Fort Standish (Boston, Massachusetts)


Fort Standish was a coastal fort completed in 1907 and located on Lovell's Island in Massachusetts. Named after Myles Standish, the fort would serve to host up to 7 batteries until it was disarmed and deactivated in 1947. It was also named Lovell's Island Military Reservation during the early part of its existence. It was part of the Coast Defenses of Boston.
Along with Fort Warren, Fort Andrews, Fort Banks, Fort Strong, and others, it was among the first modern defenses of Boston Harbor. The fort was de-activated in 1947 and in 1962 became part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

History

Construction and armament

Fort Standish was built 1899-1907. The gun batteries over its history through 1947 included:
NameNo. of gunsGun typeCarriage typeYears active
Burbeck210-inch gun M1900disappearing M19011907-1942
Morris210-inch gun M1900disappearing M19011907-1942
Terrill36-inch gun M1897disappearing M18981902-1943
Whipple26-inch gun M1900pedestal M19001904-1947
Vincent43-inch gun M1898masking parapet M18981904-1920
Weir23-inch gun M1902 or M1903pedestal1904-1926
Williams33-inch gun M1898masking parapet M18981904-1946
Antiaircraft2Unknown, possibly 75 mm gun M1897AA pedestal1917-1923
Antiaircraft2-33-inch gun M1917AA pedestal1925-1946
AMTB 943490 mm gun2 fixed M3, 2 towed1943-1946

Batteries Burbeck and Morris were originally combined as Battery Burbeck, but were administratively separated in 1909. The 10-inch guns were the fort's main armament against enemy battleships; the 6-inch guns could fire more rapidly against cruisers. The 3-inch rapid fire guns were intended to defend an underwater mine field against minesweepers. One source states the fort was first garrisoned in 1909, and at that time the 10-inch guns had not yet been mounted and Battery Williams' guns were not on site.

World War I through World War II

After the American entry into World War I in early 1917, the fort was expanded to include temporary structures such as quarters and additional storehouses. The 10-inch guns of Batteries Burbeck and Morris were earmarked for potential use as railway artillery but never left the fort. Battery Whipple's two 6-inch guns were removed from the fort in September 1917 for potential use on field carriages, but apparently were not sent overseas and were returned to the fort in April 1919. An antiaircraft battery of two guns was on the island 1917-1923. After the war the fort's support buildings were reduced to three "permanent" buildings.
In 1920 Battery Vincent was disarmed as part of a general removal from service of its 3-inch M1898 Driggs-Seabury guns. Official plans of the fort indicate that Battery Williams was also armed with this type of gun, but the battery was not removed from service until 1946. Both batteries are listed with "BP" carriages; this was a retractable carriage used for 5-inch guns that was functionally identical to the "masking parapet" carriages that were Driggs-Seabury's patent. In 1926 Battery Weir was disarmed and abandoned due to beach erosion; it is possible that Battery Williams was disarmed in 1920 and rearmed with Battery Weir's guns, or rearmed from some other source. In 1925 two of Battery Vincent's vacant positions were converted for an antiaircraft battery of two 3-inch M1917 antiaircraft guns; a third gun was added in 1938.
Prior to the American entry into World War II in December 1941, the fort also included many new temporary structures as it had previously in World War I. In addition, the fort's complement increased to around 800 men, including 14 officers and 4 NCOs. In 1942 the fort's 10-inch guns were scrapped; they were superseded by the long-range guns of Fort Duvall and Fort Ruckman, soon to be augmented by Battery Murphy at the East Point Military Reservation. Battery Terrill's 6-inch disappearing guns followed in 1943, leaving only Batteries Whipple and Williams active. That year Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 943 was built, with two fixed and two towed 90 mm guns.
Fort Standish's guns were scrapped and the fort abandoned in 1946-1947. The island was transferred to the state in 1958 and became part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area in 1962.