Battery 129 | Second World War 1939-1945, military, place with historical importance, artillery battery

 Second World War 1939-1945, military, place with historical importance, artillery battery

Despite its imposing appearance, Battery Construction 129 was never used or completed. It was to be armed with two 16-inch guns mounted. Each gun with its carriage weighed over 1-million pounds and could accurately fire a 2,100 pound shell a distance of 27 miles. This fortification was to have been the highest battery in the San Francisco Bay area.

Construction began in 1942. The two guns were to be mounted in the face of the hill, tunneled out to retain a natural appearance and to provide protection from air attack. However, all the work was stopped in 1944, shortly after its guns arrived for mounting. The Army had found that weapons like those at this and similar batteries wouldn't be effective against attacks by aircraft. As a result the fortification was abandoned.

Construction 129 is only a project number. The battery was never offically named or manned.

www.militarymuseum.org/BCN129.html
fortwiki.com/Battery_129
Life-size duplicates of the Lascaux cave paintings can be found in the tunnel: www.acme.berkeley.ca.us/jef/photos/28oct1999_big_thursd...