Battery Whistler

Battery Whistler (1919-1942) - Battery Whistler was a reinforced concrete, Taft Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California. The Battery was named in G.O. 15, 1916 after Colonel Joseph N.G. Whistler who fought in the Mexican War and the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started 15 Mar 1916, was completed 19 Aug 1919 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 19 Aug 1919 at a cost of $ 118,000. Deactivated in 1942.

World War I

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Diego.

Originally built as a Taft Period concrete coastal mortar battery with four 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896MI mortar carriages divided into two mortar pits (A-B) with two mortars in each pit (1-2).

Each mortar pit had a data booth that conveyed azimuth and elevation information to the gun crews and directed the firing. The data booth was attached to the plotting room. In front of the mortar pits was a concrete magazine that stored the shells and powder. The magazine was protected with a thick covering of earth. Shells and powder were wheeled from the magazine to the mortar loading platforms on shot carts.

Battery Whistler Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
A1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		76	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #186, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
A2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		85	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #188, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
B1	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		107	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #189, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
B2	12" Mortar	141.125"	M1890MI		127	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #190, American Hoist	1919-1942	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 19 Aug 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 3rd Edition - PDF, CDSG ePress, McLean, VA, 2012, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 140-142 Note 1: Guns transferred 1 Jul 1917 & mounted 31 Dec 1917, scrapped 18 Dec 1943, Carriage from Fort DeSoto ordered salvaged 5 Nov 1942

Battery Whistler Plan

World War II

The mortars were obsolete at the beginning of World War II and the first major scrap drive of the war in 1942 saw them scrapped.

Current Status

No period guns or mounts in place.

Context

Location: Fort Rosecrans, San Diego County, California
Lat: 32.703° Long: -117.249° Elevation: 354' Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM

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Sources:

• U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of San Diego, (HDSD-AN-45), 1 Jul 1945, CDSG
• Thompson, Erwin N., The Guns Of San Diego: San Diego Harbor Defenses, 1796-1947, Historic Resource Study: Cabrillo National Monument, 1991, San Diego NPS, NPS Online Books

Links:

• CDSG

Related:
American Hoist, Battery Laidley, Fort De Soto, Fort Rosecrans, Mexican War, Taft Period, U.S. Civil War, World War I, World War II,