Battery AMTB 923

(Did you mean a different Battery AMTB 923)

Battery AMTB 923 (1943-1948) - Battery AMTB 923 was a reinforced concrete World War II AMTB rapid fire 90mm gun battery on Fort Wetherill, Rhode Island. This battery was transferred to Fort Wetherill from Brenton Point, Fort Adams, by June 1944. Deactivated in 1946.

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Narragansett Bay.

The AMTB battery on Fort Wetherill consisted of two 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M3 fixed gun mounts and two 90mm guns mounted on 90mm M1A1 mobile gun mounts. The battery had a dual mission of defense against fast enemy motor torpedo boats and enemy aircraft. The effective range of the guns was about 8,000 yards. Each weapon required a crew of 15, 9 men in the gun squad and 6 men in the ammunition squad.

This battery was transferred from Fort Adams by June 1944 and emplaced on modified 3 inch anti-aircraft gun positions of anti-aircraft battery #1.

The above photos were taken at Fort Monroe, Battery Parrott

From FM 4-91: "This weapon consists of the 90-mm gun M1 and top carriage M1A1 on the 90-mm gun mount M3. The mount M3 is of the turret type, the shielding being constructed of boiler plates. This boiler plate shield provide fragmentation protection only. No shielding is provided at the rear due to the requirements for service of the piece. A sighting port in the shielding in front permits sighting in direction by the gun pointer."

References:

FM 4-91 - 90-MM Gun, Fixed Mount Service of the Piece
FM 4-126 - Antiaircraft Artillery, Service of the Piece, 90-mm Antiaircraft Gun
TM 9-373 - 90-mm Gun M1 and 90-mm Gun Mount T3 (M3)

**Battery AMTB 923 (2) Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates
1	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1	7008	Wheland	Pedestal Mount, M3, #176, GM	1944-1946
2	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1	7180	Wheland	Pedestal Mount, M3, #240, GM	1944-1946
3	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1	?	Unknown	Mobile Mount, M1A1, #?, Unknown	1944-1946
4	90mm Rifle	186.15"	M1	?	Unknown	Mobile Mount, M1A1, #?, Unknown	1944-1946
Source: RCW Form 1, Aug 1944, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 80-81, 205

Current Status

Remaining gun pads are a part of Fort Wetherill State Park. No period gun or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Wetherill State Park, Jamestown, Conanicut Island, Newport County, Rhode Island. Map point is approximate.
Lat: 41.478° Long: -71.361° Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM

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Sources:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Archives Search Report, Findings, Brenton Point Fire Control Station, August 1995, FUDS Report D01RI032401, Newport, RI, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.
U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Narragansett Bay, (HDNARB-AP-45), 1 Feb 1945, CDSG

Links:

CDSG