Point Cloud Animation of Battery 220 at Fort Tilden, Gateway National Recreation Area
Channel: HABS HAER HALS
Date: 17/11/2017

Located on Rockaway Beach on Long Island, Fort Tilden was established in 1917 and slowly developed from a temporary installation to a permanent one with two batteries equipped with 6" guns (later known as Battery 220 and Battery Kessler) and one battery with 16" guns (Battery Harris). The fort was part of a network of coastal fortifications in the New York City area and New Jersey established to protect the New York Harbor and staffed by various companies of the Coast Artillery Corps. 

Battery 220 was completed in 1943 as part of the modernization of the fort. It represents one of the standardized designs for a World War II-era 6" gun battery built as part of the nation’s coastal defense system. The battery’s magazine is the sole extant structure remaining and is representative of the central traverse magazine layout developed during this time period. The reinforced-concrete magazine contained storerooms, shell rooms that housed the high explosive and armor piercing ammunition, powder rooms, air compressor rooms, a chemical warfare service room and air lock for protection in the event of a chemical attack, and a latrine. In addition, there was the necessary equipment needed for the 6" guns, like fire control and data transmission systems. The armament was comprised of two Model 1903 A2 6" guns on M4 shielded barbette carriages placed on concrete firing platforms flanking the battery.

Project Information:  Heritage Documentation Programs (Richard O’Connor, Chief) completed the Fort Tilden Recording Project at the request of Gateway National Recreation Area (Marilou Ehrler, Chief of Cultural Resources) in 2016-2017. Dana Lockett and Ryan Pierce undertook the fieldwork and completed the measured drawings. Jarob Ortiz produced the large-format photographs. Justine Christianson wrote the historical report.

Note: There is no spoken word in this video animation. 

LEARN MORE:
HDP Program Website: http://www.nps.gov/hdp Search the HABS/HAER/HALS Collections: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/
Follow Us: http://www.facebook.com/HeritageDocumentationProgram