Historic California Posts, Camps
Stations and Airfields
Fort Barry: Batteries Hamilton
Smith and Edwin Guthrie
Battery Edwin Guthrie was a battery of
four six-inch rapid-fire guns, Model 1900, serial numbers 2,
3, 5, 12 manufactered by Watervliet Arsenal were mounted on barbette
carriages, Model 1900, serial mumbers 13 through 16 made by the
Rock Island Arsenal. Under the provisions of War Department General
Order 194, the emplacement was named on December 27, 1904 in
honor of Captain Edwin Guthrie, 15th Infantry Regiment, who died
in action at La Hoya during the Mexican War in 1847.
In 1922, Battery Guthrie was divided for
better management of the weapons, and the two guns on the left
flank were named on March 22 for Hamilton A. Smith, a West Point
graduate killed in action at Soissons, France, during World War
I in 1918.
During World War II the guns from these
two batteries were used to defend the minefields outside the
Golden Gate from minesweepers.
The battery was inactivated in 1945 and
its guns scrapped soon thereafter.
Battery Edwin
Guthrie
by Justin Ruhge
The rapid-fire small caliber guns placed
at all the fort locations had been mentioned by the Endicott
Board but not recommended at the time. It was not until the late
1890s and after the Spanish-American War that they were built
into harbor defenses. This also had something to do with availability
of self-contained ammunition and small caliber breech-loading
rifles with simple breechblocks.
Rapid-fire batteries have already been
presented in the foregoing Bay Area Forts; Battery Guthrie was
also one of these rapid-fire batteries as was Rathbone and O'Rorke
to be described in later sections.
The 6-inch batteries Guthrie and Rathbone
were almost identical in design except for locations of stairways,
etc. In both, the distance between adjacent guns was far greater
than in earlier batteries of this caliber, i.e. 94 feet, and
this permitted the traverses to be extended somewhat above the
parapet crests without making them too pronounced. What resulted
was a one-and-one-half story design, with the magazine and loading
floors separated by only six or seven feet. The vertical rise
was broken by a step or two, which made it possible to transport
ammunition without employing special hoists.
As originally constructed, each of these
four-gun batteries was provided with an open battery-commander's
station located atop the traverse between emplacements 1 and
2. Around 1910, this "crows nest" on Battery Guthrie
was enclosed and covered by a concrete slab roof. Following World
War I, when Guthrie and Rathbone were both split into two batteries
of two guns each, additional structures of this form were built
onto the traverses between the new position 1 and 2 to serve
the resulting two-gun batteries on the left.
Battery Edwin Guthrie was originally four
6-inch breech loading rapid-fire guns Model 1900, Nos. 2,3,5,12
which were manufactured at the Watervliet Arsenal. They were
mounted on barbette carriages Model 1900, Nos. 13-16 made by
the Rock Island Arsenal.
This battery was named in General Order
194, December 27, 1904 in honor of Captain Edwin Guthrie, 15th
Infantry, who died of wounds received in action at La Hoya, Mexico
in 1847.
The battery was located at an elevation
of 237 feet. Original construction cost was $69,000. It was transferred
to the troops on June 8, 1905.
Battery Hamilton
Smith
by Justin Ruhge
In 1922, Battery Edwin Guthrie was divided
for better management of the weapons. The two guns on the left
flank becoming Battery Hamilton A. Smith in accordance with General
Order 13, March 22, 1922. This battery was named in honor of
Smith, a West Point graduate who was killed in action at Soissons,
France in 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
posthumously.
Batteries
Hamilton Smith and Edwin Guthrie
compiled by Mr. Chuck Wofford
Ordnance
M1900 six-inch rapid-fire
gun
This battery was mounted with four 6-inch
rapid fire guns, model 1900 nos 2,3,5, and 12, they were manufactured
at the Watervliet Arsenal. The following specification are for
the Model 1900. Weight of the gun was 19,114 lbs, and the gun
cost 9,000.00, with a range of 17,000 yards, with and elevation
of 20o (originally designed for 15).
