Battery 245: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:51, 16 March 2015

Battery 245 (1944-1947) - A World War II reinforced concrete gun battery built at Fort Stevens (1) between 28 Oct 1942 and 31 Aug 1944 at a cost of $248,578. Officially operational 28 Oct 1944. Deactivated in 1947.

Battery 245, Gun #2, 1945	Battery 245, Back of Battery, 1945

World War II (1941-1945)

Part of the Harbor Defense of the Columbia.

One of three like World War II batteries that provided a "triangle of fire" protection for the mouth of the Columbia River. Battery 245 at Fort Stevens (1), Battery 246 at Fort Columbia and Battery 247 at Fort Canby made up the three points of the triangle.

Armament consisted of two 6", Model T2, 309.9" long rifled guns each mounted in a separate shielded M4 Barbette carriage. Between the two guns was a reinforced concrete bunker housing the ammunition and control mechanisms. The battery was self-contained, with its own power generator, plotting rooms, magazines, and other facilities. It was also designed to be gas-proof in case of chemical attack.

6" Gun at Fort Columbia Originally at Fort McAndrew, Battery 281, Argentia, NL, Canada

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.

The guns now mounted at Fort Stevens (1) are 5" Naval guns in a completed turret and are similar to the originals except that the turret is completely enclosed. These guns and turrets were installed by the State of Oregon in 1985. The original guns were dismantled in 1947 when the fort closed down and the gun tubes were shipped to Fort Miley, Battery 243.

**Battery 245 Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	6" Rifle	309.9"	T2-M1	27	Watervliet	Barbette M4, #7, Wellman Eng. Co.	1944-1947	See Note 1
2	6" Rifle	309.9"	T2-M1	26	Watervliet	Barbette M4, #8, Wellman Eng. Co.	1944-1947	See Note 1
Source: Coast Defense Study Group Note 1: Guns shipped to Fort Miley, Battery 243, 17 Jul 1947, CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Current Status

Battery 245 is located on Fort Stevens (1) Oregon. The battery is open to the public and in good condition. The rooms in the Battery are empty but many are marked by function. Period guns and carriages are in place although they are not the same as the originals.

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Location: Fort Steven, Clatsop County, Oregon

Maps & Images

Lat: 46.207139 Long: -123.971711