Dan Lantzy 1988
Location
Corregidor
Island, Philippines. The battery faces towards the southwest, but could easily lay fire upon Mariveles to the north west.
Construction
Battery Wheeler was constructed between 1904 and 1919 at a cost of $244,600 and named in honor of Captain David P. Wheeler, 22nd U.S. Infantry who died of wounds received in action 14 April, 1904 at Taraca, Mindanao. The guns were proof fired in 1909, making Battery Wheeler the first of Corregidor's batteries to be made operational.
The armament was two 12" (305 mm) M1895 guns on Model 1901 disappearing carriages, capable of ranging to 17,000 yards (nearly 10 miles or 16 km). The 1,000 lb (454.5 kg) shell required a 270 lb (122.7 kg) bagged charge. Rate of fire was at or better than 2 per minute. and with a field of fire of 220 degrees. Maximum rate of fire was better than two rounds per minute. The length of the rifled bore was 35 ft (10.7 m). The traverse of each gun was limited to 170 degrees but because the centers of traverse are offset 50 degrees, the combined field of the two guns enabled the battery to cover a 220 degree field of fire. The standard crew was 22 men.
Wartime History
It was manned during wartime by Battery C, 59th Coast Artillery under Captain Harry W. Schenck. On 24 March 1942, an aerial bomb struck the No. 1 gun, damaging the traversing rollers. The damage was repaired within 24 hours but traversing became difficult thereafter. The gun remained in action throughout April.
Although both guns were disabled prior to the surrender, the Japanese required American POW's to completely dismantle No. 1 gun carriage for parts to restore No. 2 back to service.
During the first few hours of the invasion of 16 February 1945, it was thought that Battery Wheeler was clear of Japanese defenders. To an extent, that was true. But the wily defenders had access to the Battery that has not even today been established, and on each occasion it was cleared, they were able to reoccupy it. Ultimately, the Battery was so formidable and extensive that it required three days of constant attention before it was reduced, and then only in extraordinary circumstances.
