Brewster Islands Military Reservation

Last updated
Brewster Islands Military Reservation
Part of Harbor Defenses of Boston
Boston Harbor, Massachusetts
Coastal artillery gun at Fort Columbia State Park.jpg
6-inch gun at Fort Columbia State Park, Washington state, similar to Battery Jewell.
USA Massachusetts location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Brewster Islands Military Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°20′30.41″N70°52′39.65″W / 42.3417806°N 70.8776806°W / 42.3417806; -70.8776806
Type Coastal Defense
Site information
Owner Massachusetts
Controlled by Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Site history
Built1941
Built byUnited States Army
In use1941-1947
Battles/wars World War II
A 1945 map of the mine fields protecting Boston Harbor during World War II Boston-Mines-1945.jpg
A 1945 map of the mine fields protecting Boston Harbor during World War II
Battery Jewell's bunker, constructed during WWII. Battery jewell.JPG
Battery Jewell's bunker, constructed during WWII.
Battery Jewell's #2 gun emplacement. Gun number 2 of Battery Jewell, Outer Brewster Island, Massachusetts.jpg
Battery Jewell's #2 gun emplacement.
90 mm M1 gun on T3/M3 fixed seacoast mount at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Fort Monroe-0091, Battery Parrott (3931724572).jpg
90 mm M1 gun on T3/M3 fixed seacoast mount at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Brewster Islands Military Reservation was a coastal defense site located on Great Brewster Island and Outer Brewster Island in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts as part of the Harbor Defenses of Boston.

Contents

History

Outer Brewster Island was acquired by the US government in 1913, followed by Great Brewster Island in 1917. In 1920 there was a proposal to build a naval-type turret with two 16-inch guns on Great Brewster Island, but this was not implemented. Calf Island Military Reservation was also considered, but the battery was finally built (without a turret) as Fort Duvall. [1] [2] The Brewster Islands Military Reservation was built in World War II on these islands. Its mission was to protect Boston Harbor from possible air and naval attack. It never fired its guns, but it did play an important part in the defense of the harbor. [3]

Great Brewster Island

This island had an observation post and mine casemate for controlling a minefield in the harbor. The island also had an Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat Battery (AMTB), called AMTB 942. This AMTB battery had an authorized strength of four 90 mm guns, two on fixed mounts and two on towed mounts, as well as two towed 37 mm guns. [3] [2] The facility on Great Brewster Island may have been renamed Camp Prescott in 1943. [3]

Outer Brewster Island

This island had a battery of two 6-inch M1 guns on long-range shielded carriages, with a large magazine and fire control bunker between them. The battery was initially called Battery 209, but later named Battery Jewell. A fire control tower and an SCR-296 radar were also on the island. [3] [4]

Present

The site today consists of the foundations of buildings and gun mounts, and the bunker of Battery Jewell. At Great Brewster the AMTB Battery is falling off the head which gets smaller by the year. The "M" Mine Observation Station was destroyed by the Navy for safety.

See also

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References