Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth

Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth
Active1900-1950[1]
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army Coast Artillery Corps
TypeCoast artillery
RoleHarbor Defense Command
Part of
Garrison/HQ
Motto(s)We are one[3][4]
Mascot(s)Oozlefinch

The Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth was a United States Army Coast Artillery Corps harbor defense command.[1] It coordinated the coast defenses of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and the nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine from 1900 to 1950, both on the Piscataqua River, beginning with the Endicott program. These included both coast artillery forts and underwater minefields. The command originated circa 1900 as the Portsmouth Artillery District, was renamed Coast Defenses of Portsmouth in 1913, and again renamed Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth in 1925.[2][5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b Gaines, pp. 8, 15
  2. ^ a b Stanton, pp. 455-481
  3. ^ Berhow, p. 578
  4. ^ Coat of Arms, p. 537
  5. ^ Coast Artillery Organization: A Brief Overview at the Coast Defense Study Group website
  6. ^ Rinaldi, pp. 165-166
  7. ^ Berhow, p. 430-434