Fort Ruckman

Fort Ruckman (1902-1962) - An Endicott Period Coastal Fort first established in 1902 as Nahant Military Reservation (1902-1922) in Nahant, Essex County, Massachusetts. Named Fort Ruckman in G.O. 13, 1922, after Major General John Wilson Ruckman who died 6 Jun 1921. Post abandoned in 1962.

World War I (1917-1918)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Boston, Massachusetts.

On 16 Mar 1918 $ 365,000 was allotted for the construction of the two-gun 12" long-range battery at Nahant Military Reservation which became Fort Ruckman in 1922. Operated as a sub-post of Fort Banks (2) and later went on caretaker status.

Fort Ruckman Endicott Period Battery (edit list)

Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Battery Cost	Notes
Battery Gardner	2	12"	Casemated Barbette Long Range	1924-1946	$ 365,000*	Casemated 1944
Source: CDSG

Fort Ruckman Plan

World War II (1941-1945)

On 30 Jun 1940 the post was shown with only two permanent buildings, one set of NCO quarters for the caretaker and a bathhouse. The total troop capacity of the post was shown as one NCO. One year later, on 30 Jun 1941, the post is shown with a number of temporary WWII buildings including three 63 man barracks, an infirmary, a firehouse, a guardhouse and a mess hall. Capacity had increased to 10 officers, 1 NCO and 189 enlisted men.

The two 12" guns at Battery Gardner were casemated during World War II.

Cold War (1947–1991)

During the Cold War Fort Ruckman housed NIKE missile control site B-17C, Oct 1955 - Dec 1961.

Current Status

Bailey's Hill City Park, Nahant, Essex County, Massachusetts.

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Location: Fort Ruckman, Nahant, Essex County, Massachusetts. Maps & Images Lat: 42.420193 Long: -70.930567 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: '

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 409
• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Boston, Massachusetts, (HDB-AN-45), 31 Jan 1945, CDSG
• Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Ruckman
• Wikipedia - Fort Ruckman
• Ruckman Biography

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Fort Ruckman Picture Gallery

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