The Piti Guns or Piti Coastal Defense Guns is the site of three Vickers-type Model 3 coastal defense guns in the

War in the Pacific National Historical Park The War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a multi-unit protected area in the United States territory of Guam, which was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Uniquely among the Na ...

Piti, Guam Piti is a Villages of Guam, village located on the central west coast of the United States territory of Guam. It contains northern and eastern coastlines of Apra Harbor, including Cabras Island, which has the commercial Port of Guam and the island' ...

. The Japanese manufactured these Model 3 coastal defense guns in 1914. During the Japanese Occupation of Guam from 1941 to 1944, they built up defensive positions on the island. The

Chamorro Chamorro may refer to: * Chamorro people, the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific * Chamorro language, an Austronesian language indigenous to The Marianas * Chamorro Time Zone, the time zone of Guam and the Northern Mar ...

population was forced to work in building up these defenses, and did so here at the Piti Guns. The Piti guns were strategically placed in a village consisting mostly of rice paddies in 1944. This area was chosen to defend the beach at

Asan Asan () is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It borders the Seoul Capital Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 300,000. Asan is known for its many hot springs and is a city of spas. Asan has grown into th ...

from a possible invasion. These guns have a firing range of close to and were intended for use against ships and landing craft. When the United States Armed Forces came to retake the island on July 21, 1944, these guns were not fully operational. Consequently, not one of the three coastal defense guns was ever fired. However, these guns are representative of the type of weapons used by the Japanese on Guam for fortification efforts.

Visiting

The Piti Guns are located in the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in

, and are freely accessible by the general public. The trailhead is located a
13.4621N, 144.6942E
in a residential neighborhood behind a church social hall on Father Mel Street in

. The guns are located a short walk up a staircase from the trailhead.

References

External links

World War II weapons of Japan World War II on the National Register of Historic Places in Guam History of Guam Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Guam 1944 establishments in Guam {{Guam-struct-stub