The following is information on the Model
1900
Emplacement # 1 The reference height of
the crest=26'.4, Emplacement # 2=25.9 Emplacement # 3=26'1",
Emplacement # 4= 25'6" above mean low water. In form these
weapons were quite simple: light guns mounted on carriages technically
classified as barbette, though actually nothing more that pedestals,
in addition to the gun itself, the mounts supported the necessary
elevation and traversing machinery plus the recoil and counter-recoil
appliances, which were usually of a hydraulic-spring mount.
Emplacement Gun #1 GUTHRIE Model 1900
Serial # 2 was mounted and emplaced 1905, under the supervision
Capt Albert Todd, Limit of Elevation 15o, and the number of shot
fired from this gun was 428.
Emplacement Gun #2 GUTHRIE Model 1900
Serial # 3 was mounted and emplaced 1905, under the supervision
Capt Albert Todd, Limit of Elevation 15o and the number of shot
fired from this gun was 427.
Emplacement Gun #3 SMITH Model 1900 Serial
# 5 was mounted and emplaced 1905, under the supervision Capt
Albert Todd, Limit of Elevation 15o and the number of shot fired
from this gun was 106.
Emplacement Gun #4 SMITH Model 1900 Serial
# 12 was mounted and emplaced 1905, under the supervision Capt
Albert Todd, Limit of Elevation 15o and the number of shot fired
from this gun was 391.
The carriage for this model gun was a
Barbette model # 1900, nos 13, 14 and 15 and 16 came from Rock
Island Arsenal. The carriage weighted 26,450 with a range of
17,000 yards, there were 45 built: Original Emplacement:44 Time
Emplaced 1902-1906, reallocations until 1943. It was installed
using 16 bolts, Circle of Diameter: 5' Parapet Height: 2'9"
Center To Parapet: 3' 6", this battery had groves in platform
behind the carriage for increased elevation. The carriage cost
(barbette) $11,750.00.
The following information is on Carriage
Model 1900
Carriage GUTHRIE Model 1900 # 13was mounted
in 1905, under the supervision of Lt W.S.McNair, and was leveled
on Sep 10 1906, under the supervision of 1st Lt A.H.Barkle.
Carriage GUTHRIE Model 1900 # 14was mounted
in 1905, under the supervision of Lt W.S.McNair and was leveled
on Sept 10 1906, under the supervision of 1st Lt A.H.Barkley.
Carriage SMITH Model 1900 # 15was mounted
in 1905, under the supervision of Lt W.S.McNair and was leveled
on Sep 10 1906, under the supervision of 1st Lt A.H.Barkley.
Carriage SMITH Model 1900 # 16was mounted
in 1905, under the supervision of Lt W.S.McNair and was leveled
on Sep 10 1906, under the supervision of 1st Lt A.H. Barkley.
Ammunition Service
The movement of ammunition must be very
rapid and it is the duty of the Engineer Department to so design
it emplacement that each and every step of the ammunition service
may be performed with such speed that the ammunition can be carried
to the breech of the gun at least as rapidly as it can be loaded
into the gun and fired; and so the rate of fire which can be
obtained from the gun The means which must be provided for moving
ammunition , depend of course upon the weight and bulk of the
piece to be moved.(the shell, A.P. weighted about 108 lbs, the
H.E weighted 90 pounds) The projectile are stored in rows along
the wall of the shell room, with there point to the wall so the
bases could be gotten at for placing fuses, the bottom layer
of shells where placed in pairs and put on timber skids, and
then stacked using the same method. As far as Powder Service,
the powder was shipped to the battery in metal cases and stored
in racks, that they were shipped in, in most cases, there ends
projectile into the passageway. When a cartridge was desired
the solder strip was to be pulled of without moving the cartridge
case from the rack, this loosens the top of the case and the
cartridge is then pulled out, leaving the case still fastened
in it proper place. The ammunition supply for this battery was
stored in the shell room which was 12 x 30 (there were 2 of them)
and held 450, in each room, The size of the powder magazine was
11' 9" X 35' and held 175. The battle allowance for this
battery was 1200 AP, and it's war reserve was 1200 a.p., with
400 H.E. at the Central Reserve.
Sights
In a letter of May 8 1905, the Quartermaster
Corp will delivery the sights for this battery to Fort Barry
instead of Fort Baker, Jan 9 1936 at Battery Guthrrie the 3"
Telescopic sights #M1905 #26-52 were cross wires installed in
clover leaf reticule, at the same date in Battery Smith the same
work was done on the same equipment # 26-52 Model 1905.
