Fort Dawes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Dawes |
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|---|---|
| Part of Harbor Defenses of Boston | |
| Deer Island, Boston, Massachusetts | |
 Fort Dawes
Location in Massachusetts
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| Coordinates | 42°20′56.02″N 70°57′23.36″W / 42.3488944°N 70.9564889°W |
| Type | Coastal Defense |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Massachusetts |
| Controlled by | Deer Island Waste Water Treatment Plant |
| Open to the public |
no |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| Built by | United States Army |
| In use | 1942-1946 |
| Demolished | ca 1991 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Fort Dawes was a special fort built during World War II by the United States Army. It was located on Deer Island near Boston, Massachusetts. This fort was a key part of the defenses that protected Boston Harbor from enemy attacks.
Contents
Protecting Boston Harbor: Fort Dawes' Story
The military first used the land for Fort Dawes in 1906. It was called the Deer Island Military Reservation. The army used it to control big guns and underwater mine fields. These mines were like hidden traps to stop enemy ships.
Building Up Defenses During World War II
During World War II, Fort Dawes became very important. By late 1942, it had a special radar to find enemy targets. It also had Battery Taylor, which used two 3-inch guns. These guns were moved from a nearby fort called Fort Strong.
Also in 1942, construction began on AMTB 944. AMTB stands for Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat. This battery had four 90 mm guns, some fixed and some that could be moved. These guns helped protect against fast enemy boats.
Fort Dawes also had a Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP). This was like a control tower for the harbor. It kept track of every ship entering and leaving Boston Harbor. By 1945, Fort Dawes also controlled some of the underwater mines that guarded the northern entrance to Boston Harbor.
The Guns That Never Fired
Fort Dawes is famous for having many big guns that were never actually used. These were called "artillery that never was." Construction started on Battery 105 and Battery 207 in 1942.
Battery 105 was a huge bunker. It was built to hold ammunition and control two massive 16-inch guns. These guns were similar to those at Battery Murphy and Fort Duvall. However, by the time the bunkers were finished, the war was ending. The army decided these powerful guns were no longer needed, so they were never installed.
Nearby, Battery 207 was also planned for two 6-inch guns. For the same reason, these guns were also never put in place. It's a unique part of Fort Dawes' history.
After the War and What Happened Next
In 1946, the AMTB 944 guns were removed. Within a few years, the fort was no longer used by the military.
However, in 1956, the old airfield at Fort Dawes was used for a special project. Scientists tested new ideas for air traffic control. A small radar was set up to track planes. They wanted to see if they could guide an airplane to follow a specific path.
In the early 1990s, all the old military buildings on Deer Island were taken down. The land was cleared to build the Deer Island Waste Water Treatment Plant. Today, there are no signs left of Fort Dawes.
