1890-M1 Pit 'B' - Ft DeSoto
N 27° 36.917 W 082° 44.156
17R E 328701 N 3055789
One of several pairs of M1s on display at the fort.
Waymark Code: WM1WDB
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 07/20/2007
Views: 47
These 12-inch mortars were manufactured at the Watervvliet Arsenal, Watervliet, New York in 1901. The carriages are the model 1896 and were manufactured by the American Hoist and Derrick Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. The fortification you are standing in is known as Battery Laidley, in honor of Colonel Theodore T.S. Laidley, who had served in the Mexican and Civil Wars and died in Florida. In August, 1902, eight mortars were mounted. However, the weapons were not test-fired until November 19 & 20, 1903, (five years after the fort;s foundations were laid). The mortars stood ready to defend the harbor of Tampa Bay but never fired a single shot at an enemy. The only time they were fired was during practice.
In 1917, four of the eight mortars were dismounted and shipped to Fort Rosecrans, San Diego, California, for coastal defense. After World War I, many weapons such as these were melted down to be converted into other types of weaponry. Today, Fort DeSoto has the only 12-inch seacoast mortars, Model 1890-M1, in the continental United states. The only other ones in the world are on the island of Corregidor in the Phillipines.
Artillery Spotters, in towers, directed the firing of the weapons. They relayed readings, by telephone, to the relocating room; then the information was transmitted to the data booths just behind the gun pits. The data was interpreted there and posted to the twelve man mortar crews by slate boards. A floating target was pulled by a small ship during practice firings at Fort DeSoto. When fired, the projectile could penetrate six inches of a ship's steel deck at a range of six miles.
What type of artillery is this?: Mortar
Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds
What military of the world used this device?: United States
Date artillery was in use: 08/01/1902
Date artillery was placed on display: 08/19/1902
Parking location to view this Waymark: N 27° 36.844 W 082° 44.151
Cost?: 1.00 (listed in local currency)
Artillery is no longer operational: yes
Still may work: yes
Are there any geocaches at this location?:
Not at the location but in the area, close by.
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Visit Instructions:
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