Panama

1. 12-inch Mortars for close range work.  There were a total of 28 of these short range mortars within the defense areas of the coastal artillery.  Fort Amador (then Fort Grant) had 12 and were located at: Batteries Merrit, Prince and Carr (4 each) on Flamenco Island.  These batteries later had Hawk Missiles during the Cold War years.  These old batteries were located at the base of Flamenco and could be seen when turning around at the end of the causeway.  Fort Sherman had 8 and were located at: Batteries Baird and Howard.  Fort Randolph had 8 and were located at: Batteries Tidball and Zalinski.

2. Disappearing 14-inch Rifle.  In 1941, it was 25 years old and ready for action.  The 14-inch Rifle was mounted on a disappearing carriage which was developed  at the end of the 19th century.  The theory was that the shore-based rifle could crouch behind 20 feet of concrete plus another 20 to 30 feet of hard packed earth in front of the concrete, rise to fire, return behind the barrier and thus be invisible to hostile invading fleets.  The 14-inch rifles had a range of 24,000 yards (13.64 miles).  14-inch disappearing rifles were in position at Fort Amador's (then Fort Grant) Battery Burnside on Noas Island (2 each), Battery Warren on top of Flamenco Island (2 each), Fort Sherman's Battery Stanley (1each), Battery Mower (1 each), Fort Randolph's Battery Webb (2 each).  It looks like the above photo was probably taken at Battery Warren on top of Flamenco Island.  Battery Warren had been built at the 250 foot elevation contour.  Underneath each gun were the powder magazines and projectile storage.  From this level an elevator descended 250 feet to a shoreline siding in a tunnel.

3. Fixed Mount 3-inch Anti Aircraft Gun.  These Anti Aircraft Guns were in many different locations throughout the Canal Zone.  Some locations are documented and others not.  Some locations were: Fort Amador (then Fort Grant) on top of Noas Island, on the shore near the former Amador Officers Club, Fort Sherman and along the coast towards Fort San Lorenzo area, Fort DeLesseps (Colon).

4. Looking down the barrel of a 16-inch rifle.  Wow!!  Some of you may remember that there were two 16" projectiles (bullet) in front of the "Surfside Theater" (later a museum) by Amador Officers Club Beach.  These projectiles were huge and to think this big gun could lob them for 28 miles.  Incredible!!

5. The best big guns the U.S. owned at  the time were the 16-inch rifles like this one.  The range was 28 miles.  From what I have read, I only see 3 of these big boys being used.  Fort Amador (then Fort Grant) had one and Fort Kobbe (former Fort Bruja) had two.

6. 14-inch railroad gun which could move from coast to coast if needed.  There were emplacements for these 14-inch railroad guns at: Fort Randolph (2 each), Fort Amador (then Fort Grant) on Culebra Island.  This picture looks like it was taken on Culebra Island. There are some great photos of this railroad gun in transit on the Panama Railroad.  My favorite is one of it going across Gamboa Bridge.  These photos will follow in another presentation that will be titled "Military Railroads on the Panama Canal Zone".

7. Army railroad runs between the gun stations in the Canal Zone, transports ammunition, troops and supplies.  This photo was probably taken at Fort Sherman.  I have close to 80 photos in route of Fort Sherman's early and war days.  There will be more about this little railroad in my future "Military History of the Canal Zone - Fort Sherman" presentation.

8. Another view of the 14-inch railroad gun awaiting disposition.  People in photo and photographer unknown. Piece of barrel of the 14-inch railroad gun being cut up.  People in photo and photographer unknown.

9. 14-inch railroad gun awaiting disposition.  This photo was taken at Fort Amador's Culebra Island.  Noas Island can be seen in the background.  People in photo and photographer unknown.

10. Piece of barrel of the 14-inch railroad gun.  What an end for a great piece of history. Person in photo and photographer unknown.