15th Coast Artillery (United States)

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15th Coast Artillery
15th Coast Artillery Rgt-15th Artillery Grp coa.jpeg
Coat of arms
Active1918–1944
CountryFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Allegiance United States Armed Forces
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
TypeCoast Artilliary Insignia.png Coast Artillery Corps
Role Harbor defense
Size Regiment
Part of Harbor Defense Command
Garrison/HQ Fort Kamehameha
Motto(s)"Littore Sistimus" (Coastal System)
Mascot(s) Oozlefinch
Engagements Attack on Pearl Harbor

The 15th Coast Artillery was a Coast Artillery Corps regiment in the United States Army. Along with the 16th Coast Artillery, it manned the Harbor Defenses of Pearl Harbor and other fortified sites on Oahu, Hawaii from 1924 until broken up into battalions in August 1944 as part of an Army-wide reorganization. [1]

Contents

Lineage 1

Constituted as the 15th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) (C.A.C.) and organized October 1918 at Fort Crockett, Texas, but demobilized in November 1918. This was one of a number of Coast Artillery regiments mobilized to operate heavy and railway artillery on the Western Front in World War I, but the Armistice resulted in the dissolution of the 15th. [2]

Lineage 2

Constituted in the Regular Army 27 February 1924 as 15th Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense) (HD), and organized 1 July 1924 at Fort Kamehameha from the following Companies of the Coast Artillery Corps (CAC): 185th, 125th, 91st, 143rd, 184th, 86th, and 95th. [3]

Regiment disbanded on 15 August 1944 and broken up as follows: [1] [3]

15th CA Group and 53rd CA Battalion inactivated 10 April 1945; [6] [7] 54th CA Battalion inactivated 10 April 1946. [7]

In 1950 the 15th Coast Artillery Group was reconstituted and consolidated as the 15th Antiaircraft Artillery Group, with lineage inherited from the 15th Coast Artillery Regiment.

Distinctive unit insignia

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/32 inches (2.62 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, a chevron paly of eight Argent, of the field (Gules), Azure and repeated, the ordinary fimbriated Or. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “LITTORE SISTIMUS” in Blue letters.

The shield is red for the Artillery and the chevron is in the colors of the old royal Hawaiian flag, which also appeared in the arms of the Coast Defenses of Pearl Harbor. The motto translates to “We Take Our Stand On The Shore.”

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 15th Coast Artillery Regiment on 17 April 1925. It was redesignated for the 15th Artillery Group on 2 June 1966.

Coat of arms

Blazon

Gules, a chevron paly of eight Argent, of the field (Gules), Azure and repeated, the ordinary fimbriated Or.

On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, a cannon palewise Gules, between two dolphins hauriant, dexter and sinister, Or, langued of the first. Motto: LITTORE SISTIMUS (We Take Our Stand On The Shore).

Symbolism

The shield is red for the Artillery and the chevron is in the colors of the old royal Hawaiian flag, which also appeared in the arms of the Coast Defenses of Pearl Harbor.

The crest shows the big gun supported by the dolphins - the king of fishes - indicating the command of the coast.

Background

The coat of arms was approved for the 15th Coast Artillery Regiment on 16 April 1925. It was rescinded/cancelled on 26 December 1974.

Campaign streamers

World War II

Decorations

unknown

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Stanton, p. 457
  2. ↑ Rinaldi, p. 159
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gaines, p. 11
  4. ↑ At or near Battery Burgess, an 8-inch naval turret used as coast defense.
  5. ↑ Battery Burgess at FortWiki.com
  6. 1 2 Stanton, p. 437
  7. 1 2 3 4 Stanton, p. 485

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from 15th Coast Artillery. United States Army Institute of Heraldry. (dead link 18 September 2017)

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