The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Old Washington State Forts

From the July 7, 2010, Seattle Times "Old forts are scenic spots for getaways, culture and fun" by JoAnn Roe.

There are several decommissioned forts in the Seattle area for two 20th century wars, World War I and World War II.

Forts WORDEN, FLAGLER AND CASEY were part of the "Triangle of Fire" along with the satellite compounds of FORT EBEY (ok, I spelled it with an "a" instead of the second "e" the first time. So, that's where they came up with the name.) and Camp HAYDEN.

FORT FLAGLER's gun emplacements rarely fired, and then only when being tested.

CAMP HAYDEN, near Joyce. During WWII, 150 soldiers were stationed here manning two 6-inch and two 16-inch guns, the latter able to fire a shell 28 miles (16-inch guns were usually mounted in battleships. A 16-inch gun from the USS Missouri is being transported to Arizona right now to be part of an exhibit with a 14-inch one from the USS Arizona.)

FORT CASEY on Whidbey Island, is a still-standing fortress, originally built in 1847. By the Spanish-American War, two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages were installed. These guns could be raised from behind a concrete embankment, fired, and then lowered for reloading.

The armament was removed before World War II, but the fort was used for training.

FORT EBEY was just north of FORT CASEY, but nothing remains of it.

Homeland Defense Back Then. --GreGen

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