BatterY JAMES

Gun No. 1 - Watervliet No. 101; carriage Watertown No. 100 (no dates when built).

Gun No. 2 - Watervliet No. 102; carriage Watertown No. 101 (no dates when built).

Gun No. 3 - Watervliet No. 41 (no date when built); carriage Watertown No. 4, built 1907.

Gun No. 4 - Watervliet No. 39 (no date when built); carriage Watertown No. 5, built 1907.

Neither the guns nor carriages exist today.

Constructed between 1908 and 1910 at a cost of $50,537 and named in honor of 1st Lt. John F. James, 8th U.S. Infantry, who was killed in action October 9, 1906 when he and seven men of a ten-man patrol were ambushed by "Pulahanes" near Julieta, Leyte. 

The battery mounted fouro rapid-fire 3-inch (76.2mm) M1903 guns on M1903 Barbette (Pedestal) Carriages, and was intended for defense against small seacraft.  Maximum range was 11,328 yards (about 6.44 miles or 10.36 km). Ammunition was of the fixed type, either 15 lb. (6.8 kg) armor piercing or 12 lb (5.45 kg) high explosive shell. Firing elevation was from minus 10 degrees to plus 16 degrees. Maximum rate of fire was 30 rounds oer minute and field of fire was over 180 degrees. Standard crew per gun was 6 men.

James was manned wartime by troops of Battery B, 1st Coast Artillery, Philippine Army under 1st Lt. Amadeo S. Garcia, PA, attached to Battery B, 91st CA (PS). Facing Bataan directly across three miles (4.8 km) of water, its highly exposed position led to rapid damage from concentrated enemy fire. Nevertheless, Lt. Garcia's men returned fire as best they could for as lomg as was possible. On 15 April a shell collapsed a tunnel behind the battery suffocating 42 men. By the 20th, with the emplacement severely damaged and three guns wrecked beyond repair, the battery ceased fire.

The remaining gun was disabled by the crew but was repaired by American POW's. The Japanese were believed to have relocated this gun, as only three, all dismantled, were found on site after reoccupation.