In a couple of places I mention the "casement." I am told that the appropriate term is "casemate." I am sorry for the error.

This is well done! I have been a student of U.S coastal defenses since my early teens, when I first saw Endicott-Era batteries near the Golden Gate Bridge . I found the Coast Defense Study Group in the early 1980 and have participated in many of their annual expeditions. I most-enjoyed the 2001 tour of the fortified islands of Manila Bay, in wonderful ruin following the Japanese siege, the U.S. retaking and more than 100 years of typhoons, earthquakes and metal scrapping. During the trip, one member, an Australian, and I went in search of the car barn for the narrow-gauge electric railroad at Fort Mills, Corregidor Island. One of the group's maps, still labeled "Top Secret" from 1921, led us through rather thick shrubbery. I cherish the text from the published copy of his journal: "John Potter and I went looking for the car barn. John fell into a bomb crater and ripped his shirt off. We found the foundation slab and John found a rubber insulator dated 1910. Mission Accomplished." The program, which I like to call the first Strategic Defense Initiative, cost a total of $400 million in 1890s dollars, more than the Panama Canal, and about as much as The Manhattan Project.

I took my father to Ft Wordon in Washington state to show him the fortress knowing he had been in the US Army from Ft Leavenworth. As we toured the museum a sitting older fellow wearing a WW1 uniform greeted him by name- they both were stationed there together as 1st Lt Infantry/artillery- that then proceeded to give Me a tour. Thanks for Your history lesson- very valuable lesson!

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I remember picnicking at Fort Flagler and Fort Worden.

My dad was stationed on Corregidor in the Philippines in 1941, serving in the 59th Coast Artillery, Battery Wheeler. His battery consisted of two 12-inch disappearing rifles, which as depicted in the video are marvels to behold in action. Sadly, the guns were designed before the era of arial warfare, and the guns were pointed out to sea, making them useless for the types of attacks used by the Japanese and the direction from which they attacked (Bataan peninsula). Even so, the defenders on Corregidor, including my dad, held out for 6 months, until dwindling ammunition and starvation forced their surrender, beginning 3 1/2 years of captivity and abuse by their conquerors. Luckily for me, he miraculously survived and returned to father four children (I'm the youngest). But he often told me about the guns at Battery Wheeler and other anecdotes of his war service, omitting the horror and emphasizing the everyday heroics of survival. He's been gone 30 years now, but in my heart he's always a hero.

A good example of the Endicott quad can be found at Ft De Soto Fl. The mortars are truly massive.

I live on an island in Maine. During WWII, two 16" guns were installed on the eastern shore. The guns, as far as I know, were never fired in anger, but they were tested. The test blew out many windows in the homes on the island and that was that. The presence of the guns also explains why this island doesn't have squirrels.

I grew up vacationing at the Oregon coast and have fond memories of exploring the Battery Russel at Fort Stevens State Park. I past those experiences down to my kids who are now grown and carrying on the tradition. It's a fantastic place to experience tangible history. The guns have long since been removed and the vegetation has taken over a bit but it all ads to the mystique. The park has several miles of bike trails and some lead out to the ocean where a very old ship wreck (The Peter Iredale 9/26/1906) still sits over one hundred years later.

Another excellent History Lesson from the archives of American History long forgotten! Please keep up the great team work culminating these long forgotten snippets of history that our educational system felt the need of underplay or overemphasize their cruciality in our educational system growing up. 15-20 minutes is all it takes to provide us with the meat-and-potato’s of history that makes us remember what it is we need to remember! Thank you History Guy because you make learning fun again!! And we all like fun..... yes we do!!

I've been to a couple of these forts(parks, now) and they're an absolutely fascinating part of our nation's history. I've gotten inside the massive tunnel system guarding San Francisco, and the lesser known tunnels around San Diego at Point Loma(Cabrillo National Park). Fascinating. Thank you for filling in the gun and armament information that I'd forgotten or never known of! Wonderful piece, History Guy!

"Forgotten history" for sure...I never saw (or heard of) a disappearing gun till now!

Thank you yet again for a good dose of history that _deserves to be remembered._

I really enjoy anything that concerns artillery, probably as I served in 5 Regiment, Royal Artillery during the 70s.

