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Btty Way (1974) |
Set in a picturesque grove and surrounded by trees on three sides, Battery Way comprises four 12-inch [305mm] Mortars. Named after Lt. Henry N. Way of the 4th US Artillery, who was, in 1900 a casualty of the 1899 US-Philippine war, these 12-inch mortars are of the M1890 type and are mounted on M1896 Mortar Carriages. They could lob a 1,000 lb deck piercing shell or a 700 lb high explosive shell 8.3 miles (13.35 km) in any direction. The battery's construction was commenced in 1904 and completed 1914 at a cost of $112,969. It was not utilized until the latter part of the siege, at which time it took a critical part in the invasion. The vertical plunging trajectory of these mortars was originally intended to be used for deck piercing purposes, but it was soon realised that the nature of the vertical trajectory made them ideal against enemy entrenchments on the higher ground in Bataan. Maximum rate of fire was one round each 45 seconds, though this was for crews at the peak of physical perfection, and a one round per minute rate was generally seen as normal. The normal tactic was to load and lay two mortars at a time, and then to fire them as a salvo, giving them a 'shotgun' effect. Each mortar required a fourteen man crew. |
Btty. Way in 1945 Btty. Way in 1999 |
Massello survived the war and was a welcome sight to many of the defenders at their re-unions.
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Btty. Way in 1998 |
By 1998, the magnificent pieces, with their patina of age and rust, had been painted, another casualty of the clean-up for President Clinton's visit. Sometimes it's difficult to assess whether things are any better for having been restored. |
Dan Rowbottom of Coastal Defense Study Group and Site O, using drawings from CDSG materials and photos from a number of sources, including this page, has built a museum model of Battery Way. Visit Dan Rowbottom's Battery Way Page
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