Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
    Sitka Alaska United States
Location
Sitka is located on the western edge of Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago (Alaska Panhandle) in Alaska in the United States. Borders the North Pacific Ocean to the west.

Wartime History
In 1942, the U.S. Army construction around Sitka began to speed up when in 1942 the United States learned that Japan was planning to attack Alaska. The construction costs in Sitka exceeded 30 million dollars. There were at one time 10,000 personnel stationed at Sitka.

The U.S. Army emplaced three 6" gun batteries and two 90mm anti motor-torpedo Boat batteries plus a twin 155mm GPF battery supported by numerous fire control stations, searchlights, radar stations, and other smaller anti-aircraft defense. It would take the Army a few years to construct all the necessary defenses, some were never completed.

Today
The current population of Sitka is roughly 8,000. Many wartime fortifications and sites remain and have been well documented in an excellent websites specifically related to Sitka, Alaska: Sitka's WWII page by Mathew Hunter with photos of many of the sites described below.

Sitka Seaplane Base (NAS Sitka)
Built 1937 used by the U.S. Navy during the Pacific War.

Fort Ray
Located at the causeway built to connect Alice Island and Charcoal Island. Fort Ray was the support camp for all the U.S. Army service men and batteries that formed the defenses for the harbor and installations in the area and to support Sitka Naval Air Station.

Sitka National Cemetery
Located at Sika with World War II American burials.

Fort Babcock / Battery 290
Located at Shoals Point, Under Mount Edgecombe, On Kruzof Island. Abandoned when construction was 88% complete. Had many fire control stations and large support camps abandoned with them. These guns became operational in March/April 1942

Fort Peirce / Battery 291
Fort Peirce (Battery 291) was located on Biorka Island. This battery was 98% completed when abandoned for 6" guns plus fire control stations and support camps.

Base End Station
Located at Ataku Island. It has a large fortified tower for Battery 291 and several other buildings in lesser condition.

Fort Rousseau / Battery 292
On Makhnati Island. Construction was completed by late 1944 and included a 6-inch Battery.

Anti Motor Torpedo-Boat Battery
Located at Watson Point. Today located at the Sea Mart parking lot.

90mm Anti-Aircraft Batteries
Located on Whale Island and at Watson Point.

155mm GPF Howitzer Batteries
During World War II, a pair of 155mm GPF Howitzers in Panama mounts were emplaced on Makhnati Island. These guns were the first and only coastal defense guns until 6" guns with greater range were added Today, both gun batteries are heavily overgrown.

Concrete Bunkers and Foundations
There are foundations and concrete bunkers scattered around the town and surrounding islands.

Fire Control Station
Located on Kayak Island.

Fire Control Station and Radar Site

Located on Abalone Island.

Island Causeway
The U.S. Army built a two-mile-long causeway connecting eight islands to Japonski Island and worked on the other defenses. Japonski Island was also connected to two smaller islands: Alice Island and Charcoal Island. These islands and the causeway is where Fort Ray was established. The remains on the causeway and surrounding islands are virtually all there. There has been erosion and some vandalism but the structures are standing.

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
August 24, 2023

 

  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram