The above mentioned
artillery comprised the entire armament of Fort Drum
up to the beginning of the war. A diagram showing
the fields of fire reveal a wide area of dead space
in the stern of the fort. Only one battery, the
rear 14-inch guns, would traverse this field of fire
to the rear in Manila Bay. The fact that the
cagemast was directly between the turret and stern
caused this battery to have severe limitation due to
dead space. Even though the cagemast had not
existed, the top deck coupled with the height site
created a dead space. This meant that enemy surface
craft, approaching Fort Drum from the rear in Manila
Bay, could not be brought under fire from the guns
of Fort Drum.
When the Japanese
Army gained control of Manila, and the Cavite
shoreline, this weakness became a problem. The fact
that the enemy had seized a number of large harbor
boats and countless other power craft and barges at
Manila, heightened the acuteness of the problem.
Action was taken to remedy this situation.
A Model 1906 3-inch
seacoast gun, with pedestal mount, was shipped to
Fort Drum. A concrete base on which to bolt the
pedestal was poured and the gun was mounted 12
January 1942, and designated as Battery Hoyle. This
emplacement was on top edge of the stern.
The following day,
13 January, at 1430, an enemy vessel was observed
approaching Fort Drum from Niac. As it drew near,
it turned out to be a double-deck vessel of the
inter-island type. That the enemy was well aware of
the old weakness was evident as she bore down upon
the fort, keeping the cage mast between her and the
14-inch turret. Apparently she had not discovered
our latest addition. Major General Moore called
Fort Drum and inquired if the newly emplaced 3-inch
gun could be fired. On receiving an affirmative
answer, he ordered the Fort Commander to open fire
with the 3-inch gun. Remember that the concrete was
less than 24 hours old and that the range drum was
without graduation. The piece had neither been
bore-sighted nor checked for assurance level.
A five-man crew of
old artillerymen were assembled. As the target grew
nearer, observers noted that the decks were lined
with enemy troops in uniform and civilians,
apparently making an inspection trip to the area in
the rear of Drum.
Range was called
vocally from the depression position finder in the
cage mast. Fire was opened at 9,000 yards. The
first round was off in deflection. The Japanese
surprise was evident by the mass confusion on her
decks. She began a fast turn which exposed her
stern. The seventh and eighth rounds were near
misses throwing geysers of water on the target. The
ninth was short as the enemy was pulling out of
range. Never again did the enemy attempt to
approach Fort Drum from the rear. This was the
first battery of seacoast artillery to open fire on
the enemy in World War II.
(3) Other
Armament. For antiaircraft artillery there were two
3-inch mobile AA guns jacked down on spider mounts
on the deck. Fire control was by director and
stereoscopic height finder. Combination protection
for both defense and low-flying planes was provided
for by four 50-caliber, water-cooled, AA machine
guns with improvised mounts and two 50-caliber
air-cooled machine guns donated by the Air Corps.
Thirteen caliber 30, M1 water-cooled machine guns
with Infantry mounts served for beach defense. This
was augmented by four Thompson sub machine guns
secured from the 4th U.S. Marines through the
detachment of marines on Fort Drum. A quantity of
Springfield rifles, with some long barrels, pump
shotguns completed the defenses.
Illumination was by searchlight. Number twelve
seacoast searchlight was located on the top of the
eighty foot cage mast. The light was put out of
action the first day Fort Drum was taken under
fire. Number eleven seacoast searchlight was
located on the southeast side of Fort Hughes. This
light was under the direct command of Fort Drum.
Its' mission was to provide illumination of that
part of Manila Bay from
Cavite to Rostinga Point, just southwest of
Ternate. The purpose of this was to prevent enemy
attacks by water from the rear of Corregidor and the
fortified islands. This light was in action until
the surrender.
