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Principle Armament - Battery Smith |
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Battery Smith's south
casemate as it appears
today. Battery Smith
currently serves as a motor
pool for the park's large
beach maintenance equipment,
as well as artifact storage
for the coming museum.
Photo Credit: Nate Davidson |
Operated by:
Battery B, 261st Coast
Artillery
Construction on Battery
Smith was approved on 20
April, 1934, but
appropriations were not made
until the FY1941 and FY1942
budgets. It was the
last of the "early
construction batteries" and
featured a recessed main
gallery and a full burster
cap. Until it was
formally named, the
structure was known as
"Construction Number 118."
Battery Smith was
transferred on 21 December,
1943 at a cost of $1.3
million dollars. The
first gun was mounted on 4
December, 1942, with the
second following shortly
thereafter. Smith
featured a separate plotting
room which would allow the
battery to continue to
function in the event of an
attack on the battery
itself. It was deleted
in 1948 and serves today as
artifact storage for Fort
Miles as well as a massive
maintenance facility for
Cape Henlopen State Park.
Battery Smith was named for
Major General William R.
Smith, US Army. |
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Floor Plan |
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Armament |
The table to the
right gives
statistical data for
the 16 inch and the
ordnance fired.
Information source:
Fort Miles Archives |
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This is the only
known photograph of
Battery Smith's guns
in existence.
Photo credit:
Donald Hazen |
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16 Inch Gun MKII-M1
on Barbette Carriage
M4 (Casemated) |
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Number Produced |
46 |
Ordnance Data |
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Caliber |
16 inches |
Projectile Weight |
AP - 2240 lbs |
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Weight |
1,172,500 lbs
w/shield |
Projectile Length |
71.5 inches |
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Powder Charge |
670 lbs |
Stored at Battery |
AP - 200 rounds |
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Powder Bags |
Weight - 111.66 lbs
ea
Length - 16.5" ea
Width - 16" ea
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Central Storage
(Not at battery) |
AP - 100 rounds |
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Muzzle Velocity |
2750 fps |
Battery Allowance |
AP - 200 rounds |
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Maximum Range |
45,150 yds
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War Reserve |
AP - 300 rounds |
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Elevation |
-3 to +47 degrees |
Table Legend
AP - Armor
Piercing |
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Traverse |
145 degrees |
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Crew |
42 |
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Barrel Life |
175 rounds |
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Report of Completed Works |
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General |
Utilities (cont'd) |
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Battery Commenced |
24 MAR 1941 |
Electrical Source |
Battery Power Room |
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Battery Completed |
31 OCT 1942 |
Installed by |
Ordnance |
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Date of Transfer |
21 DEC 1943 |
Electrical Characteristics |
Voltage: 460 AC
Phase: 3 |
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Cost to Date |
$1,326,000.00 |
No of Units and Capacity |
3 units at 250 KVA each |
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Construction Material |
Reinforced Concrete |
Max KW req'd for utils. |
25 |
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Battery New or Modernized |
NEW |
Max KW req'd for non battle
conditions |
75 |
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Trunnion Elevation in
Battery |
24.667 |
Commercial power provided |
YES Capacity: 75
KVA |
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Utilities |
Auxiliary power unit |
NO |
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Water Source |
City of Lewes, Delaware |
Type of Lighting Fixtures |
Water Tight |
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Alternate Water Source |
Well system installed. |
Dehumidifying Unit |
York 24,000 BTU per hour |
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Size of Main |
6 inches |
How Ventilated |
Muffler Gallery |
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Connected to Sewer |
YES |
How Heated |
Hot Water System in Power
Room |
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Type of Disposal |
Septic Tank |
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Type of Latrine |
Gas Proof |
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Support Structures |
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Page Location:
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sales will be donated to the Fort
Miles Restoration Project! |
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All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in
part
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prohibited.
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