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Fort Pickens

3,094 bytes added, 14:25, 11 June 2009
batteries
==Hurricane Ivan==
In September [[2004]], [[Hurricane Ivan]] battered the Gulf Islands National Seashore, causing extensive flooding, the destruction of a number of buildings, and a large number of felled trees. Despite the extensive damage, the actual fort "held its ground during the hurricane with only minor damage."<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html]</ref>
 
==Batteries==
A number of weapons emplacements were constructed in and around Fort Pickens throughout the years.
===Battery Pensacola===
'''Battery Pensacola''' was constructed in [[1898]] on a portion of the parade ground within Fort Pickens. At the battery were mounted two 12-inch rifles on disappearing carriages capable of firing 1,070 lb. shells approximately 8 miles.<ref name="NPS">[http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/extended/FLA/History/Battery.htm National Park Service - Gulf Islands National Seashore]</ref>
 
===Battery Van Swearingen===
'''Battery Van Swearingen''' was activated on [[June 29]], [[1898]]. Two 4.7-inch guns were mounted on pedestal carriages.<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Batteries Cullum and Sevier===
'''Battery Cullum''' and '''Battery Sevier''', completed by [[1898]], housed four 10- inch rifles on disappearing carriages. Although these structures appear to be one large complex, they are two separate structures.<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Battery Worth===
Completed in [[1899]], '''Battery Worth''' housed eight 12-inch mortars in two gun pits. Although the battery lost half its armament in [[1918]] in accordance with the War Department policy to reduce weaponry mounted in the nation's older emplacements, the other four mortars remained active until [[1942]]. The battery became essential for Army-Navy defense activities in the 1940s by housing the Fire Control Switchboard Room, Harbor Entrance Control Post and the Harbor Defense Command Post.<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Battery Payne===
Completed in [[1904]], '''Battery Payne''' featured two 3-inch guns.<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Battery Trueman===
Positioned on the western end of Santa Rosa Island, north of the harbor entrance, '''Battery Trueman''' was completed in [[1905]]. The two 3-inch guns at Battery Trueman were relocated to Battery Cullum in [[1943]].<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Battery Cooper===
Completed in [[1906]], '''Battery Cooper''' mounted two 6-inch guns on disappearing carriages. During World War I, the guns were removed for use on railway mounts in France. In 1937, four emplacements for 155mm guns were constructed around Battery Cooper and designated Battery GPF, remaining part of the Harbor Defense Project until the spring of 1945 when it was disarmed.<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Battery Langdon===
'''Battery Langdon''' was completed in 1923 and mounted two 12-inch guns, en barbette. The battery is named in honor of [[Loomis L. Langdon]], a man who was stationed at Fort Pickens on three occasions. In [[1861]] Langdon commanded a battery of 10-inch seacoast mortars at Fort Pickens; in [[1874]] he served as an artillery captain at the fort; and in 1885 he returned as a lieutenant colonel in charge of the 2nd U.S. Artillery. Langdon was in command when Geronimo was held in the fort.<ref name="NPS" />
 
===Battery #234===
Plans for '''Battery #234''' were developed in the early 1940s in response to the buildup to World War II. However, by the time Battery #234 was completed in [[1943]], the war's tide turned in favor of the Allies and the battery was never activated.<ref name="NPS" />
==Other images==