A Harbor Defense Command was a military organization of the
United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) was an administrative corps responsible for coastal, harbor, and anti-aircraft defense of the United States and its possessions between 1901 and 1950. The CAC also operated heavy and railway artillery ...
designated in 1925 from predecessor organizations dating from circa 1895. It consisted of the forts,
controlled underwater minefields, and other
coastal defenses of a particular harbor or river. Harbor Defense Commands, along with the similar Coast Artillery Corps, were disestablished in 1950.
History
These commands originated as Artillery Districts, to control groups of forts constructed under the
Endicott Program beginning in 1895.
[ A 1909 reference shows that districts could include (depending on size) a Battle Command (later Fort Command), Fire Command, Mine Command, and Battery Commands. ]Mine planter
Mine planter and the earlier "torpedo planter" was a term used for mine warfare ships into the early days of World War I. In later terminology, particularly in the United States, a mine planter was a ship specifically designed to install controlle ...
vessels were also attached to these commands to plant and maintain controlled minefields. In 1913 the districts were redesignated as Coast Defense Commands, called "Coast Defenses of..." the area protected.[''Coast Artillery Organization: A Brief Overview'' at the Coast Defense Study Group website]
/ref>[Rinaldi, pp. 165-166] At this time Coast Artillery Districts became regional commands, each controlling several Coast Defense Commands. Several of these commands were disarmed and disestablished between World War I and World War II, although minefield defenses may have been retained (references are unclear). Some of the disarmed commands were rearmed in World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
with "Panama mount
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cost ...
s", circular concrete platforms for towed 155 mm guns. Some of these rearmed commands and other hastily-armed areas were designated as "Temporary Harbor Defenses". In 1925 the Coast Defense Commands were redesignated as Harbor Defense Commands, called "Harbor Defenses of..." the area protected.[Stanton, pp. 477-481] After World War II all of these commands were disarmed within a few years, and they and the Coast Artillery Corps were disestablished in 1950.
Harbor Defense Command areas
The major Harbor Defense Commands in the Continental United States ( CONUS) were:[Berhow, pp. 200-231][List of all US coastal forts and batteries]
at the Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. website[These are arranged in the traditional order of US Army reports, starting in Maine and working clockwise around the US.]
The major Harbor Defense Commands in US territories were:[
The Harbor Defense Commands established as a result of the 1940 ]Destroyers for Bases Agreement
The destroyers-for-bases deal was an agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom on September 2, 1940, according to which 50 , , and US Navy destroyers were transferred to the Royal Navy from the US Navy in exchange for land rights ...
with the United Kingdom were:[
]
See also
* Seacoast defense in the United States
Seacoast defense was a major concern for the United States from its independence until World War II. Before airplanes, many of America's enemies could only reach it from the sea, making coastal forts an economical alternative to standing armies o ...
* List of coastal fortifications of the United States
* List of forts in the United States
This is a list of historical forts in the United States. World War II military reservations containing 8-inch and larger gun batteries are also included.
Alabama
*Fort Armstrong
*Fort Bibb
* Fort Blakely
* Fort Bowyer, later site of Fort Morgan
...
References
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*
*
*
*
A Short History
of US fort construction at the Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. website
List of all US coastal forts and batteries
at the Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. website
{{Artillery Regiments (United States)
United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
Coastal fortifications
Fortifications in the United States
1925 establishments in the United States
20th-century military history of the United States
United States military-related lists