Harbor Defenses of Portland

Harbor Defenses of Portland
Coat of arms
Active1895-1950[1]
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army Coast Artillery Corps
TypeCoast artillery
RoleHarbor Defense Command
Part of
Garrison/HQ
Motto(s)Terrae Portam Defendamus (We Defend The Land Gate)[2]
Mascot(s)Oozlefinch
Part of Fort Scammell.
Fort Gorges.
Interior of Fort Popham.
Typical US disappearing gun battery for two guns.
Fort Levett and Ram Island Ledge. From the Ottawa House, Cushing Island, ME., 1909.
Children look on as a heavy gun is moved to Fort Williams via South Portland's trolley tracks.
12-inch mortars, similar to those at Fort Preble and Fort McKinley.
10-inch gun M1888 on disappearing carriage M1896, similar to guns at Fort Williams and Fort Levett.

The Harbor Defenses of Portland was a United States Army Coast Artillery Corps harbor defense command.[1] It coordinated the coast defenses of Portland, Maine, the mouth of the Kennebec River, and surrounding areas from 1895 to 1950, beginning with the Endicott program. These included both coast artillery forts and underwater minefields. The command originated circa 1895 as the Portland Artillery District, was renamed Coast Defenses of Portland in 1913, and again renamed Harbor Defenses of Portland in 1925.[3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ a b c Gaines, p. 8
  2. ^ 27th AAA AW Bn lineage
  3. ^ Coast Artillery Organization: A Brief Overview at the Coast Defense Study Group website
  4. ^ Rinaldi, pp. 165-166
  5. ^ Berhow, p. 430-434
  6. ^ Stanton, pp. 455-481