One of the places you can visit an Endicott Fort is Fort Screven on Tybee Island. You get to tour it with the Tybee Island Lighthouse. Just up the road from Tybee is Fort Pulaski, where rifled cannon proved that masonry forts were outdated and useless against modern cannon.

I knew about the disappearing guns but this is the first time I have seen film footage of them in use, which was fascinating and shows it be be a rather clever device. The dynamite guns I had seen before as the KZfaq channel Drachinifel had produced a video on their use on a US Navy ship. In this case the guns were in a fixed position and the amount of pressure was varied to increase or decrease the range. There is an old coastal defence position near me which had something similar to the disappearing guns but this was a hidden searchlight. Used during WW1 the searchlight was placed in a pit and shone upwards onto a mirror which would deflect the light out over the river. The idea was that if fired on and damaged the mirror was easier to replace then the searchlight. It was positioned in such a way it could shine just above the river and illuminate any ships passing along it.

A quick add-on for those visiting Washington, DC if you head south a bit down the Maryland side you'll find Fort Washington which was one of the fortifications for defending the capitol. Along with its counterpart on the Virginia side, Fort Hunt, it guarded that section of the Potomac River. It's a cool site with a fascinating history and still has the remnants of an Endicott system. Cheers!

There are many of these structures still standing in Panamá at both océans, Atlántic and pacific. Huge structures abandoned in the jungle. Thank you for the images and descriptions.

For a few years under my Dad's wing I lived in the housing of Ft Monroe, VA. Most interesting historical daily lessons.

I grew spent two summers doing historical interpretation at Fort Flagler State Park, it's really amazing stuff. Fort Casey State Park across Admiralty Inlet still has two of the disappearing cannons emplaced and you can climb up on them - they're amazing pieces of engineering. Submerged harbor defense wasn't limited to mines - there were hydrophones and anti-submarine nets in use too. Battery Grattan at Ft. Flagler, which was originally a 6" disappearing installation, was converted in 1939 to a hydrophone listening post and maintained that way until control was transferred to the Harbor Entrance Control Post at Ft. Worden. It had soundproofing tiles added to make the hydrophone operators' jobs easier which are still in place today, making it a uniquely anechoic bunker.

I would say they were a huge success! Just like the elephant rifle I keep behind the kitchen door. Not one single elephant has trampled my garden since I have had that rifle. Keeps the elephants away!

Fort Desoto at the entrance to Tampa Bay Florida is a wonderful example of this type of fortification that has been preserved and is open to visitors. Truly massive mortars and gun emplacements Thank you THG for making sure we do not forget!

You forgot to mention fort MacArthur in San Pedro CA. It sat right on the mouth to the entrance of Los Angele harbor, which was also where the USN Pacific fleet was based before being deployed to Pearl Harbor. It then was turned into a Nikey Missile base which guarded Los Angeles. No biggie.

I am a huge Endicott-era coastal defense fan! Niche interest, but it's nice seeing it get some love

Do the in-depth history of Fort Stevens and the shelling of it by the Japanese sub. A Canadian here, who grew up visiting Fort Stevens many times.

Fascinating. I always enjoy your videos. In 1968 I was stationed at the Naval Radio Station, Lewes Delaware. We were the main USN troposcatter radio station for the 2 NECPA ships, USS Wright & USS Northampton. We were in a former coastal defense bunker under a very large sand dune on Cape Henlopen DE with a couple of very large (approx 50 feet diameter) dishes on top of the dune. The guns had been removed. I was told they were 10" rifles and were only fired once, for practice. Broke most of the windows in Rehobeth DE a couple of miles down the coast.

FIRST, this should be remembered! Great video as always sir! I can't get enough of your content, by far one of the best on the tube!

I've been to Fort Casey a few times. It's astounding how big the guns really are! I also had a great uncle who served in one of the forts on the west coast during WW2 his time at the fort cost him most of his hearing. No guessing why.

Thank you History Guy for another superb production. Many folks don’t realize that most of the defense budget is to deter, hopefully prevent conflict. The best weapons are those that are never used. We can always debate the actual costs of various programs and systems, but the idea of deterrence first is quite valid.

