Fort Story Gallery 6 of 9

Battery Pennington-Walke

and associated structures

1 N 36°54.857 W075°59.874 - 2 N 36°55.021 W075°59.940
3 N 36°55.166 W076°00.075 - 4 N 36°55.287 W076°00.234

Three of the emplacements of Battery Pennington-Walke still exist. This battery, built of reinforced concrete between 1921 and 1922, covered a vast area and the emplacements were once located in the base housing section and the wooded areas to the east and west. Near each emplacement were four magazines, built of reinforced concrete and tile, all connected by railroad. Most of the magazines still remain in the wooded area behind the housing. Behind emplacement #3 is an underground tunnel that provided a concealed location for railroad artillery. The tunnel connects to a Plotting Room Casemate. There were two powerhouses associated with this battery. The surviving one is located just off Atlantic Ave. near the main gate (N 36°54.974 W075°59.812).

Located at Pennington-Walke were four 16-inch M1920 Army howitzers.
Battery Pennington (1922 - 1947) was split into Pennington A and Pennington B; and in 1940 Pennington B was renamed to Walke.
This battery was named after Maj. Gen. Alexander C.M. Pennington (3/27/1922) and Brig. Gen. Willoughby Walke (6/26/1940).
{see "American Seacoast Defenses" 2nd Ed. page 178}

Gun of Battery Pennington-Walke, 1942. Casemate Museum image, courtesy of Shawn Welch.	Shielded gun of Battery Pennington-Walke, 1946. Photo by Herbert Markland (senior caretaker NCO 1946-50); image courtesy of Shawn Welch.
Battery Pennington-Walke crew, 1940's. National Archives image.	Gun of Battery Pennington-Walke. National Archives image.
A portion of Gun emplacement #1. The trees on the left are growing out of the gun pit.	The phone to the switchroom was located on this concrete mount.
Gun Emplacement #2 is in a heavily overgrown area. Not much could be seen here.	Another concrete phone mount.
Gun Emplacement #4 is in the campground. Not much could be seen here.	Gun emplacement #3 is buried under a playground.

Plotting Room Casemate and Railroad Tunnel

(Secure building - GPS withheld)

The tunnel exit to the bunker shown below.	A typical rail car used to transport the ammo and powder from the various magazines to the guns. This surviving piece is missing its platform.
This is a combination picture of what is Battery Pennington's Plotting Room Casemate. The interior has been converted into office spaces. It also served as a Mines Casemate. The tunnel entrance is on the right, and a radio room is on the far left.

Powder & Shell Magazines

The larger buildings are projectile shell rooms, and the smaller buildings are the gunpowder magazines.

Please note that I am using my own numbering system to identify the magazines.
The number represents the gun position. The letter "A" signifies the right-hand side of the gun, and the letter "B" signifies the left-hand side of the gun.

^Shell Room 4-B (N 36°55.266 W076°00.349) This one, located at the campground, has been converted into restrooms.	^Magazine 4-B (N 36°55.282 W076°00.278) Located at the campground.
^Magazine 4-A (N 36°55.236 W076°00.228) Located between Base Housing and the campground.	^Shell Room 4-A (N 36°55.189 W076°00.228) Located behind Base Housing.
Magazines 3-A, 3-B and Shell Room 3-B no longer exist due to base housing.	^Shell Room 3-A (N 36°55.085 W076°00.152) This magazine is located behind Base Housing, next to the tunnel shown in the top section.
^Shell Room 2-B (N 36°55.102 W076°00.025) Located between Base Housing and the Wilderness Training Area.	^Magazine 2-B (N 36°55.060 W075°59.993) Located between Base Housing and the Wilderness Training Area.
^Magazine 2-A (N 36°54.990 W0075°59.951) Located in the Wilderness Training Area.	^Shell Room 2-A (N 36°54.939 W075°59.952) Located in the Wilderness Training Area.
^Shell Room 1-B (N 36°54.964 W075°59.888) Located in the Wilderness Training Area.	^Magazine 1-B (N 36°54.910 W075°59.879) Located in the Wilderness Training Area.
^Magazine 1-A (N 36°54.850 W075°59.903) Located in the Wilderness Training Area.	^Shell Room 1-A (N 36°54.810 W075°59.964) Located in the Wilderness Training Area.