23rd Coast Artillery (United States)

Lineage

• Battery A activated 1 August 1940 to garrison Battery Milliken.
• One source states the battalion was redesignated as a regiment on 27 December 1940, but reduced to a battalion on 21 August 1941.
• Batteries B and C activated 15 January 1941 to man mine defenses and harbor defense searchlights.
• Battery D activated 1 June 1941.
• Four Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat batteries with 90 mm guns were constructed by July 1943 at Barneys Joy Point, Cuttyhunk and Nashawena Islands, and Butler Point, defending the approaches to southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape Cod Canal. On 13 September 1943 the 23rd CA was expanded to a regiment to garrison these batteries. HHB 3rd Battalion and Batteries G, H, and I of the 242nd Coast Artillery were transferred from HD Long Island Sound and redesignated 2nd Battalion and Batteries D, E, and F of the 23rd CA. Batteries A, D, E, and F manned the AMTB batteries.
• On 4 February 1944 the 23rd CA was reduced to a battalion. 1st Battalion HHB and Batteries C, D, E, and F were inactivated. Some of their personnel were reassigned within the battalion, others were transferred to Army Ground Forces at Camp Hood, Texas, probably for reassignment as replacements for overseas units. On 6 March 1944 the inactive elements of the 23rd CA were disbanded. HHB and Batteries A and B were redesignated as the same elements of HD New Bedford, it is unclear on what date but may be 7 October 1944. Remaining elements of the 23rd CA were inactivated 7 October 1944.
• Another source states the regiment was reduced to a battalion on 6 March 1944, with 1st and 2nd Battalions inactivated by 12 April 1944.