Cape Elizabeth in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
Battery Blair
Photographed by Craig Doda, July 2, 2018
1. Battery Blair Marker
Inscription.
Battery Blair. . You are standing at the site of the largest of six gun batteries built at Fort Williams. Named for Francis P. Blair, Jr., a veteran of the Mexican and Civil wars, Battery Blair was manned during World War I and the early years of World War II. Hidden from view at sea behind a concrete and earth berm, it contained two twelve-inch guns mounted on disappearing carriages.
A Seacoast Gun Battery , 1. Exterior Slope of Parapet , 2. Superior Slope of Parapet , 3. Interior Slope of Parapet , 4. Blast Slope or Apron , 5. Magazine Ventilator , 6. Interior Crest , 7. Traverse , 8. Interior Wall , 9. Traverse Wall , 10. Canopy , 11. Reserve Table , 12. Delivery Table , 13. Observing Station , 14. Gun Platform , 15. Loading Platform , 16. Platform Stairs , 17. Corridor , 18. Corridor Wall , 19. Latrine , 20. Parade Wall , 21. Approach , 22. To Oil and Tool Room , 23. To Shell Room , 24. To Magazine , 25. Battery Parade , 26. Office , 27. Gallery , 28. Crane , 29. Interior Slope of Parados , 30. Traverse Slope of ParadosVV Designed to protect Portland Harbor from enemy attacks by battleships and cruisers, the twelve-inch guns mounted at Battery Blair were the largest in use at the time. These guns firing a 12-inch diameter, 1,000 pound shell, had a range of 8 miles. The guns fired armor-piercing shells on a flat trajectory to breach the heavily protected hulls of battleships., The addition of anti-aircraft guns during World War I and radar during World War II reflected the ongoing modernization and technological advancement of defenses at Fort Williams., In addition to Battery Blair, five other batteries at Fort Williams were each named for deceased officers: Sullivan, DeHart, Hobart, Keyes, and Gareschι.
You are standing at the site of the
largest of six gun batteries built at
Fort Williams. Named for Francis P.
Blair, Jr., a veteran of the Mexican
and Civil wars, Battery Blair was
manned during World War I and the
early years of World War II. Hidden
from view at sea behind a concrete
and earth berm, it contained
two twelve-inch guns mounted
on disappearing carriages.
A Seacoast Gun Battery
1. Exterior Slope of Parapet
2. Superior Slope of Parapet
3. Interior Slope of Parapet
4. Blast Slope or Apron
5. Magazine Ventilator
6. Interior Crest
7. Traverse
8. Interior Wall
9. Traverse Wall
10. Canopy
11. Reserve Table
12. Delivery Table
13. Observing Station
14. Gun Platform
15. Loading Platform
16. Platform Stairs
17. Corridor
18. Corridor Wall
19. Latrine
20. Parade Wall
21. Approach
22. To Oil and Tool Room
23. To Shell Room
24. To Magazine
25. Battery Parade
26. Office
27. Gallery
28. Crane
29. Interior Slope of Parados
30. Traverse Slope of ParadosVV
Designed to protect Portland
Harbor from enemy attacks by
battleships and cruisers,
the twelve-inch guns mounted
at Battery Blair were the largest
in use at the time. These
guns firing a 12-inch diameter,
1,000 pound
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shell, had a range
of 8 miles. The guns fired
armor-piercing shells on a flat
trajectory to breach the heavily
protected hulls of battleships.
The addition of anti-aircraft guns
during World War I and radar during
World War II reflected the ongoing
modernization and technological
advancement of defenses at Fort
Williams.
In addition to Battery Blair, five
other batteries at Fort Williams
were each named for deceased
officers: Sullivan, DeHart, Hobart,
Keyes, and Gareschι.
Location. 43° 37.349′ N, 70° 12.59′ W. Marker is in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, in Cumberland County. It is on Shore Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Elizabeth ME 04107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Southern Maine Coast. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Daily Life (here, next to this marker); National Guard (here, next to this marker); Fort Williams (here, next to this marker); A Town Within A Town (here, next to this marker); CCC Headquarters (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Fort Williams (within shouting distance
Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 584 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 5, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 4. submitted on November 28, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
