Fort Cronkhite
Fort Cronkhite (1937-1975) - Established in 1937 on 800 acres of land at Tennessee Point, Marin County, California. Named 17 Dec 1938 for Maj. Gen. Adelbert Cronkhite, who commanded the 80th Division during World War I.
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World War II (1941-1945)
Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.
The 800 acre reservation for Fort Cronkhite was acquired in 1937 to house a battery of two 16" long range guns and the necessary support facilities for it's operation. Construction on the 16" Battery Townsley began in 1938 on top of Wolf Ridge and was completed in 1940. The support cantonment was built below the battery during late 1940 and early 1941. The cantonment consisted of temporary World War II style barracks, mess halls and administrative wooden frame buildings, many of which survive today. The post was first garrisoned 20 Jun 1941 by Battery E of the 6th Coast Artillery.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Townsley | 2 | 16" | Casemated Long Range Barbette | 1937-1948 | Activated 1940 |
| Battery AA#1 | 2 | 3" | Pedestal | 1941-194? | |
| Source: CDSG | |||||
Cold War (1947-1991)
Nike Missile Integrated Fire Control (IFC) facility SF-88C, located atop Wolf Ridge and Nike Launch Site SF-87L were established on Fort Cronkhite in 1954 and remained operational until 1974. The associated Nike Missile Launch Battery for SF-88C, SF-88L, was located about a mile away on Fort Barry and is now a museum with working parts of the Nike System. The Nike Missile Integrated Fire Control (IFC) facility SF-87C associated with SF-88L is also located on Fort Barry, Hawk Hill.
| Battery | Type | Location | GPS | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF-88C | Control | Wolf Ridge | 37.84197, -122.53218 |
910' | |
| SF-88L | Launch | Fort Barry | 37.82698, -122.52753 |
134' | |
| SF-87C | Control | Hawk Hill | 37.82754, -122.49956 |
889' | |
| SF-87L | Launch | Fort Cronkhite | 37.83525, -122.53099 |
182' | |
| Source: Jef's Nike Website | |||||
Current Status
Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. No period guns or carriages in place. Battery Townsley is opened once a month for public view.
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Location: Tennessee point, Marin County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.83254 Long: -122.535475 |
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 65
- Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 210-245
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project Harbor Defenses of San Francisco, (CCA-P-SFB), 15 Nov 1945, CDSG
Links:
Visited: 20 Aug 2009
Fort Cronkhite Picture Gallery
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