Pulpit Rock Camp
Loc. 142 Pulpit Rock was a WWII AMTB gun and Fire Control site in Rye NH.
This page is being re-written. Excuse our mess.
Battery AMTB 951
Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 951 was constructed and completed in 1943 for $10,750. It was armed with four 90mm dual purpose guns, two on M3 fixed pedestal mounts and two on M1A1 mobile mounts. The guns were capable of firing at small watercraft and at enemy airplanes with an effective range of 4.5 miles. Ammunition was stored in two wooden earth covered magazines. A wooden BC station was located near the emplacements. Electrical power was provided commercially, and two standby generators were available. In 1945 the guns were moved to Battery Seaman for storage. A temporary searchlight position was adjacent to emplacement #1. A wooden H shaped barracks building was built in-between Site 2A and the battery and it still remains as a private residence. In 1962 emplacement #2 was destroyed and thrown onto the beach by NH DOT during roadway expansion. Remains of the emplacement are still strewn across the beach. After major coastal storms in 2023 and 2024, NH DOT rebuilt the parking lot emplacement #1 resided in and it is now preserved.
WWII Fire Control Stations
Site 1A
Constructed in 1942 for $15,074, this tower was a unique steel girder tower with a two-level 1" thick corrugated steel cab. The upper level (DPF) was to serve Battery 205 and the lower level (DPF) was the Harbor Defense Operations Command 1. The tower was painted Olive Drab to provide camouflage. Power was provided commercially or from one of the AMTB battery generator shelters. A small oil heater was located inside the cab to provide heat. This was the only tower of its type built in New Hampshire. These types of towers are not common in New England and only one remains at Trundy Point MR. Others remain south of New Jersey
Site 2A
In 1942 construction started on an eight story Fire Control Tower for Fort Dearborn nearby. The seventh story level DPF was designated for Battery 103/Seamen and the eight level DPF was for Battery 204. The roof was used as an Anti-Aircraft Spotting station AAIS OP 7. The tower was completed in 1943 on a government owned .44-acre tract. This tower and the one at Sisters Point MR were the only ones actively manned through WWII. The navy had control over the tower from 1954-1971 and made some modifications for surveillance equipment. The fish and game department has owned the tower since 1974. It was suggested for the national register of historic Places in the 1970s but was not accepted and finally made the list in 2010 after being on the seven to save list in New Hampshire. In 2008 the Friends of Pulpit Rock Tower was formed to preserve the tower. The tower officially opened in 2009 on some holidays and continues to do so. The tower has been under restoration for many years and is still as of 2025.