I toured the forts and old defenses in the San Francisco bay. They were extensive. There are two encasements where two 16" naval guns were to be mounted during WWII. The barrels were delivered but never mounted. Supposedly those barrels are stored in the desert in Nevada to be used as spares for battleships. Some of the old works are in very good shape and are well worth the tour.

As a teenager my favorite summer days were spent in exploration of the battery tunnels surrounding Ft. Pickens in Pensacola. Taking a boat out to a small island in the bay there was a battery position that was still operational during the second world war. Pickens was updated many times throughout the years. Disappearing guns were it's primary defense at one time. Great memories!

Being a Delawarean and a war history buff, I love the history of the coastal defenses of Delaware. Growing up in the 70s, I have visited the fortifications and guard towers on Lewes Beach and around Fort Miles many times

We have 3 of those forts at the entrance to Puget Sound. Fort Worden, Fort Flagler, and Fort Casey. I grew up near Fort MacArthur. It was a Nike base by the time I was born.

Ft. Casey, here on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound, just offshore from Everett, Washington State, (where I was born and raised, and am sitting right now,) had ALL of these "disappearing guns" and mortar emplacements. And is now an almost 1000 acre State Park where you can take the family, or your friends, and spend all day exploring. It's pretty awesome. 👍

Loved this video. I used to work at Ft Totten in Queens, NY. I would give history tours about the coastal defenses that still remain at the fort and the Endicott Batteries were my favorite spot to hang out. The guns were removed before WWI and I'd always wished I could see them in person. I bet they were a sight to see.

Fort Stevens and fort Columbia across the river are good places to visit. Actually being in one of those mortar pits, and strolling around the disappearing mounts gives one a great perspective on pre ww 2 coastal defense tech.

I once had the honor of examining a commission for a major of the US Army Coastal Artillery Corps personally signed by Theodore Roosevelt. It's my understanding he was the last president to personally sign each and every officer's commission. Thank you very much for such interesting 'lessons'.

Ft DeSoto in Pinellas County Florida still has some of the Civil War, Spanish American war artifacts.

Living in New Bedford we got 3 forts to visit in the area of Southern New England ...Ft. Phoenix, Ft. Rodman, &Ft.Adams

One of my uncles served in a coastal artillery unit on the western reaches of the Panama Canal during WWII, I Gramma had 7 boys in service then. My dad never left the US because a broken back. Another was a military policeman in San Francisco. One was involved in making airfields behind Japanese lines, One was a truck driver for Patton and one of the first trucks into Bastone and because of his ranch upbringing was on the unit that rescued the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Another was a Captain who jumped on D-Day. Them boys did get around. Miss them...

USS Vesuvius was a ship built to carry the Dynamite Gun. The guns proved useless against shipping. Compressed air is affected by other factors such as water content and temperature. It proved to be more of a hassle than its worth. However, they found one ideal use during the Spanish American War. On June 13, 1898, the Vesuvius closed in on Santiago, Cuba under covered of darkness. She then began shelling. The Cubans and Spaniards on land were extremely unnerved because they could see no flash from guns. Just a noise so loud it felt like it came straight down followed by an explosion. This mystery weapon did an amazing job of lowering morale, believing they had no way of knowing when they’d die until seconds before the noise,

Thanks for helping me understand this period of building coastal defense. I regularly visit forts designed to protect Puget Sound and the Columbia River entrance from foreign navies. These are now State Parks in Washington. Records presented at Fort Warden, show that the Army gunnery crews trained annually, firing at towed targets (in daylight and during mild summer weather) and had some success at actually hitting the targets. The marksmanship exhibited by both American navy "coastal gunboats" and the Spanish navy in Cuban waters was dismal. Into WWII, there are numerous instances when American marksmanship was outclassed by Japanese Navy gunners.

My grandfather trained in coastal artillery at Galveston before being formed into a trench mortar battalion and deployed to France in 1918. There were 3 forts that guarded the Port of Houston, and at least 2 of these were upgraded during the 2nd world war, but of course never used. In 1918 they were trained on the disappearing guns, but with sleeves that let them fire smaller and less costly rounds for training. One of these forts, Fort Travis, is preserved as a park and historic site on the Bolivar Peninsula, a short ferry ride from Galveston.

