SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, South Carolina, United States — Fort Moultrie's World War II-era defenses, including the Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP) and various artillery installations. This National Park Service site showcases the evolution of coastal defense systems from the Revolutionary War through World War II, with a focus on the intense military build-up following the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941.
Photograph by David Coleman. Fort Moultrie, located on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, stands as a testament to the evolving nature of American coastal defenses from the Revolutionary War through World War II. During the Second World War, the fort underwent significant expansion and modernization as part of the urgent coastal defense preparations following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The World War II-era Fort Moultrie, now part of the larger Fort Moultrie Military Reservation, saw the addition of new and improved gun batteries, the replacement of outdated weapons with more modern armaments, and the construction of new observation posts. This period marked a significant transformation of the original 1809 fort into a sprawling military complex designed to protect Charleston Harbor from potential enemy attacks. A key addition during this period was the inclusion of Navy personnel, who were responsible for manning signal positions atop the Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP). The original HECP, housed in a World War I-era building, was later moved to a more secure structure in 1944, with the original building repurposed for Navy housing. The fort's defenses were further enhanced with the deployment of Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat (AMTB) batteries, which could also serve as anti-aircraft defenses. Each AMTB battery consisted of two fixed and two mobile 90mm cannons, along with two mobile 37mm cannons. These were strategically placed on and around existing structures like Battery Jasper. On March 7, 1944, the Army and Navy combined their efforts in a new concrete, splinter-proof, and gas-proof building known as the Harbor Entrance Control Post and Harbor Defense Command Post (HECP/HDCP). This facility, staffed by 60 Army and Navy officers, included a Signal Tower, Observation Post, Duty Officers' area, Operations room, Message Center, and Radio room. It served as the nerve center for monitoring and controlling traffic in and out of Charleston
Size: 8029px × 5353px
Location: Fort Moultrie, Sullivans Island, South Carolina, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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