Watson Point / Whale Island

Anti Motor Torpedo Boat (AMTB) gun batteries

In addition to the three big 6-inch gun batteries, the Army constructed two smaller AMTB batteries to defend against smaller gunboats and for addition anti-aircraft defense. These two batteries were built at Watson Point (now under Seamart and the nearby trailer park) and on Whale Island in Sitka Sound. (see map below)

Click for larger view ............... This is a map from 1944 showing the locations and
ranges of the AMTB batteries. I have colored
AMTB Battery # 1 at Watson Point RED and AMTB
Battery # 2 on Whale Island BLUE.
Each battery consisted of six guns. There were two 90mm guns on fixed mounts, and two
mobile guns on M1A1 mounts. There were also two 40mm guns on mobile mounts. Each
battery had a range emplacement and at least one ammunition magazine. The battery on
Whale Island also had a power plant. Below are the layouts for the two batteries. 		........Click for bigger view
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90mm AMTB Gun on fixed
mount on Whale Island
The 90mm guns had a range of about five miles (see map above). They were fifty calibers long, and weighed 1,495 lbs. The two on fixed mounts were set on a carriage that alowed them to rotate 360 degrees, and aim from +80 to -10 degrees. The carriage weighed 4,115 lbs. The mounts were concrete circles 14 ft. in diameter. ...................................................
Click for bigger view ........................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 Click for bigger view

AMTB Battery # 1

Watson Point

  

AMTB Battery # 2

Whale Island

  
       

Before the war, many people lived on the lands that were to be taken over by the Army. One family of "homesteaders" lived at Watson Point. In August 1942, they received a letter from the US Forest Service notifying them that they could no longer live at Watson Point. They were told the US Army would reimburse them for their improvements to the land. They ended up receiving $600.


Below are, the letter notifying them they had to move, the Army purchase order,
and the letter that came with their check for $600.
Click for larger view ............... Click for larger view ............... Click for larger view

Notification that they must leave

  

Army Purchase Order

  

Letter that came with their check

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