Battery Church

Battery Church (1901-1901) - Battery Church was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 10 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Monroe, Virginia. The battery was named in G.O. 105, 9 Oct 1902, after 1st Lt. Albert E. Church, who, when 1st Lt. of the 3rd U.S. Artillery, was appointed a professor of mathematics at the Military Academy at West Point, and who died 30 Mar 1878, at West Point, New York. Battery construction started on 1 Dec 1897, was completed in December 1900 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 3 Jan 1901 at a cost of $ 90,473.33. Deactivated in 1942.

Fort Monroe, Battery Church BC and Plotting Rooms	Fort Monroe Battery Church Gun Emplacement #1
Fort Monroe, Battery Church from the Rear
Fort Monroe, Battery Church from the Exposed Front

Battery Church History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Chesapeake Bay.

Endicott Period

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 10" M1895MI guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages.

Battery Church Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	10" Rifle	369"	M1895MI		32	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1896, #33, Watertown	1901-1942	See note 1
2	10" Rifle	369"	M1895MI		33	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1896, #51, Watertown	1901-1942	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Jul 1919, 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 ..... Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Church Plan

World War I

The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Church were apparently slated for use abroad because they were ordered retained and remounted in 1918.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Monroe, Virginia Maps & Images Lat: 37.0158857 Long: -76.2988713 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 31.6'

Sources:

Links:

• Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library

Visited: 22 Jul 2010

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