

Three of the M1903 carriages were ordered scrapped 26 May 1920 and the fourth was sent to Benicia Arsenal for spare parts.

In 1920 Battery Chamberlin was rearmed with two 6" M1900 guns mounted on M1900 Barbette carriages to provide a rapid fire defense against fast enemy surface craft. The guns were mounted in gun emplacements #2 and #3 after the emplacements were modified for the Barbette carriages at a cost of $ 3,502.44. The additional level and the bolts for the M1900 barbette carriage can be seen in the photo above.



World War II (1941-1945)
Modifications were made to Battery Chamberlin in 1942 and 1943 that gasproofed the plotting room, modified the loading platforms of emplacements #2 and #3 and added a power plant. These modifications were transferred for use on 23 Nov 1943 at a cost of $ 5,399.39.

In 1944 a generator and circuitry was added to the power room between emplacements #2 and #3 at a cost of $ 418.29, the work was accepted 2 Jun 1944.

In 1948 the M1900 guns and carriages were declared obsolete and scrapped. Battery Chamberlin was the last coast battery deactivated at Fort Winfield Scott.

Current Status
A single 6" M1903 gun, #9, mounted on M1903 carriage #2 is installed in gun emplacement #4. This gun and carriage was donated by the Smithsonian.

Sources:
 * , page 37-38

Links: 
 * Wikipedia - Battery Chamberlin
 * California Military History Museum - Battery Chamberlin
 * National Park Service - Battery Chamberlin
 * AngelFire - Battery Chamberlin]

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Category:Coast Battery Design 6-4-Disappearing