Near Sausalito in Marin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Battery Mendell

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 31, 2017

1. Battery Mendell Marker

Inscription. Battery Mendell's mission was to keep enemy warships farther from San Francisco's harbor than any of the earlier coastal defences were equipped to do. Built in 1905, the battery was positioned as far west on the headlands as possible and armed with the biggest guns in America. The two 12-inch cannons could hit a vessel 8 miles out to sea.
Battery Mendell was designed for "disappearing guns" that rose up for firing and then dropped back down behind the protective parapet. That ensured greater cover for both the weapons and the troops than older batteries had provided However, new technology, such as that employed at nearby Battery Wallace (set into the hillside behind you), soon enabled high-angle fire. This nearly doubled the distance guns could shoot.

Erected by National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Ares.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 37° 49.332′ N, 122° 31.878′ W. Marker is near Sausalito, California, in Marin County. Marker is on Mendell Road near Field Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sausalito CA 94965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Point Bonita Lighthouse (about 500 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); Battery Alexander (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Battery Alexander (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nike Missile Site SF88 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Marin Headlands (approx. 0.8 miles away); Cold War Legacy: Missiles to Marine Mammals (approx. 0.9 miles away); Battery Construction No. 129 (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Golden Gate (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sausalito.

Also see . . . 12-inch gun M1895 - Wikiwand. The 12-inch coastal defense gun M1895 (305 mm) and its variants the M1888 and M1900 were large coastal artillery pieces installed to defend major American seaports between 1895 and 1945. For most of their history they were operated by the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps. Most were installed on disappearing carriages, with early installations on low-angle barbette mountings. (Submitted on April 16, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. Disappearing

Battery Mendell and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 31, 2017

2. Battery Mendell and Marker

Guns

12-inch M1895 Disappearing Gun image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

3. 12-inch M1895 Disappearing Gun

Firing a 12-inch Disappearing Gun image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Firing a 12-inch Disappearing Gun

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 974 times since then and 188 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 16, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.