Type Coastal Defense In use 1941-1945 Year built 1941 | Built by United States Army Battles/wars World War II Owner Massachusetts | |
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Controlled by Salisbury Beach State Reservation | ||
U s forts salisbury beach military reservation salisbury ma
Salisbury Beach Military Reservation was a coastal defense site located in Salisbury, Massachusetts.
Contents
History
The Salisbury Beach Military Reservation was built on state land in 1941. Its mission was to protect the Merrimack River and Newburyport Harbor from possible air and naval attack. The site had four "Panama mounts" (circular concrete platforms) for four towed 155mm guns. It never fired its guns in anger, though but it did play an important part in the defense of the harbor. It may have been organizationally part of the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth or the Harbor Defenses of Boston, references vary. Since Battery F of the 9th Coast Artillery Regiment initially garrisoned the battery at Salisbury Beach, and the 9th primarily garrisoned HD Boston, the latter is more likely. The gun area was returned to the Commonwealth in 1945, but a small fire control site was retained for several more years.
The site today
Today the site is home to Salisbury Beach State Reservation, a recreational beach. The site also contains the remains of the batteries and buildings.