In Galveston, Texas. Fort San Jacinto, formerly a United States coastal-defense fortification on the eastern end of Galveston Island, was constructed by the United States government in 1898. The site was first reserved for public purposes by an act of the Republic of Texas on December 9, 1836. After construction was completed in 1901, Fort San Jacinto, named in honor of the Texan victory over Mexican troops, became the first headquarters for Galveston's harbor defenses. It contained three gun batteries and a direction-finder control station. A seventeen-foot-high seawall fronting the Gulf of Mexico was constructed at the military reservation between 1918 and 1926. The guns of San Jacinto were manned by both the 265th Coast Artillery and the Twentieth Coast Artillery. After the end of World War II the reservation was maintained by the United States Coast Guard as an electronic repair shop. In 1986 it was used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, who were dredging silt from the Galveston Ship Channel.

You forget the fort on Corregidor Island in the Philippines. They fired a round every 3 seconds for 2 months straight

As always a lucid and informative discourse. Thanks Lance.

Fort Constitution is open to visit, but is maintained as a "functional ruin" due to lack of funding. It is on a Coast Guard station, and you have to walk a painted blue walkway to reach it, as it is the only public portion of the station. It used to be open all the time, but someone was injured and now it is only open when the state can afford to have it manned (typically weekends between Memorial and Labor days). Fort Stark (also on New Castle island) has a museum showing where the coastal fortifications were in the area. Most of the state parks along the coast of NH were once part of the fortifications, and still have various bunkers, artillery mounts, etc. I spent a lot of time filming nesting cliff swallows at Fort Constitution this past summer. Love the channel!

The main reason why the USA doesn’t have more forts along the Atlantic coastline is due to the last half century or so Wallops Island near Chincoteague Island off the Virginia coast has been the first line of defense for the eastern seaboard. It’s a military missile installation, a backup facility for landing space shuttles (when we still used them), and if you get a chance to see the shore of the island; guarded by a series of motorized Gatling guns, one placed every hundred or so feet and each thirty feet in the air, on their own reinforced post. I’ve been there on marine biology treks. It’s quite a sight.

This is not forgotten history for me. I grew up about 30 miles from Fort Casey in Washington State. It is one of the only Fort/Parks that still mounts the disappearing guns. Most of the obsolete guns were melted down for scrap during WWII. The guns that are there were recovered from the Philippines. I would highly recommend a visit of you are ever in the Seattle area.

For a while I lived across the bridge from Ft Hancock in NJ. This coastal fortification was an evolution of those defense systems. I climbed all over and inside those batteries for years. That installation protected the entrance to Raritan Bay and NY bus the Hudson River. It was amazingly capable even by today's standards. The last coastal defence systems deployed there were missile systems in the 50s and 60s

There was a coastal battery in Southern New Jersey named Fort Mott, which was to protect the lower Delaware river from entry by a hostile navy. There were large gun emplacements there on Buffington-Crozer disappearing gun carriages. There is footage of these type guns shown in this presentation. It's too bad that none of these mechanical wonders exists today.

A small point of interest: Fort Point, nearly identical to Fort Sumter, was built on the southern tip of the Golden Gate to protect San Francisco Bay. When plans were made many years later to build the Golden Gate Bridge, the location and style of the supports would have required the destruction of the iconic old fort. The designers, wanting to preserve history, changed the southern support system so an arch would go over Fort Point, providing adequate support for the bridge while preserving the fort. I wonder how many would go to so much trouble today.

Thank you for this! An extremely overlooked topic.

I had an older friend who remembers during WW 2 that in Virginia Beach that the government gave out rifles a 44 40 for the Costal Defense / Homeland Defense, said that it would go through an engine and stop it. And that Oceana Base, the planes could take off from there but had to land in Norfolk then drive them down the road back to Oceana because the runway was not long enough to land. Now Oceana Base is a Master Jet Base.

John Endecott was my 9th great grandfather. Thanks for this!

I believe one of these forts is Fort Lewis on Whidbey Island In Washington state when i was young the cannon had been removed and sent to the Philippines decades later some of them were returned and mounted for display .The fort is a state park but still a fascinating place to visit and well worth the ferry ride and drive to go see.

