Battery Way was a

battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

of four 12-inch mortars located on the island of

Corregidor Corregidor ( tl, Pulo ng Corregidor, ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of the Province of Cavite. Due to this location, Corregidor has historically b ...

. Battery Way was one of two (

Battery Geary Corregidor ( tl, Pulo ng Corregidor, ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of the Province of Cavite. Due to this location, Corregidor has historical ...

the other) mortar batteries at Fort Mills that, with Fort Hughes, Fort Drum, Fort Frank and Fort Wint formed the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. Battery Way was named for Lt. Henry N. Way of the 4th U.S. Artillery.

Construction and design

Battery Way was constructed as part of the fortifications program initiated by the Taft Board. Constructed between 1908 and 1914, it was the only single-pit mortar battery built as part of the program. Its four coast defense mortars, M1890MI guns on M1896MI carriages, were designed to loft armor-piercing shells in a high trajectory onto the decks of warships threatening Manila Bay. Advances in naval gunnery and ship design rendered these weapons mostly obsolete by the end of World War I.

World War II

Battery Way played a very limited role during the Philippines Campaign in the Spring of 1942, only becoming active in the last week of the battle. The battery had been out of service for several years, but three of the four mortars were returned to service with a crew from Battery E,

60th Coast Artillery (AA) The 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment is an air defense unit of the United States Army. History World War I The regiment was constituted on 23 December 1917 in the Regular Army as the 60th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps and organized at ...

, recently evacuated from Bataan, by 28 April. These were fired for the first time on that day against Japanese positions on nearby Bataan. Its exposure to Japanese artillery, air attack, and its limited supply of high explosive shells greatly diminished its effectiveness. By the time of the Japanese landings on Corregidor island on 5–6 May 1942, only one mortar tube of Battery Way remained serviceable, the other two having been damaged beyond repair by Japanese artillery.Morton, p. 540 The battery was manned by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor in 1942. The guns were permanently damaged during the retaking of Corregidor by U.S. forces in early 1945.

Post-war

Corregidor Island, its surviving fortifications, and associated war relics are presently maintained as a national park. Daytime and overnight tours are available. The entire island is now maintained by the Cavite Foundation Institute (CFI) of Cavite, Philippines, and the Department of Tourism. Aside from the tours, trekking, hiking, and swimming has become a part of visitors' activities.

Battery Way in popular culture

* In an episode of the Filipino television show

Strangebrew ''Strangebrew'' is a reality situational comedy television show in the Philippines which formerly aired on UNTV, PTV and Studio 23 from 2001 to 2003. History and concept ''Strangebrew'' was launched in early summer of 2001 on UNTV. It was host ...

, Tado and Erning are looking for some batteries for Tado's flashlight when a ghost appears to them and tells them to go to

where there are many batteries (actually the ''Battery Way'').

Photo gallery

Image:12-inch_Mortar.jpg , 12-inch mortar Image:Battery_way_Ordnance_Storage2.jpg, Ammunition magazine of Battery Way Image:Battery_Way_Three_mortars_and_command_center2.jpg, Three mortars and battery commander's station Image:Battery_Way.jpg , Battery Way View Image:Shot_showing_the_Barrel.jpg , Open breech of a 12-inch mortar Image:Viewed_from_the_Battery_Command_Center.jpg, One of the mortars as viewed from the battery commander's station

References

Sources

* * * * McGovern, Terrance C. and Mark A Berhow ''American Defenses of Corregidor and Manila Bay 1898-1945''.

Osprey Publishing Osprey Publishing is a British, Oxford-based, publishing company specializing in military history. Predominantly an illustrated publisher, many of their books contain full-colour artwork plates, maps and photographs, and the company produces ov ...

. * – full text *

External links

{{Commons category, Battery Way
Corregidor Island: Battery Way

Military history of the Philippines during World War II United States military in the Philippines World War II sites in the Philippines World War II sites of the United States World War II sites of Japan 1942 in the Philippines Military facilities in Cavite History of Cavite Corregidor 1914 establishments in the Philippines