Construction
Work was authorized on August 17 1901,
and construction of a road connecting the two rapid fire with
the main road leading to the two 12" was built and ballasted
with disintegrated rock take from the 3" battery excavation,
which was well opened and advanced 25% toward completion. At
the same time the site for the battery was cleared and grated.
The actual excavation on this battery
was started in 1903. The material encountered was first a 2-foot
layer of loose sand, then a hard compact clay, tending to rock.
It is believed that a ledge will soon be encountered, with the
removal of over 989 cu. yds of dirt and sand. When the excavation
was completed, and the forms for the concrete was started.
On the timber used in making the forms,
in all cases dressed lumber will be used. As the forms were building
the reinforcing material is attached to the forms, there was
over 990 lb. of reinforcement metal used.
As the forms were being finished the pouring
of the foundation was started, and exactly the same precaution
should be applied in constructing the foundation of a gun emplacement
, as would be considered necessary in constructing the foundation
of any heavy masonry structure.
Using over 1650 concrete, and nearly 767
cu yd of finished concrete. Usually the gun block, which is the
portion of the emplacement, that supports the gun and the carriage
is poured first. Its size and mass therefore must such as to
make it safe from overturning by the shock of the discharge,
the size and shape of the gun block must, of course be such as
to fit the carriage and consequently, it must be largely designed
to accord with the Ordnance Dept drawing of the carriage, in
fact for a few details such as drainage, bringing in the electric
cable, ect the Engineer Dept in preparing gun block design, has
but little freedom or responsibility.
It is the purpose to do the concrete work
for the rapid fire battery from the main mixing plant at the
two 12" gun battery; hense the active construction has not
been pushed until the larger battery was done.
Except for electric wiring and setting
pedestals, May 1905, and carriages # 13 and 14 were received
May 22, 1905. Sixteen shot truck were received March 8, 1905.
This battery was 282' across, and 80'
deep 220' between the guns, in addition to the Shell Rooms and
Powders Rooms, this two story battery had on the Smith side the
Engine Room 10' X 10' 9", the Radiator Room was on the left
of the engine room and was 10' X 8' 9" and to the right
was a Store Room that was 10' X 8' 9", on the Guthrie side
there was Guard Room 10' X 8' 9" and to the right was a
Plotting Room that was 10' X 8' 9" and two Store Rooms 10'
X 8' 9" also in the middle between Smith # 1 and Gunthrie
# 2 was a larger Plotting Room that was 18' X 20.9" and
in front of it was a guard room which was 10' X 20' 9".
One of the last things to do was to add,
is the sand on the front and flanks of the lower floor of batteries,
the sand was filled in front of the concrete,(Horizontal protection,
front of magazine, there was over 1900 cu. ft of fill used in
this battery, the exception is the blast apron, which is made
of concrete, and immediately in front of the gun, they had to
be layered very carefully. This battery was at an elevation of
237 feet. When the structure is completed the district Engineer
officer prepares the so called "transfer drawing" then
the Engineer officer and the local Coast Artillery officer made
an inspection of the structure, and it was in order the keys,
were transferred to the Artillery commander, on June 8 1905 at
a cost of $69,193.64.
Power
Electrification for this battery came
from Battery Guthrie. Power Room, it had two 25 k.w. generating
sets made by the G.E .Co, they were four cycle , four cylinder,
single acting vertical type. They are each directly connected
to a G.E. Generator, type M.P.C. Class 6,-25 kw,- 560 R.P.M-
115 volt d.c.. and are each capable of operating its generator
at full load , indefinitely, and at 25 percent overload for two
hours, furnishing in each case 2.5 k.w. additional for operating
the radiator fans, this battery had 2 power generating sets G.E.
