Battery Benson
Fort Worden, HD Puget Sound
A.M.T.B. btry Ft. Flagler.

Construction on Battery Benson was begun in 1904 and had been completed by 1908 when the battery was transferred to the Coast Artillery. Battery Benson's armament consisted of a pair of 10-inch rifles on disappearing carriages.

Like Battery Kinzie, Battery Benson differs from many of the other large caliber batteries in Puget Sound in that it has large loading platforms and numerous 'air spaces' included in its design. These air spaces are narrow passages which allowed air to circulate around the outside of the magazines and other rooms, helping to keep them free of moisture.

#1 magazines and gun emplacement
Other #1 side rooms
#2 magazines and gun emplacement
Other #2 side rooms (including plotting room)






Looking southwest at the battery.
March 2002
Looking northeast along the back of the battery.
March 2002





Battery Command station



Battery Benson's BC station is located on the hillside to the rear of the battery. Originally constructed of wood, it was replaced by a new concrete station in 1932


The front of the station.
April 2004
The west corner.
April 2004
Looking east.
April 2004
The roof of the station.
April 2004
Looking north.
April 2004
The south corner.
April 2004










RCWs
Form 1August, 1921
Form 1, page 1September, 1927
Form 1, page 2September, 1927
Form 7April, 1932
Form 2, BC stationNovember, 1932




Access info:
Battery Benson is part of Fort Worden State Park and is open to the public.

The battery is located on the north side of Artillery Hill, to the west of Battery Ash. If you park near the central power plant, take the old road up the bluff to the west until you reach the first fork, turn right and keep going until you curve round the east end of the bluff and reach Battery Randol. From here follow the road along the backside of Batteries Randol, Quarles and Ash. Battery Benson is right on the other side of the tunnel from Battery Ash.


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