Blunts Point Battery facts for kids
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Blunts Point Naval Gun
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 Location in American Samoa
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| Nearest city | Pago Pago, American Samoa |
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| Built | 1942 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002128 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | May 28, 1987 |
The Blunts Point Battery, also known as the Blunts Point Naval Gun, is a special gun site near Pago Pago, American Samoa. It was built during World War II to protect the Samoan Islands. This site is a rare example of a coastal gun battery from that time that is still in great shape. Because of its importance, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Before the war got serious, the guns were tested. On August 28, 1941, two guns at Blunts Point fired 16 shots at a target in Pago Pago Harbor. People could hear the loud booms for miles! About a week later, more guns at Breakers Point also fired 10 shots each.
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Blunts Point is a spot on the west side of the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor. This harbor is on the south side of Tutuila island, near the village of Utulei.
How the Guns are Set Up
Two large six-inch naval guns are placed here. They sit about 200 feet (61 m) (about 20 stories high) above the sea. From this spot, they have a perfect view of anyone trying to enter the harbor. The guns are built inside round concrete structures. These structures have a protective wall, called a parapet, about 4 feet (1.2 m) (about 1.2 meters) high.
Just below where the guns are, there's a special room called a magazine. This room is built into the hillside and was used to store ammunition for the guns. The whole battery has been fixed up recently and is in good condition. You can visit it by taking a hiking trail, but it's a bit of a challenging walk.
Why Was Blunts Point Important During WWII?
The United States government started making American Samoa stronger in 1940. This was because of growing tensions before World War II. U.S. Marines put the two guns at Blunts Point. They also placed two more guns on the east side of the harbor at Breakers Point.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and when they captured Guam soon after, American Samoa became super important. It was the only major American base left in the western Pacific Ocean. So, it was made even stronger because everyone expected an attack. Luckily, an attack never came to American Samoa. Still, it was a very important place for supplying and training American soldiers during the war in the Pacific.
Images for kids
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As seen in 2007.