25 kw sets. They were installed November 11, 1910 , the generator
# 183195 & 183194, The engine were numbered # 5459 &
5456. They furnished the power for Battery O'Rorke, and a fire
control switchboard room, and Battery Alexander, B Guthrie, these
standard Engineer Dept gasoline sets, one for backup, and the
two to be operated alterability, the units are placed in a room
in the rear of traverse between emplacement #3 and #4, it horizontal
protection against attack consists generality of the concrete
and earthen parapets of either adjoining platforms. A hostile
shell might reach the radiator room at such an angle that only
three feet of concrete would serve as protection or the shell
might even enter the opening through which the radiator exhaust,
the plant is in rooms at the left of the traverse, however while
most of the hostile fire at the battery will probable be directed
at the later from positions to the front and on the right flank
of the same, but we believe the existing protection of the room
is sufficient.
Fire Control
Firing stations for Guthrie, BC B1 was
a concrete station located between the guns at an elevation of
246 feet, this station was subject to blast smoke and dust during
firing. B2S2 was a single dug-in station at Tennessee Point at
an elevation of 88 feet,(Guthrie) was recommended that this station
be enlarged to install spotting equipment, Also a B2S2 Frank
Valley (Smith) The plotting room was located inside the battery
and was equipped with a 11000 M1915 plotting board. I assume
that this work was done, have not seen any thing to the contrary.
The BC B1 for this side of the battery was an open crow nest
between the guns and was subject to dust and smoke during firing,B1S1
was a single dug-in station located 600 yards on the left flank
and forward of the battery at elevation of 217, this station
was to be enlarged to allow a spotting instrument, the plotting
room was located inside the battery and was equipped with a Whistler-Hearn
M1904 plotting board. A new station B2S2 double dug-in station
was to be built at Frank Valley at an elevation of 450 feet with
a view of the water and the beaches This project if built would
have give Guthrie and Smith with Horizontal and vertical base
tracking over the entire water area and the beaches (length of
baseline B1S1 with B2S2, 6300 Yds.
Miscellaneous
In a letter from the War Dept dated March
28 1919, subject rearming this battery, it states that the two
guns shipped out of emplacement # 3 and 4, (1917) to be replaced
on the carriages that are still in position, at present it is
provided with a B station constructed during 1918 on the traverse
between emplacements 1 and 2 (crow-nest housed in and altered
to mount a D.P.F. instrument) and an existing room in the traverse
between Emplacements. 2 and 3 is equipped for the use as a plotting
room, and was signed by Colonel Chas Potter.
Trunnion in battery was 236.6 Datum plane
M.L.L.W. Traverse in Azimuth # 1 emplacement (Smith ) Left was
2 and Right was 119 # 2 emplacement was 2 and Right was 119,
# 1 emplacement ( Guthrie ) Left Was 2 and Right was 119 # 2
emplacement was Left 2 and Right was 119, it's trunnon was 236.6,
datum plan was M.L.L.W. It was connected to water and sewer ,
and had a syphon latrine, with a telephone for data communication,
there were no hoist in this battery , as none were needed, commercial
powder was installed in 1942 by OCE or ORD, kw required for non
battle conditions 2.66, also there was an auxiliary power unit,
had a capacity of 50KW. This battery was modernized twice, once
in 1923 and once in 1943. it was ventilated by natural draft
5" terra cotta vent from the magazine.
Abandonment
This was one of the last Endicott to be
built, and was one of the last to be abandoned, the armament
was removed with final abandonment in the late 1940's. This long
life was due to the continuing need to cover submarine mines
with this type of weapon. In 1948 however mine defense became
a Navy, responsibility, and this was the final blow to the Coast
Artillery when in late 1949, these battery were closed.
Report of
Completed Works - Seacoast Fortifications
