Harbor Defenses of New York

Harbor Defenses of New York
In June 1908, the 10th Company of the 13th Artillery District, New York National Guard (later the 245th Coast Artillery) loads a 10-inch gun at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.
Active1895–1950[1]
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army Coast Artillery Corps
TypeCoast artillery
RoleHarbor Defense Command
Part of
Garrison/HQFort Hamilton, Brooklyn, New York
Mascot(s)Oozlefinch

The Harbor Defenses of New York was a United States Army Coast Artillery Corps harbor defense command.[1] It coordinated the coast defenses of New York City from 1895 to 1950, beginning with the Endicott program, some of which were located in New Jersey. These included both coast artillery forts and underwater minefields. The command originated c. 1895 as an Artillery District(s) and became the Coast Defenses of Eastern New York and Coast Defenses of Southern New York in 1913. Circa 1915 the Coast Defenses of Sandy Hook separated from the latter command. In 1925 the commands were renamed as Harbor Defense Commands, and in 1935 the Harbor Defenses of Eastern New York was almost entirely disarmed, although possibly retaining the minefield capability. The New York and Sandy Hook commands and the Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound were unified as the Harbor Defenses of New York on 9 May 1942.[2][3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ a b Gaines, pp. 6-8, 25-27
  2. ^ Stanton, pp. 455-481
  3. ^ Coast Artillery Organization: A Brief Overview at the Coast Defense Study Group website
  4. ^ Rinaldi, pp. 165-166
  5. ^ Berhow, pp. 427-434
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Clay2010-01 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).