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Golden Gate National Recreation Area photo of soldiers at Battery Chamberlain
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Golden Gate National Recreation Area
An Integrated System of Guns

San Francisco's harbor defenses relied on a complex system of guns, underwater mines, and antisubmarine nets. Central to the system were guns of many sizes, each with its own purpose. These guns were classified by the diameter of the projectiles they fired.

 
 
photo of an antiaircraft gun
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Rapid-fire three-inch (above) and 90 mm guns targeted aircraft and motor torpedo boats. Smaller 40 mm and various caliber machine guns were used as antiaircraft (AA) weapons.
 

 

 
photo of gun firing
PARC, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Mortars could fire 12-inch shells on a high arcing trajectory, thereby penetrating the lightly armored decks of ships. Mortars also could fire in all directions, making them useful during a ground invasion.  
 
a 6-inch gun at Battery Chamberlain
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Six-inch guns, like this one at Battery Chamberlin, protected the offshore minefields. Mounted and mobile 155 mm guns also guarded the minefields and protected the beaches from landing craft.
 
photo of Battery Townsley
PARC, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Massive 16-inch guns at Battery Townsley (as seen above) and Davis defended against batteships that also had guns capable of firing shees up to 25 miles.
 
firing of Battery Wallace
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Turn-of-the-century 10- and 12-inch guns and newer, high-powered 12-inch guns at Battery Wallace fended off armored warships in the 10 to 15 mile range.

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Tectonic decal of San Andreas Lake

Did You Know?
The tectonic forces that formed San Andreas Lake, in San Mateo County, are similar to those that formed Loch Ness in Scotland, the home of "Nessie," the rumored Loch Ness monster.
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Last Updated: May 10, 2007 at 14:19 MST