My Dad served in the coastal artillery during WWII. Specifically on Army mine layers/mine sweepers in the Atlantic. He had served a hitch in the Navy prior to the war. (37-41) He was drafted into the Army in 43. It was his naval service that landed him into that assignment.

That was very interesting. Thank you. Always interested in military history.

My father joined the US National Guard in 1937 ( under age). He was assigned to Coastal Defense Artillery ( anti-aircraft). He described the giant cannons in casements and the disappearing guns of that era. I got to visit Ft. Worden at Port Townsend, WA. that protected Puget Sound. I explored the bunkers, revetments, tunnels, etc. very interesting!

There is one of these former batteries in Jamestown, Rhode Island called Fort Wetheril, and is one of the ones that is now a state park. Parts of it were somewhat buried after its last use directly following the end of WW2, but one could sill crawl around in between the main walls in little corridors that must have served as both a layer of defense and secondary access passageways, you could even get on what I can only describe as a reinforced ceiling that was actually under a good deal of more concrete and earth in a little space that was maybe 18 inches tall. Roaming around this place in these old corridors and finding areas you couldn't access through the main passages which had been covered with earth or locked up with steel shutters, trying to figure out what places did what, as well as the abovegound remains set on top of some great cliffs has made this one of my absolute favorite palaces that I have ever been to. In the year I spend living in Rhode Island, once I found this place, hardly a week or two would go by where I didn't round up a couple of friends, a coleman lantern, and go down there. Truly a special place amogst all of the special places I have been. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Wetherill (and as a bonus, you did not need to pay a toll for the bridge into Newport, since this is Jamestown :D)

Thank you for this! I went to Fort Pickens in Florida and saw the Endicott Era batteries.. But the information given didn’t answer my many questions. You did!

These coastal defences of the past are fascinating, not least because there are still remnants of many all around the coasts of many nations. A pleasant coastal stroll in Edinburgh shows you the crumbling emplacements on islands in the Firth of Forth to protect the coast, river and the important naval base upriver (still in operation today), including a remarkable sight - a very thing island which engineers built structures along its spine so that from the side it looks like a destroyer, the idea being any U-boat venturing that close to the coast would see this and panic and run. All still there to be taken in on a nice stroll along the coast...

I was aware the Army had a coast artillery branch, separate from the field artillery branch, but I never knew any details about "coast artillery." Thanks for this historical coverage of a lesser known period!

Growing up near Tybee Island in coastal GA, I can remember well playing amongst the batteries of Fort Screven on the Northeastern side of the island. Battery Garland is still well preserved and serves as a museum for the Fort and lighthouse. Many of the concrete casemates are still there though many have condominiums incorporated or affixed to them. Fort Screven was an early command position for General George Marshall and served as a POW camp during WWII. Many of the buildings such as the barracks, hospital, and officers' quarters are still there.

As a retired Infantry Major, my wife gets sick to death whenever we watch a war flick and people on screen are wearing the wrong brass or wearing it inappropriately. I think Hollywood does this deliberately just to tick us off. She also cares very little about my commentary of your constantly moving headgear around on the shelves behind you each and every broadcast. She has no sense of humor whatsoever.

I have visited coastal fortresses in both Maine and Florida. With six inch guns, they were sufficient for keeping away non-existent invaders. There is a star-shaped fort in Baltimore Harbor that was designed by Robert E. Lee.

While in Nam I visited some old WWll French coastal forts. Very strange, dug into the beach and the lower floors were filled with seawater. But it still had some gun cradles and shell elevators.

You are my favorite, Straightforward, and linear like I need to learn from. Too many history Guys try to be funny or sarcastic and that sidetracks me from what I'm already straining to understand. I went to Ft DeSoto in St Petersburg FL recently and saw a preserved Endicott era fortification there. You answered so many questions I had at the time and some I didn't think to even imagine. Thank You!

i live in san francisco about which the golden gate national park service states: "The Endicott Board deemed San Francisco Harbor second only to New York’s in strategic importance. As a result, an extensive series of forts, batteries, and guns were proposed for the harbor entrance, occupying both shores of the Golden Gate." we have loads of remnants of the forts and batteries including a "nike" missle launch site (SF88) at fort barry in the marin headlands. great vid!!

