Touch WWII history at this Maine park where massive gun emplacements still remain

Battery 201’s Silent Vigil Against Nazi U-Boats

When World War II hit, the U.S. Army built a fort on Maine’s rocky coast. In 1942, Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation took shape near Two Lights, with Battery 201 as its heart.

Maine National Guard troops ran two massive 6-inch guns that could hit ships 15 miles away. The guns never fired at the enemy, though a German sub sank USS Eagle 56 just offshore in 1945, killing 49 sailors.

After the war, the base shut down.

Now, Two Lights State Park holds these concrete ghosts where you can walk the same ground where soldiers once stood guard against Nazi ships.

Maine’s Coast Got Ready When War Broke Out in Europe

War started in Europe in September 1939, putting America on alert. President Roosevelt ordered better coastal defenses as German submarines threatened Atlantic ships.

The Army saw trouble at places like Portland Harbor. Military planners needed stronger harbor defenses quickly.

Casco Bay became important as a safe spot for navy ships. The Army soon approved four new gun batteries to protect Portland from enemy attacks.

Army Turned Peaceful Coastline Into Military Fortress

The Army set up Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation in 1942 on Maine’s rocky shores. They bought private land near the Two Lights lighthouse, a spot known for great ocean views.

Military planners liked the location because it gave them clear views across Casco Bay. Soldiers could spot enemy ships from miles away.

Construction crews moved in with heavy equipment to build what became Battery 201.

Concrete Bunkers Grew From Maine’s Rocky Soil

Workers started building Battery 201 in 1942 as part of the coastal defense network. Engineers designed it to hold two 6-inch guns protected by thick concrete shields.

The plans included a central bunker that served many purposes for the soldiers. The battery’s spot let it cover harbor approaches from Yarmouth to Cape Porpoise.

Construction teams worked through harsh Maine weather to finish the job.

Huge Guns Could Hit Targets 15 Miles Away

Two big 6-inch guns arrived at the battery, each weighing 142,000 pounds with their carriages and shields. The gun tubes stretched about 25 feet long and could hit targets up to 15 miles offshore.

These powerful weapons could fire shells 27,000 yards, covering a huge area of water. The guns were some of the best coastal defense technology during World War II.

Battery 201 became the most powerful defense spot in the Cape Elizabeth area.

Soldiers Could Live Inside The Sealed Command Bunker

Battery 201’s heart was its concrete bunker with thick walls built to handle bombing. Inside, a plotting room held equipment for figuring out exact firing coordinates.

Storage rooms kept shells ready for combat. The bunker had living quarters where gun crews could rest between shifts.

Three diesel generators provided power, and the whole structure could be sealed against poison gas attacks.

Lighthouse Became Part Of Military Defense Network

An observation tower built behind the battery gave soldiers a perfect spot for watching the ocean. The nearby western lighthouse turned into a military fire control station in 1942.

Fire control teams used phones to send target information to the plotting room. The military also added radar to spot approaching ships.

A Navy magnetic loop station watched all vessels entering or leaving the harbor.

Maine National Guard Troops Ran The Massive Guns

Soldiers from the 8th Coast Artillery Regiment took charge of the new installation. The 240th Coast Artillery Regiment of the Maine National Guard joined them to staff the positions.

Battery 201 served as the main defense spot in Cape Elizabeth throughout the war. The troops ran regular training exercises and kept the equipment in top shape.

Everyone worked under the Harbor Defenses of Portland headquarters.

The Guns Stayed Silent But Always Ready

Battery 201 was fully finished in 1944 but never loaded with live ammunition. The installation stood ready to defend against enemy ships that never came.

The guns stayed in position but never fired a shot in battle. Soldiers watched over Casco Bay day and night, looking for threats.

Military officials planned to name it Battery Fessenden, but the war ended before they made it official.

Enemy Submarine Struck Just Offshore

On April 23, 1945, German submarine U-853 torpedoed USS Eagle 56 just three miles from the Cape Elizabeth reservation. The ship sank quickly, killing 49 of the 62 crew members aboard.

This attack became New England’s worst naval disaster of World War II.

It marked the only combat action that happened near the military reservation during the entire conflict. The U.S. Navy later found and sank U-853 near Rhode Island.

Peace Made Coastal Guns Obsolete

The military abandoned the reservation in 1946 after the war ended. Fixed gun emplacements no longer made sense in an age of aircraft carriers and nuclear weapons.

The Army decided coastal artillery installations weren’t worth maintaining anymore. They removed the valuable equipment and reassigned the soldiers to other duties.

The once-busy military base sat empty for years, slowly returning to nature.

Visitors Now Explore War Ruins At Two Lights

The federal government bought the abandoned military land and opened Two Lights State Park in 1961. Today, visitors can see concrete bunkers and gun emplacements still visible among the coastal scenery.

Historical markers explain the wartime purpose of these strange concrete structures.

Families picnic where soldiers once stood watch, and hikers explore the same paths once patrolled by armed guards protecting America’s coast from a threat that never arrived.

Visiting Two Lights State Park, Maine

Two Lights State Park at 7 Tower Drive in Cape Elizabeth preserves the Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation where soldiers operated 6-inch guns to protect Portland. Harbor during World War II.

The park is open daily 9am to sunset with admission fees of $5 for Maine residents and $7 for non-residents. You can see the concrete Battery 201 bunker and WWII observation tower, though both are currently sealed.

Bring cash since credit cards aren’t always accepted.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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