Battery Rodney-Best

N 39°34.295 W075°34.908 (USCGS "Dupont")

Originally all four pits were named Battery Rodney - named after Caesar Rodney, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Major General of the Delaware Militia. Prior to WWI, the rear pits were named Battery Best - after Major Clermont L. Best of the Artillery Corps. who died in 1903. Battery Rodney initially consisted of eight M1890 12-inch mortars on M1896 carriages but four were removed by 1921. The same was true for Battery Best. In the rear of Best is a Mine Casemate and a switchboard room. Two mortars from each of the four pits served until 1942.
{see "American Seacoast Defenses" 2nd Ed. page 140}

Mine Casemate. N 39°34.349 W075°34.920	Switchboard Room.
Rodney mortar pit B.	Rodney mortar pit A.
Entrance to Rodney pit A (note the control booth).	Entrance into Best pit A.
Best pit B.	Best pit A.
A newer Battery Commander's station.	Inside the BC station.
Original Rodney BC station.	Original Best BC station.
Generator room entrance and stairs to Best BC.

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