I love this growing up in the Pacific Northwest and at the mouth of the Puget Sound in particular we had 2 of these Forts in our County, and city with another across the water on Whidbey island incidentally there is a remaining disappearing gun. I have fond memories of playing at the old Fort in the 1970’s and 80’s. It’s amazing they started construction in the late 1800 s finishing around 1909 and by the First World War were almost obsolete with most of the mortars being sent to Europe. The disappearing guns lasted through WW 2 and then scrapped I guess.

While on Westpac in Subic Bay. I got to visit the Gun installations on Grande Island. 6" guns pointed to the sea. All a Burnt Umber. Standing silent. I need to find those photos. Excellent video. Semper Fi

I was stationed at Ft. Story, VA, and the old coastal gun emplacement was still there, no cannons/guns of course.

As a scout in the 1970s we used to camp at Sandy Hook (Fort Hancock) on the bay side at a massive turret opening of one of the huge gun mounts. (My recollection was that the opening was some 30 ft high and probably 60 ft wide, made of concrete) There were two turrets about 1/4 mile apart connected by a tunnel. The gun itself was no longer in place. On a more recent trip to the area, on the ocean side (with my son, as part of a scout event) I asked about the location and was told that the turrets had both been reclaimed by the bay.

Some years ago, I visited Battery Chamberlain, a six inch disappearing gun battery near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The park ranger and I got to work the cranks that raised the ten-ton counterweight that lifted the gun into firing position, and when released, allowed the gun to lower behind its parapet. This manual cranking system permitted the gun crew to practice loading and firing without actually having to fire the gun. It was slow and back-breaking work!!!

I was stationed a Ft. Story, VA. It was a coastal artillery fort and later had Nike Zesus batteries hidden in the dunes.

This is such an interesting piece of history! I love US history and military history, yet haven’t seen a video on this period before.

My Dad had been in the Navy prior to the war (37-41)and was out and had started a career as a firefighter when he was drafted into the Army in 43. After training he was bound for Europe but got called out of formation and reassigned to the coastal artillery. He spent the remainder of the war laying mines on the Atlantic coast. After the war he spent six months retrieving the mines. Because of those six months after the war he was not recalled during the Korean conflict.

Fort Moultrie in South Carolina is a great place to observe some of these fortifications. I always enjoyed going there as a kid.

Endicott and Taft Period Forts and Batteries are all over Honolulu, and they're incredibly interesting. The campus of my Community College is built upon the foundations and perimeter of an old Endicott-era Fort.

When I was stationed at Great Lakes in the early 80s I remember seeing a plaque in remembrance of two seaman recruits who died when German bombs fell from seaplanes that had been refueled by submarines stationed off the coast of Nova Scottia the planes were to target industry in Chicago but dropped early because of fuel darkness navigation issues. I want to know more are you interested?

I was stationed at Fort DeRussy in Hawaii which was left over from this period. The gun fortifications were still there; however, the guns were long gone. Fort DeRussy is located in the middle of Waikiki beach and is currently a military resort and at the time I was there was also an Army reserve center. I was there in 1988.

Although most of the guns at Corregidor in the Philippines were not effective against the Japanese, the 12"mortars were able to be used against the Japanese. Initially the Japanese had not bothered to target Battery Way (four12"mortars) because the battery was "obsolete"and unmanned. After the fall of Bataan, Captain "Wild Bill"Massello reactivated Battery Way,and the Japanese got an unpleasant surprise! The main problem he had was that most of the shells were Armor Piercing (AP) and not effective against troops in the open,however he was able to modify the AP shells to keep them from penetrating too deeply before exploding,thus making them effective against troops. The Japanese made a concerted effort to destroy the mortars,as they presented the most danger,especially to invasion barges approaching the island. One of the mortars of Battery Way fired the last shot against the Japanese before the island surrendered. Battery Way is still there, and a tour of Corregidor is a "must see" if one visits Manila.

Growing up near Ft.Pickens, I was familiar with disappearing guns since kidhood but did not know the background. Thanks for filling a niche in my education!

So articulate and concise.

Here in Washington state we have several coastal battery stations, all parks now. Great work on this subject.

Several mine planters were built here in my hometown 800 miles from salt water. Marietta Manufacturing, Point Pleasant, W.V.

