Battery Cushing

Battery Cushing (1904-1942) - Battery Cushing was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Andrews, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The battery was named in G.O. 78, 25 May 1903 after Brigadier General Thomas H. Cushing, U.S. Army, who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 and who died 19 Oct 1822, at New London, Connecticut. Battery construction started in 1901, was completed in 1904 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 29 Dec 1904 at a cost of $ 150,576.31. Deactivated in 1942. Endicott Period Part of the Harbor Defense of Boston, Massachusetts. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1890MI mortars mounted on M1896 mortar carriages. This was a single story battery with the magazines on the same level as the mortar loading platform. Shells were moved from the magazine to the mortars on shot carts. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Battery Cushing Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes Original Mortar Configuration A1 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 157 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #287, Rarig 1904-1918 See note 1 A2 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 144 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #286, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 A3 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 141 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #285, Rarig 1904-1918 See note 1 A4 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 139 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #294, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 B1 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 158 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #297, Rarig 1904-1918 See note 1 B2 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 2 Niles Mortar, M1896, #296, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 B3 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 162 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #295, Rarig 1904-1918 See note 1 B4 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 146 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #288, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 Final Mortar Configuration A1 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 144 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #286, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 A2 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 139 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #209, Midvale 1904-1942 See note 2 B1 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 2 Niles Mortar, M1896, #296, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 B2 12" Mortar 141.12" M1890MI 146 Watervliet Mortar, M1896, #288, Rarig 1904-1942 See note 2 Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Apr 1928, RCB, 31 Dec 1910, 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 140-143 Note 1: Mortars transferred to Morgan 4 Jun 1918, carriages scrapped 26 May 1920. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Mortars & carriages salvaged 15 Dec 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Cushing Plan World War I 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. On 3 May 1918 the A.G.O. ordered that four mortars from Battery Cushing be dismounted and prepared for shipment. World War II Current Status No period guns or mounts in place. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location: Fort Andrews, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Maps & Images Lat: 42.3013928 Long: -70.9312856 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 40.6' Sources: U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Boston, Massachusetts, (HDB-AN-45), 31 Jan 1945, CDSG Links: CDSG Visited: No Battery Cushing Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!