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Golden Gate National Recreation Area To Get 16" Gun Barrel
Author: Howard
Date: 05-19-2011 - 11:00
I posted information previously about the scrapping of these gun barrels.
[www.altamontpress.com]
From the CDSG Newsletter, May 2011
Golden Gate NRA to get 16" rifle
General Superintendent Frank Dean of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area informed me today that the Defense Logistic Agency has set aside one of the 16-inch guns barrels at Hawthorne, NV, for the NPS. This is one of the Mark VII 16/50 guns that were just put up for scrap.
When informed of the guns’ pending destruction, Superintendent Dean personally interceded and convinced DLA to earmark one of the barrels for the National Park Service. The park’s intent is to move the gun tube to Fort Cronkhite and, eventually, install it in Battery Townsley.
I was cc’d on many of the emails that went back and forth between Frank Dean and DLA, and his commitment to preserving the Coast Artillery legacy of GGNRA is impressive. It’s nice to have friends in high places who care about saving America’s vanishing resources.
This is a huge coup for the park, and an even bigger challenge. Based on our research, it is theoretically possible to move the gun from Hawthorne to Fort Cronkhite via a combination of rail and truck transport, but the logistics of moving and reinstalling the gun will be overwhelming -- not to mention the associated costs.
No timetable has been set for this ambitious project, but we’ll keep everyone posted.
Here are some historic photos of previous deliveries of 16” gun barrels to the Golden Gate back in the late 1930’s. This should be an interesting rail move to document.
[www.altamontpress.com]
From the CDSG Newsletter, May 2011
Golden Gate NRA to get 16" rifle
General Superintendent Frank Dean of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area informed me today that the Defense Logistic Agency has set aside one of the 16-inch guns barrels at Hawthorne, NV, for the NPS. This is one of the Mark VII 16/50 guns that were just put up for scrap.
When informed of the guns’ pending destruction, Superintendent Dean personally interceded and convinced DLA to earmark one of the barrels for the National Park Service. The park’s intent is to move the gun tube to Fort Cronkhite and, eventually, install it in Battery Townsley.
I was cc’d on many of the emails that went back and forth between Frank Dean and DLA, and his commitment to preserving the Coast Artillery legacy of GGNRA is impressive. It’s nice to have friends in high places who care about saving America’s vanishing resources.
This is a huge coup for the park, and an even bigger challenge. Based on our research, it is theoretically possible to move the gun from Hawthorne to Fort Cronkhite via a combination of rail and truck transport, but the logistics of moving and reinstalling the gun will be overwhelming -- not to mention the associated costs.
No timetable has been set for this ambitious project, but we’ll keep everyone posted.
Here are some historic photos of previous deliveries of 16” gun barrels to the Golden Gate back in the late 1930’s. This should be an interesting rail move to document.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area To Get 16" Gun Barrel