Battery 234

Battery 234 (1944-1947) - Battery 234 was a reinforced concrete, World War II 6 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Florida. Battery construction started 16 Jan 1943, was completed 1 Jul 1943 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 5 Jun 1944 at a cost of $ 212,482.42. Never armed. Deactivated in 1947.

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  Battery 234 Gun #1.
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  Battery 234 Gun #2.
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  Battery 234 Front View with Both Guns and the Fire Control Tower in View

World War II

Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola.

Originally built as a World War II concrete coastal gun battery for two 6" rapid fire guns mounted on M4 carriages placed on either side of an earth-covered reinforced concrete support structure. A steel and concrete fire control tower was constructed behind the battery. The gun tubes were never delivered and the battery was never armed.

These 6" World War II coastal gun batteries were designed to replace obsolete Endicott Period Batteries. Of the 87 planned only 45 were completed and many of those were not completed until late in the war (1944-1945). The 6" guns fired a 105 pound armor-piercing projectile with a range of over 15 miles at a rate of up to 5 rounds per minute. The gun crews were protected by a thick shield around the gun. Only six of these guns remain in the world, two at Fort Columbia in Battery 246, two at Fort Pickens in Battery 234, and two at Fort McAndrew in Battery 282 in Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Battery 234 Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 6" Rifle ?" ? ? ? Shielded Barbette, M4, #61, Watertown 1944-1947 See note 1 2 6" Rifle ?" ? ? ? Shielded Barbette, M4, #62, Watertown 1944-1947 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, Jun 1944, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 104-105, 212 Note 1: Carriages transferred from Watertown Nov 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery 234 Plan. Current Status Fort Pickens, Battery 234 Fire control Tower with cab on the ground. Two guns were installed in 1976 from Fort John Custis as display pieces. In the 2021 visit, the cab of the fire control tower is now on the ground. Context Location: Fort Pickens, Florida. Lat: 30.321° Long: -87.285° Elevation: 19' Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM Loading map... Links: CDSG Picture Gallery Battery 234 Fire Control Tower Battery 234 Gun #1 Entrance Battery 234 Gun #2 Entrance Battery 234 Interior Corridor Related: Battery 201, Battery 202, Battery 203, Battery 204, Battery 205, Battery 206, Battery 207, Battery 208, Battery 209, Battery 210, Battery 211, Battery 212, Battery 213, Battery 214, Battery 215, Battery 216, Battery 217, Battery 218, Battery 219, Battery 220, Battery 221, Battery 222, Battery 223, Battery 225, Battery 226, Battery 227, Battery 228, Battery 229, Battery 230, Battery 231, Battery 232, Battery 233, Battery 235, Battery 236, Battery 237, Battery 238, Battery 239, Battery 240, Battery 241, Battery 242, Battery 243, Battery 244, Battery 245, Battery 246, Battery 247, Battery 248, Battery 249, Battery 281, Battery 282, Battery 298, CDSG, CDSG Gun Card Collection, Coastal Battery Gun List, Fort Columbia, Fort John Custis, Fort McAndrew, Fort Pickens, Fort Pickens WWII Radar Site, Fort Pickens WWII Radar Site, Fort San Jacinto WWII Radar Site, NARA, World War II,