Fort Saulsbury
| Company type | Military installation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coastal defense |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Defunct | 1948 |
| Fate | Decommissioned and sold into private ownership |
| Headquarters | Near Slaughter Beach and Milford , United States |
| Products | Heavy artillery coastal defense batteries |
Fort Saulsbury was a coastal defense installation operated by the United States Army near Slaughter Beach, Delaware and Milford, Delaware. It served as the main heavy artillery position within the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware from 1924 until 1943. In that year, its role was largely replaced by the more distant-reaching 16-inch guns installed at Fort Miles on Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Two of Fort Saulsbury’s original four guns were transferred to Fort Miles. The fort was named in honor of Willard Saulsbury Sr., a former Delaware senator.
History
By 1915, the Endicott and Taft Programs had updated U.S. coastal fortifications; however, rapid developments in battleship technology soon rendered these improvements insufficient. The existing artillery mounted on disappearing carriages could only elevate between 10 and 15 degrees, limiting their firing range. The introduction of the M1917 high-angle barbette carriage allowed gun elevation up to 35 degrees, significantly increasing the reach of the 12-inch M1895 gun from to . Construction commenced in 1917 on fourteen new two-gun batteries nationwide, with two built at Fort Saulsbury.
Before this upgrade, the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware depended on Forts Delaware, DuPont, and Mott near Delaware City, Delaware, which were located upriver due to shorter gun ranges. The extended range of Fort Saulsbury’s batteries enabled engagement of targets much farther south. The installation consisted of Batteries Hall and Haslet, each equipped with two 12-inch guns housed alongside reinforced concrete ammunition storage and fire control bunkers. Battery Hall was named after Revolutionary War officer and former Governor David Hall, while Battery Haslet honored Revolutionary War officer John Haslet. Initially, the guns were mounted in open positions but relied on the fort’s inland setting for concealment. Unlike many other coastal forts, Fort Saulsbury did not feature smaller rapid-fire artillery since no adjacent minefields required such defenses. Both batteries were finished by 1920 but became operational around 1924.
From their completion until 1939, the fort was maintained with only a small caretaker garrison performing routine upkeep. Approximately in 1940, five fire control towers were constructed along nearby beaches to enhance targeting capabilities; as of 2020, only the tower at Big Stone Beach remains intact. In early 1943, the guns from Battery Haslet were relocated to Battery 519 at Fort Miles.
With the advent of World War II and deployment of new 16-inch gun batteries, most older large-caliber weapons were decommissioned by late 1943. Nonetheless, many 12-inch batteries continued active service and were typically enclosed within protective casemates designed to shield against aerial attacks. Fort Saulsbury’s batteries were among the few that remained uncased, making them the best-preserved examples retaining their original configuration.
During World War II, Fort Saulsbury also served as a prisoner-of-war camp housing German and Italian detainees.
Following the conclusion of the war in 1946, Fort Saulsbury’s artillery pieces were dismantled along with most other U.S. coast artillery weapons. The property was sold into private ownership in 1948.
Present
Currently under private ownership with no public access allowed, Fort Saulsbury’s batteries remain in excellent condition. The fire control tower at Big Stone Beach also still stands.
See also
- Seacoast defense in the United States
- United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
- Harbor Defense Command
External links
- Fort Saulsbury, DE by Everett Bennett – an extensive resource dedicated to the fort
- Fort Saulsbury: Delaware's Overlooked Fortress, authored by Russ Pickett
- Delaware coastal defenses featured on NorthAmericanForts.com
- FM 4-60, Service of the Piece, 12-inch Gun (Barbette Carriage) manual
- Comprehensive directory of U.S. coastal forts and batteries hosted by the Coast Defense Study Group, Inc.
- FortWiki – cataloging all forts across the continental U.S. and Canada