New England Defenses

Pulpit Rock Camp

Revision as of 20:11, 21 June 2023 by J. Malcolm (talk | contribs)

Pulpit Rock MR was a military reservation for the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth. The site included an eight story Fire control Tower. A steel Fire Control Tower and AMTB Battery 951.

Eight Story FCT

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. The navy had control over the tower from 1954-1971. 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 2022. I visited on Memorial day 2023 and the tower is nice on the inside with many displays but I noticed that the DPF mount on the seventh floor is missing! I think it was probably drilled out in the 1970s.

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Steel FCT

In 1942 on a separate tract of land a steel FCT was built near the main tower and used for Battery 205 and the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth. This tower was dismantled around 1953 and the cab was built of corrugated aluminum.

File:PR MR (24).jpg
Steel FCT Locale

Battery AMTB 951

Built in 1942, AMTB Battery 951 was operated as part of Fort Dearborn nearby. The battery was deactivated in 1946 and abandon. Around 1962 the Coastal roadway was expanded which would cover the second AMTB emplacement so it was destroyed and disposed of near the other remaining emplacement. Its remains can still be found on the beach. The area where emplacement one is located became a parking lot and the mounting screws for the guns were grinded down. Over the years emplacement one has been damaged by cars driving over it. Emplacement two is in rubble in the general area the mounting ring is in.

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    AMTB 951 Emplacement #1 2022
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    AMTB Emplacement #1 2023
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    Emplacement #1 Ammo Storage 2023
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    AMTB 9451 Emplacement #2 Remains 2022
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    Emplacement #2 Remains
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    Emplacement #2 Mounting Ring
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    Emplacement #2 Screw Detail

Battery AMTB 351

Built with two temporary 37mm guns in 1942. There are no visible remains today.

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