In use 1941-1947 Year built 1941 | Built by United States Army | |
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Controlled by Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area | ||
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. The Brewster Islands Military Reservation was built in World War II on these islands. Its mission was to protect the 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.
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.
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.
Present
The site today consists of the foundations of buildings and gun mounts, and the bunker of Battery Jewell.