The 16th Coast Artillery Regiment was a Coast Artillery regiment in the United States Army, along with the 15th Coast Artillery, it manned the Harbor Defenses of Honolulu and other fortified sites on Oahu, Hawaii from 1924 until broken up into battalions in August 1944 as part of an Army-wide reorganization.[1] The regiment manned many gun batteries at locations all over Oahu.[2] Most of the forts where they were assigned were originally built 1899–1910, and had been in caretaker status for more than 30 years. On the morning of 7 December 1941, the soldiers of the 16th Coast Artillery manned their anti-aircraft guns, bringing down six of the attacking Japanese aircraft.
Forts and Batteries manned by the 16th Coast Artillery
Fort Ruger was located in and around Diamond Head.[2][3] The interior of the volcanic cone was accessible through two tunnels large enough for trucks. The administrative buildings were on the north side of the cone. The batteries included mortars placed when the fort was built, dating to 1910. Battery Ruger, like all of the 155mm batteries, were temporary emplacements using four "Panama mounts", a circular track surrounding a center pivot where a 155mm GPF gun was mounted. Battery Granger Adams was a typical pre-World War II coast defense emplacement, with the magazine in a protected bunker and the guns behind parapets in open mounts. It was built 1933–1935, with two 8-inch guns.
Fort DeRussy was located adjacent to Honolulu, on a portion of Waikiki Beach.[2][3] The large caliber guns are mounted to disappearing carriages that use the recoil to lower the gun from the parapet to the loading platform. The allows the reloading crew a work area protected from shells fired by off-shore ships. The Anti Motor Torpedo Boat (ATMB) battery protected the close-in area around the fort from attack by high-speed motor torpedo boats.
In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson designated 322 acres (1.30 km2) of land on Mokapu Peninsula, naming it Kuwaahoe Military Reservation. In 1939, the Navy constructed a small seaplane base there, designated as Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay. The Naval Air Station's role was expanded to include the administration of the Kaneohe Bay Naval Defense Sea Area. A part of the 16th Coast Artillery moved onto the reservation in 1941. In 1942 the portion of the reservation that was occupied by the Coast Artillery was designated Fort Hase.[2]
Constituted 27 February 1924 in the Regular Army as 16th Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense) (HD), and organized 1 July 1924 at Fort Armstrong from the following companies- 104th, 90th, 99th, 105th, 111th, 159th, and 186th.[4]
1st and 2nd Battalions HHB, and Battery B were activated 6 August 1942 (Battery D was inactivated through detachments).[4]
Battery F was activated May 1942 (from part of Battery B, 41st CA Railway Regiment) and assigned to four 8 in (203 mm) M1888 railway guns of Battery Kahuku, located at Haleiwa, on Oahu's north shore.[4]
Battery E was activated August 1942 and assigned to Battery Dodge on the east rim of Diamond Head, Hawaii.[4]
Battery G (SL) was activated at Fort Hase, July 1942.[4]
Battery H was activated by redesignating 811th Coast Artillery Battery (Separate), transferred from the Temporary Harbor Defenses of Hilo, date unknown.[4]
The regiment was broken up 29 May 1944 and personnel were transferred to the 15th Coast Artillery. The Regiment was then transferred (less personnel and equipment) to HD Kaneohe Bay and reactivated with personnel from the inactivated 41st Coast Artillery.[4][5]
on 14 August 1944 the regiment was inactivated and disbanded as follows:[1]
HHB to 16th Coast Artillery Group
55th Coast Artillery Battalion
56th Coast Artillery Battalion
16th CA Group operated part of the Hawaiian quartermaster depot until inactivated 10 April 1945.[6] 55th CA Battalion inactivated 13 February 1945, 56th CA Battalion inactivated 10 April 1945.[7]
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+3⁄16 inches (3.0 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Or two spears in saltire Gules, within a bordure embattled barry of eight Argent, of the second and Azure, repeated.[citation needed]
Symbolism
The shield is essentially Hawaiian. The crossed spears are taken from Hawaiian history, they were formerly placed at the King's tent, and are shown conventionally in the Hawaiian arms by a saltire cross placed on an inescutcheon.[citation needed]
Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the Coast Defense of Honolulu on 25 July 1922. It was amended to change the description on 6 December 1923. The insignia was redesignated for the 16th Coast Artillery Regiment on 27 February 1929. It was redesignated for the 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 11 September 1952.[citation needed]
The shield is essentially Hawaiian. The crossed spears are taken from Hawaiian history, they were formerly placed at the King's tent, and are shown conventionally in the Hawaiian arms by a saltire cross placed on an inescutcheon. The motto, probably the best known Hawaiian word, is used extensively as a sign against trespassers.
Crest
The batteries at Diamond Head constitute the principal element of these defenses.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the Coast Defenses of Honolulu on 27 January 1922. It was redesignated for the 16th Coast Artillery Regiment on 27 February 1929. The insignia was redesignated for the 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 11 September 1952.
United States
This article incorporates public domain material from 16th AAA gun Battalion. United States Army Institute of Heraldry.
