Battery Gunnison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battery John Gunnison / New Fremont Peck |
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| Fort Hancock, New Jersey | |
 Battery John Gunnison / New Fremont Peck
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| Coordinates | 40°27′36″N 73°59′44″W / 40.460042°N 73.995484°W |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | US National Park Service |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Under Ongoing Restoration, c. 2003 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1904 |
| In use | 1904-1948 |
| Materials | Concrete |
| Events | The Army Ground Forces Association hosts monthly Work Weekends, which are open to the public, to support the restoration of the battery, as well as spring and fall living-history programs; the National Park Service also hosts additional tours and educational programs at the battery throughout the year. |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Army Ground Forces Association (http://www.armygroundforces.org) |
Battery John Gunnison is a historic military site located at Fort Hancock in New Jersey. It was built to help protect New York Harbor from enemy ships. After being updated in 1943, it was renamed Battery New Peck. This important site played a key role during World War II. Today, you can visit this restored battery and learn all about its past.
Contents
History of Battery Gunnison
Building the Battery and Its Names
Battery John Gunnison was first built in 1904. It had two six-inch guns that could fire very quickly. These were called "disappearing guns." They would pop up to fire and then drop back down for protection.
The battery was named after Captain John Williams Gunnison. He was a US Army engineer who died during an expedition in Utah in 1853. These guns were perfect for shooting at fast enemy ships. This included patrol boats, destroyers, or ships that cleared mines.
In 1943, the battery was changed a lot. It got two new six-inch guns. These were "barbette" guns, meaning they sat on a pedestal. The guns were moved from another battery called (old) Battery Fremont Peck. This new spot gave them a better view for shooting.
Because of these changes, the battery was renamed "Battery New Peck." The original Battery Peck was named for Lieutenant Fremont Pearsons Peck. He was an Army officer who died in a weapons test accident in 1895.
Protecting New York Harbor During WWII
After its updates in 1943, Battery New Peck became very important. It was part of the Advanced Harbor Entrance Control Post No. 1. This post was located on the roof of Battery Potter at Fort Hancock.
This was one of three control posts for New York Harbor. Their job was to make sure only friendly ships entered the harbor. This was crucial because of the U-boat War and the Battle of the Atlantic. Enemy submarines were a big threat off the coast of New Jersey.
New York Harbor was a very busy place during World War II. Hundreds of ships full of supplies, fuel, and troops moved through it daily. About 60% of all Allied war materials for Europe left from New York. Protecting this area was a huge task.
Threats to the Harbor
The biggest dangers to American harbors were "commerce raiding" and "blockships." A "commerce raider" was an enemy ship disguised as a friendly one. If it snuck past the forts, it could attack the harbor. It could cause huge damage to factories and supply depots.
A "blockship" attack was also a big fear. This is when an enemy ship sinks itself in a channel. If the Ambrose Channel was blocked, supplies would stop flowing for a month. So, it was vital to make sure only Allied ships got into the harbor.
How Battery New Peck Protected the Harbor
As ships neared New York Harbor, they would get a secret code. This code was flashed from the control post using a signal lamp or signal flags. If a ship gave the wrong code or acted strangely, it was ordered to stop. The US Navy or Coast Guard would then inspect it.
If a ship still refused to stop, Battery Gunnison / New Peck would be alerted. Observers in fire control towers would track the ship. They would send information to the battery's plotting room. Here, calculations were made to aim the guns.
The battery would then fire "bring to" shots. These were warning shots using harmless shells. They landed in the water in front of the ship. This was meant to get the ship's attention. If the ship still did not stop, Battery Peck would fire "destructive fire." This meant using powerful, armor-piercing shells. Their goal was to stop the threat before it could harm the harbor.
The Jersey shore was like a war zone during World War II. Fort Hancock had a "Shoot First - Ask Later" approach. This meant they were very serious about protecting the harbor. They would fire on suspicious ships right away.
From September 1943 to September 1944, Battery Gunnison / New Peck fired its guns thirteen times. Each time, the ships turned out to be friendly Allied vessels. The battery stayed on 24-hour alert until World War II ended in 1945.
After the war, the battery was put into "caretaker status." This means it was kept ready but not actively used. It fired its guns for the last time in 1948. This was during a summer training exercise for Army Reserve students.
In the early 1960s, the guns were removed from the battery. They were stored for a military museum that was never built. The empty roof of the battery was even used as a shooting range. Fort Hancock closed in 1974. It became part of Gateway National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service.
The two M1900 guns were still in storage. The National Park Service worked to bring them back. The guns returned home in February 1976. For the next 27 years, the battery and guns suffered from weather and vandalism.
Restoration and Preservation Since 2003
In 2003, a group called the Army Ground Forces Association started volunteering. They are a non-profit group that brings history to life. They began to restore Battery Gunnison. They have turned it into one of the best-preserved coastal batteries in the United States.
Many other batteries have been preserved. But Battery Gunnison/New Peck is special. It is restored as a complete seacoast battery. It even has its own Facebook and Instagram pages!
This battery is the only one in the U.S. that shows the full process of using ammunition. It has the correct weapons and a working range section. Both guns have been restored. Visitors can now turn the guns and open their breech blocks. You can even use original Army telescopes from the 1940s to track ships.
Inside, the battery is lit with original 100-year-old lights. The rooms where powder and shells were stored are now filled with fake (non-working) shells. In the Plotting Room, you can see an M3 plotting board. This was a device used to calculate where to aim the guns. Visitors can also talk to each other using rebuilt vintage telephones.
The restoration work continues. In 2017, the concrete bridges for moving ammunition were put back. In November 2017, new stairs for the battery commander's station were installed. Period-correct outdoor lighting was completed in 2019. A wooden platform for the range display board was also rebuilt in 2019.
The Army Ground Forces Association hosts work weekends every month. These are open to the public. They also hold two "living history" events each year. These events are in May and October. Volunteers dress as soldiers from the 245th Coast Artillery Regiment. This was the unit that manned Battery New Peck in 1943. They give tours, show historical displays, and perform gun drills with the M1900s.
