The history of the Coast Artillery is a short one. Interestingly enough it is closely linked to the rapid changes in weapons and coastal defensive systems. Initially, the U.S. Army artillery was divided into light artillery and heavy artillery. Light artillery normally included pieces that could travel easily with the troops as they moved and heavy artillery were fix mounted pieces located in forts. With rapid changes in technology came changes to how the army responded to the needs of defending coastal locations that included the use of both light and heavy artillery. In 1901 the army reorganized their artillery from 7 regiments into more flexible field companies and coastal companies. Both types made use of both light and heavy artillery pieces but their training and tactics were different.
The main armament of coastal defenses were often controlled minefields. With this came another not so traditional artillery responsibility, establishing and maintaining submerged mines in the water. In 1918 the Army Mine Planter Service was created to accomplish this goal. Most visitors to coastal defenses miss the main armament of these fortifications and only see the remains of the artillery emplacements that protected the minefields and submarine nets. Smaller, light artillery, caliber weapons were designated to this role as well as antiaircraft and anti-motor torpedo boat duties. Larger artillery pieces such as the 10 inch guns of Fort Foster, 12 inch guns of Fort Stark and even larger 16 inch guns of Fort Dearbourne had the responsibility of warding off larger naval ships with equally sized weapons.
The formative years for the Coast Artillery occurred during the First World War. Many of the companies were reformed as regiments and sent to France to fight along side the allies. Most of the regiments were assigned the use of French or British weapons until their own American made weapons arrived. The war ended before most of these arrived in Europe and were returned to their designated forts. Fort Foster was one of many that saw their 10 inch guns dismantled for overseas shipment only to have them returned without having left the country.
During the period between the World Wars, improvements were made to coastal defenses in updates to searchlights, changes in mobile antiaircraft and anti-motor torpedo boat weapons as well as range finding equipment. Locations like Fort Foster saw their mobile searchlight equipment replaced with fixed searchlights that could be moved on a set of small gauge railroads trucks and their older DPFs (Depression Position Finder) updated with newer CRFs (Coincidence Range Finder).
The increased use of airplanes and the demonstrated effectiveness of their capabilities at Pearl Harbor in 1941 caused greater change in coastal defenses. Fixed, open air gun batteries were now more vulnerable. Newer gun batteries, such as the massive 16 inch gun battery at Fort Dearbourne, were constructed with reinforced concrete bunkers hidden beneath tons of soil. The Coast Artillery saw most of its light artillery become more mobile with the addition of 40mm and 90mm guns that could provide a more maneuverable and flexible defense.
As World War 2 came to a close, most of the fortifications that had been built fifty years earlier were now considered obsolete and surplus property. By 1948 the Coast Artillery was dissolved except for the antiaircraft units which would later evolve into today's Air Defense Artillery units. The Mine Planter Service equipment was transferred to the Navy and the Coast Artillery's history came to an end.
The main armament of coastal defenses were often controlled minefields. With this came another not so traditional artillery responsibility, establishing and maintaining submerged mines in the water. In 1918 the Army Mine Planter Service was created to accomplish this goal. Most visitors to coastal defenses miss the main armament of these fortifications and only see the remains of the artillery emplacements that protected the minefields and submarine nets. Smaller, light artillery, caliber weapons were designated to this role as well as antiaircraft and anti-motor torpedo boat duties. Larger artillery pieces such as the 10 inch guns of Fort Foster, 12 inch guns of Fort Stark and even larger 16 inch guns of Fort Dearbourne had the responsibility of warding off larger naval ships with equally sized weapons.
The formative years for the Coast Artillery occurred during the First World War. Many of the companies were reformed as regiments and sent to France to fight along side the allies. Most of the regiments were assigned the use of French or British weapons until their own American made weapons arrived. The war ended before most of these arrived in Europe and were returned to their designated forts. Fort Foster was one of many that saw their 10 inch guns dismantled for overseas shipment only to have them returned without having left the country.
During the period between the World Wars, improvements were made to coastal defenses in updates to searchlights, changes in mobile antiaircraft and anti-motor torpedo boat weapons as well as range finding equipment. Locations like Fort Foster saw their mobile searchlight equipment replaced with fixed searchlights that could be moved on a set of small gauge railroads trucks and their older DPFs (Depression Position Finder) updated with newer CRFs (Coincidence Range Finder).
The increased use of airplanes and the demonstrated effectiveness of their capabilities at Pearl Harbor in 1941 caused greater change in coastal defenses. Fixed, open air gun batteries were now more vulnerable. Newer gun batteries, such as the massive 16 inch gun battery at Fort Dearbourne, were constructed with reinforced concrete bunkers hidden beneath tons of soil. The Coast Artillery saw most of its light artillery become more mobile with the addition of 40mm and 90mm guns that could provide a more maneuverable and flexible defense.
As World War 2 came to a close, most of the fortifications that had been built fifty years earlier were now considered obsolete and surplus property. By 1948 the Coast Artillery was dissolved except for the antiaircraft units which would later evolve into today's Air Defense Artillery units. The Mine Planter Service equipment was transferred to the Navy and the Coast Artillery's history came to an end.