Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Boston
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Harbor mines and cables fill the pier during the Second World War. Built in 1906, the mine-storage building (background) now houses the visitor’s center. (Inscription below the title) Countering the threat of the submarine, the U.S. military mined the nation’s ports---conventional artillery, like Fort Warren’s 15-inch guns, couldn’t destroy underwater invaders. Beginning in 1898, the Coast Artillery placed minefields in maritime channels north and south of Georges Island (some minefields were further north, near Lynn). To avoid damaging friendly ships, soldiers in casemates (bunkers) controlled the mines via underwater cables. The cables were checked for short-circuits in water-filled concrete tanks (now below the food-service area) before being transported with the mines on railway cars to the docks.
(Forts, Castles • Military) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Harbor mines and cables fill the pier during the Second World War. Built in 1906, the mine-storage building (background) now houses the visitor’s center. (Inscription below the title) Countering the threat of the submarine, the U.S. military mined the nation’s ports---conventional artillery, like Fort Warren’s 15-inch guns, couldn’t destroy underwater invaders. Beginning in 1898, the Coast Artillery placed minefields in maritime channels north and south of Georges Island (some minefields were further north, near Lynn). To avoid damaging friendly ships, soldiers in casemates (bunkers) controlled the mines via underwater cables. The cables were checked for short-circuits in water-filled concrete tanks (now below the food-service area) before being transported with the mines on railway cars to the docks.(Forts, Castles • Military) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.