Battery Randolph

Battery Randolph (1913-1944) - Battery Randolph was a reinforced concrete, Taft Period 14 inch coastal gun battery on Fort De Russy, Honolulu County, Hawaii. The battery was named in G.O. 15, 1909, after Major Benjamin H. Randolph (Cullum 2332). Battery construction started in December 1908, was completed in September 1913 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 31 Oct 1913 at a cost of $ 428,893.89. Deactivated in 1944.

Taft Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Honolulu.

Originally built as a Taft Period concrete coastal gun battery with two 14" M1907 guns mounted on M1907 Disappearing carriages. One gun tube was an M1907 type while the second gun tube had an M1907M1 designation. The M1907 gun tube was changed out in 1923 for one with the M1907M1 designation.

This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells and gun powder bags were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by separate shell and powder hoists. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant in emplacement #1 and commercial power.

Battery Randolph Armament (edit list)

Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model		Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1	14" Rifle	172"	M1907		1	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1907, #5, Watertown	1913-1923	See note 1, 2
1	14" Rifle	172"	M1907M1		1	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1907, #5, Watertown	1923-1944	See note 1, 2
2	14" Rifle	172"	M1907M1		3	Watervliet	Disappearing, M1907, #2, Watertown	1913-1944	See note 1
Source: RCW Form 1, 3 Oct 1929, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 158-159 Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Not the same gun tube

Battery Randolph Plan

World War I (1917-1918)

The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Randolph were not affected by the World War I redistribution or the following 1920 disarmament program.

World War II (1941-1945)

Battery Randolph was a part of the Harbor Defenses of Honolulu plan in World War II. In 1944 the battery was declared surplus and the guns and carriages were ordered salvaged on 12 Aug 1944.

Current Status

Battery Randolph now houses the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii and the Army Corps of Engineers visitor center. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort De Russy, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Maps & Images Lat: 21.278921 Long: -157.833812 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1 = 34.5' Gun #2 = 32.8'

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 241-242
• Dorance, William H., Fort DeRussy, The Coast Defense Study Group Journal, Vol 12, Issue 1, February 1998, page 16-29
• Gaines, Willian C., A History of Fort De Russy, The Coast Defense Study Group Journal, Vol 24, Issue 4, November 2010, page 47-95

Links:

• CDSG

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