Battery Kimble

Battery Kimble (1922-1943) - Battery Kimble was a reinforced concrete, World War I 12 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Travis (2), Galveston County, Texas. Battery construction started Aug 1917, was completed Apr 1922 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use May 1922 at a cost of $ 310,237.63. Deactivated in 1943.

Battery Kimble Magazine

Battery Kimble Gun Emplacement #1

World War I (1917-1918)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Galveston.

Originally built as an World War I concrete coastal gun battery with two 12" M1895MI guns mounted on M1917 Barbette carriages. This was a single story battery with the guns located on open concrete gun pads on the same level as the common magazine and support structure between them. The common magazine and support structure was an earth covered reinforced concrete building that contained shell rooms, powder rooms, a power plant, plotting rooms and personnel facilities. Shells were moved from the magazine to the gun loading platform by shot carts. No shell or powder hoists were provided or needed.

The two guns were mounted on circular concrete pads with sunken gun pits. The guns and gun crews were completely in the open with no protection from incoming fire or from aircraft. The M1917 carriage and the sunken gun pit allowed a gun elevation of 35 degrees, giving the gun a range of over 16 miles.

Battery Kimble Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	12" Rifle	442.56"	M1895MI	A4	48	Watervliet	Barbette, M1917-A2, #21, Watertown	1922-1943	See note 1
2	12" Rifle	442.56"	M1895MI	A4	50	Watervliet	Barbette, M1917-A2, #22, Watertown	1922-1943	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, Aug 1925, Feb 1936, 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 213, 154-155 Note 1: Guns transferred to Fort Crockett Feb 1918 and then to Battery 520 20 Jul 1943. Carriages transferred to Fort Crockett 25 Aug 1918 and transferred to Battery 520 20 Jul 1943. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

Battery Kimble Plan

World War II (1941-1945)

Many batteries similar to Battery Kimble were casemated during World War II to better protect them from aircraft attack. Battery Kimble was one of the few not casemated and in 1943 both of Battery Kimble's guns and carriages were transferred to Battery 520 at Marshall Military Reservation in South Carolina.

Current Status

Part of Fort Travis Seashore Park, a Galveston County Park. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Travis (2), Galveston County, Texas Maps & Images Lat: 29.3665895 Long: -94.7561064 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 18' 2"

Sources:

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 12 Nov 2009

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