Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Expanding Military Operations at Fort Story

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 13, 2025

1. Expanding Military Operations at Fort Story Marker

Inscription.

Expanding Military Operations at Fort Story. . , Coast Artillery Post (1914-1948) , Fort story became a military installation in 1914. The first major coast defense was Battery Pennington, consisting of four 16-inch M1920 howitzers. Four circular open open concrete pads were connected to two sets of magazines (ammunition storage) and shell rooms. Railroad tracks connected the magazines, shell rooms, and replacements (weapon position), and linked with the railroad tracks for resupply of munitions and armament., Rail tracks ran through the middle of each shell room for the loading of 16" shells onto the rail shell carriers. Rail tracks and three roll-up steel doors along each side of the magazines (such as Building 405) gave handlers access to the powder bags., Behind gun emplacement #3, a 280' tunnel through a large sand dune led to a combination plotting room and switchboard room. This tunnel was 15' high and 14' wide with rail tracks running through it, allowing railroad artillery to be sheltered inside. Battery Pennington was divided into two batteries of two howitzers each and they were originally called Battery Pennington A and B. Gun emplacements #3 and #4 were renamed Battery Walke in 1940. The Batteries were deactivated in 1947 and 16-inch guns scrapped soon after., World War II (1939-1945) , Following the American entry into World War II, two four-gun batteries of 155 mm Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF) guns were deployed as a stopgap defense until three permanent 6-inch gun batteries were completed between 1941 and 1943. Their design (referred to as #200 Series Construction type) had two 6-inch guns on barbette carriages (which elevated and supported the guns) with steel protective shields placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete structure., These bunker-like structures had several magazines and rooms for a powerplant, plotting table-switchboard, latrine, and chemical defense. One key feature of this design was the use of both optical instruments (in fire control towers) and radar (on towers) for warship targeting, as well as early computers for calculating the firing solutions for its 6-inch guns., The emplacements for Battery Worcester (#224) (Building 309), Battery Cramer (#225) (Building 101), and Battery #226 (Building 317) remain.

Coast Artillery Post (1914-1948)
Fort story became a military installation in 1914. The first major coast defense was Battery Pennington, consisting of four 16-inch M1920 howitzers. Four circular open open concrete pads were connected to two sets of magazines (ammunition storage) and shell rooms. Railroad tracks connected the magazines, shell rooms, and replacements (weapon position), and linked with the railroad tracks for resupply of munitions and armament.

Rail tracks ran through the middle of each shell room for the loading of 16" shells onto the rail shell carriers. Rail tracks and three roll-up steel doors along each side of the magazines (such as Building 405) gave handlers access to the powder bags.

Behind gun emplacement #3, a 280' tunnel through a large sand dune led to a combination plotting room and switchboard room. This tunnel was 15' high and 14' wide with rail tracks running through it, allowing railroad artillery to be sheltered inside. Battery Pennington was divided into two batteries of two howitzers each and they were originally called Battery Pennington A and B. Gun emplacements #3 and #4 were renamed Battery Walke in 1940. The Batteries were deactivated in 1947 and 16-inch guns scrapped soon after.

World War II (1939-1945)
Following the

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American entry into World War II, two four-gun batteries of 155 mm Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF) guns were deployed as a stopgap defense until three permanent 6-inch gun batteries were completed between 1941 and 1943. Their design (referred to as #200 Series Construction type) had two 6-inch guns on barbette carriages (which elevated and supported the guns) with steel protective shields placed on either side of an earth covered reinforced concrete structure.

These bunker-like structures had several magazines and rooms for a powerplant, plotting table-switchboard, latrine, and chemical defense. One key feature of this design was the use of both optical instruments (in fire control towers) and radar (on towers) for warship targeting, as well as early computers for calculating the firing solutions for its 6-inch guns.

The emplacements for Battery Worcester (#224) (Building 309), Battery Cramer (#225) (Building 101), and Battery #226 (Building 317) remain.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Railroads & Streetcars • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 36° 55.517′ N, 76° 0.454′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in Fort Story. It is on Antic Avenue west of Attu Road, on the right

Markers at the entrance to the Cape Henry Lighthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 13, 2025

2. Markers at the entrance to the Cape Henry Lighthouse

when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 583 Sicily Rd, Virginia Beach VA 23459, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Cottages of Cape Henry at Fort Story (here, next to this marker); "A picturesque spot which impresses all who see it" (here, next to this marker); The Guns of Fort Story / Fort Story Rises from the Dunes (a few steps from this marker); Movement and Display of the USS Iowa Battleship Barrel at Cape Henry/Fort Story (a few steps from this marker); The Emerging Community / Defending the Chesapeake Bay (a few steps from this marker); WW2 16-inch/50 Coast Defense Batteries at Fort Story (a few steps from this marker); Into the 21st Century / The Amphibians Arrive (a few steps from this marker); 16-inch/50 Caliber Gun Mark VII - Mod No. 270L (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 163 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.