Battery Langdon

Battery Langdon (1917-1945) - Battery Langdon was a reinforced concrete, World War I 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Pickens, Florida. The battery was named in G.O. 13, 27 Mar 1922 after BG Loomis L. Langdon. Battery construction started 1 Apr 1917, was completed 17 May 1921 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 3 Mar 1923 at a cost of $ 309.486.32. Deactivated in 1947.

Battery Langdon Casemate #1

Battery Langdon Casemate #2

Battery Langdon History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Pensacola.

World War I

Originally built as an World War I concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1895MI guns mounted on M1917 carriages on open gun pads. A common reinforced concrete magazine and support structure was located between the two gun pads and serviced both pieces. The support structure was earth covered but the two gun pads were unprotected.

The M1917 Barbette carriages allowed a high angle of fire and increased the range of the M1895MI guns and the open pads allowed a 360 degree field of fire. The battery was not completed until February 1923 but the armament was not mounted until early summer 1923 and was finally test fired on 8 Aug 1923.

Battery Langdon Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	442.56"	M1895MI	A4	14	Bethlehem	Barbette, M1917-A2, #19, Robert Poole	1923-1947	See note 1
2	12" Rifle	442.56"	M1895MI	A4	62	Watervliet	Barbette, M1917-A2, #25, Watertown	1923-1947	See note 2
Source: RCW Form 1, 30 Jun 1925, 1 Jul 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 154-155, 212 Note 1: Gun transferred from Watervliet 17 Jul 1918, carriage transferred from Robert Poole 5 Apr 1919. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Gun transferred from Watervliet 16 Jul 1918, carriage transferred from Watertown 17 Jan 1919. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Langdon Plan

World War II

At the beginning of World War II a decision to casemate most of the 12' open pad Barbette mounted batteries was taken to protect the guns and crews from long range ship and aircraft bombardment. Battery Langdon was selected to be casemated and work was begun 1 Nov 1942. The casemates and supporting magazine structure were massive reinforced concrete structures with 10' thick walls and 17' thick overhead concrete ceilings. The central structure between the two casemates housed shell and powder rooms as well as plotting rooms and fire control infrastructure. The casemates were completed on 31 July 1943 and accepted for service on 21 Jun 1943. In 1947, after the end of World War II the Harbor Defenses of Pensacola were declared surplus and the guns and carriages of Battery Langdon were scrapped.

Battery Langdon Plan

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place and there are locked steel doors preventing public entry to the Battery rooms.

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Location: Fort Pickens, Florida Maps & Images Lat: 30.31853 Long: -87.262505 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 14.72'

Sources:

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

Links:

Visited: 16 Dec 2009

Battery Langdon Picture Gallery

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  Battery Langdon Center Entrance
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  Battery Langdon Casemate #1
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  battery Langdon Casemate #2 Entrance