Battery Tactical #1
Fort McGilvray, HD Seward
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Battery Tactical #1 was located on Rocky Point, about one mile south of South Beach. Armament at the battery consisted of four mobile 155-mm guns emplaced on Panama type concrete mounts. Three of the emplacements include a concrete ready ammunition magazine in addition to the central main magazine.

The 1942 Local Board Report states that prior to the completion of the Panama mounts the guns were temporarily emplaced at South Beach. A number of housing and support buildings were constructed near South Beach, and the battery plotting room (a log structure) was probably also located near the temporary emplacements.

Army documents indicate that the Rocky Point Command Post was used as the Battery Command station for the battery at some point before the harbor defenses were abandoned. A dedicated BC station was planned near the guns at Rocky Point, but was never built. In addition to the BC station, two other observation stations were to have been built for the battery: One at Topeka Point, and the other to the southwest of the proposed BC station. Both of these stations were also canceled before any construction was undertaken.



Main Magazine


Looking east at the front of the magazine.
July 2005
Looking down at the magazine.
July 2005
Inside the magazine, looking north.
July 2005
Looking south inside the magazine.
July 2005
Detail of the door to the magazine.
July 2005
The top of the vent shaft.
July 2005



Emplacement #1


Looking southeast at the gun position.
July 2005
The gun position, looking north.
July 2005
Looking south.
July 2005
Detail of the outer ring of the Panama mount.
July 2005



Emplacement #2


Looking north at the #2 emplacement.
July 2005
Looking northeast at the gun position.
July 2005
The front of the ready ammo magazine.
July 2005
Looking north in the magazine entry passage.
July 2005
Looking down at the ready ammo magazine.
July 2005
Looking down at the magazine and the entry passage.
July 2005



Emplacement #3


The #3 emplacement, Caines Head is in the background.
July 2005
Looking north at the gun position.
July 2005
The #3 emplacement.
July 2005
Detail of bumper at the end of the outer ring.
July 2005
Looking north at the ready ammo magazine.
July 2005
The magazine entry passage.
July 2005
Looking southeast at the ready ammo magazine.
July 2005
The ready ammo magazine, looking northeast.
July 2005



Emplacement #4


Emplacement #4 is heavily over grown.
July 2005
Detail of the outer ring.
July 2005
The front of the ready ammo magazine.
July 2005
Looking north in the magazine entry passage.
July 2005
The rear of the magazine.
July 2005
Inside the ready ammo magazine.
July 2005





Documents
Form 1 
Form 7, sheet 1 
Form 7, sheet 2 
Plot PlanAugust 9, 1944
Fire control chartAugust 21, 1944



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