We visited Fort Macon near Atlantic Beach NC last summer. Well worth it to spend an afternoon there. It was used off and on from the Civil War through WWII.

I have been both to Forts Hancock and Mott. Fort Mott is on the Delaware River. Both had disappearing guns. Unfortunately all that is left is the forts . No guns to be seen anywhere. This the first time I saw how they worked. Thank you History Guy.

I so look forward to each new history learning you give, Sir. I imagine having you over for dinner and my sophomore college daughter being at the table, as she is a very interested and curious student of history. She is majoring in music Ed. at U of Eau Claire, WI as top clarinetist at the school, with history definitely in her wheelhouse.

Back in 2001 I made a visit to see old Fort Jackson on the Mississippi which I wanted to see since looking at the pictures of Admiral Farragut's passage of the forts during the Civil War that led to the fall of New Orleans. Just learning to read back then and my father had a copy of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, an endless source of interest for me. I was fascinated to see that amidst the casemates and batteries of the Civil War era fort modernization had taken place later in the Nineteenth Century that included the installation of several disappearing guns.

Enjoyed this one because I have explored Fort Hancock and the fortifications along the Delaware Bay.

I very much enjoyed this video and my dad and I always make it a point to visit Fort Steven's Park every year when we are on vacation in seaside.

Fascinating topic; impressive artefacts. i) The fixed fortification conundrum: if the fortification is so strong as to deter assault, its tactical effectiveness remains in doubt, as it is never put to the test. (So can the same be said about nuclear deterrent at the strategic level?) ii) Disappearing gun carriages were considered to have too slow a rate of fire to effectively engage fast moving targets like warships, so were not employed for long nor distributed widely by the British (except in out-of-the-way places like Australia and New Zealand, where arguably the technology was dumped). iii) The development of steam propulsion, permitting navigation largely independent of wind and current, particularly useful inshore; the development of naval artillery, rapidly improving weight of fire, rate of fire, penetration, accuracy and range; the continual development of protective armour; this culminated in the development of protected then armoured cruisers that enabled power projection to threaten distant shores and ports (critical nodes of trade and wealth), stimulating a wave of coastal fortification construction across the globe in the latter quarter of the 19th century. Malta is a case in point (the polygonal forts and batteries). iv) It is interesting to note that ordnance and fire control technologies employed in coastal fortifications tended to lag behind the cutting edge technologies employed in the warships they were designed to defend against. Often, the guns and supporting systems were obsolete by the time they were installed.

Used to live near Fort Stevens near Warren ton, Oregon. Explored that area many times. So cool!!! I would love to see you do an episode on it!! Love The History Guy!!!!!!

I knew an old gentleman years ago that was an Army artillaryman during WWII. He was not assigned to the permanent forts but instead he was assigned to a mobile system along the east coast that consisted of railroad gun trains that could be moved forward to prepared rail spurs along the coast. The trains were self contained. they consisted of the heavy railguns, ammo cars, crew barracks cars and other support. He said that some spurs had turntables where the gun carriage car was parked on it and could be turned to fire in any direction.

I would encourage all who visit Portland, Maine to take the short ride across the bridge to South Portland and visit Fort Preble on the campus of Southern Maine Community College. it’s a great example of an Endicott Fort and a great park and beach for the kids. Take a walk out on the breakwater to Spring Point Light to see the fort from another vantage point. Great place for a sunset walk too.

Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island in Pensacola, Florida is a good place to see the progression of coastal defense forts from 1834 to the end of World War 2. They have the original fort with a few examples of the artillery pieces from the Civil War era. They have the disappearing gun fortifications, including at least one gun that I can recall. Finally, they have some World War 2 era gun emplacements on the island, including the watch towers that were used to identify, range and call in fire from the scattered batteries.

Thanks H.G, for another piece of interesting and forgotten history. 👍🏻

An era-appropriate response to your statement about the usefulness of the defenses: "speak softly and carry a big stick"

I grew up camping at Fort Stevens State Park. I was fascinated by the remains of the old batteries! My friends and I also loved playing "Capture the Flag" in them when they were less crowded.

Fascinating, as always, THG!! It resonates somewhat with me, as my Grandmother grew up with these improvements (b1885), and my Father(b1917) fought in the Philippines in WW2.