Panama Canal Zone Forts

American Forts: East

PANAMA CANAL ZONE

Last Update: 28/OCTOBER/2006

Compiled by Pete Payette - ฉ2006 American Forts Network

NOTE: Panama gained independence from Colombia in 1903, and they from Spain in 1821. The Panama Canal Zone Territory was established by the United States in 1904. The American Canal Zone government ceased to exist as such in 1979. The U.S. Military turned over control of the territory (but not the canal or some of the bases) to Panama in 1990. All remaining bases were closed as of August 1, 1999, and the official transfer of the canal occurred on December 31, 1999.

ค HARBOR DEFENSES of BALBOA (Pacific entrance)

ค Fort Amador
(1911 - 1989), Balboa
Originally considered the mainland portion of Fort Grant until 1917. Formerly Headquarters U.S. Army, Southern Command and U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command. Turned over to Panama in 1989. There is an old Spanish fortress near here on the point of land between Balboa and Panamแ (Panama City). Coastal batteries were Battery Birney (6-inch DC) and Battery Smith (6-inch DC) (both 1913 - 1943 and buried), and also AMTB Battery 7A (90mm) (1942 - 1948, buried). Nearby was Albrook Air Force Station and also Quarry Heights Post, an underground joint command bunker/tunnel complex on Ancon Hill in nearby Panama City.

ค Fort Kobbe
(1921 ? - 1999), Pao Santo
Formerly named Fort Bruja until 1932. Located on the opposite side of the canal entrance from Fort Amador. Battery Murray (16-inch) (1924 - 1948, casemated 1942) was near Bruja Point. Battery Haan (16-inch) (1928 - 1948) is buried on Batele Point. There was also AMTB Battery 6 (90mm) (1942 - 1948) gunblocks still exist on Batele Point, Battery 3 and Battery Z (3A) (four 155mm on Panama mounts, still exists) on Bruja Point, and Battery AZ (1917 - 1946) (two fixed 4.7-inch, replaced by two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks still exist) (two mobile 75mm) on Bruja Point. Howard Air Force Base was nearby, which took over the fort in the 1950's. The Panama Canal Naval Station was also near here.

ค Fort Grant
(1911 - 1979), Balboa
Located entirely on the four "Fortified Islands", connected by a causeway to Fort Amador. Batteries on Naos Island are Battery Buell and Battery Burnside (both 14-inch DC) (both 1912 - 1948), and Battery Parke (6-inch DC) (1912 - 1946). Also here was Battery 23 (three 3-inch AA) (1920's) and Battery AX (two mobile 75mm). Battery AY (four mobile 75mm) was located on the causeway to Fort Amador. Batteries on Flamenco Island are Battery Warren (14-inch DC) (1912 - 1948, partially filled in), later used as a HAWK missile platform (1960's - 1970's), Battery U (10A) (two 155mm on Panama mounts, buried), Battery T (two 155mm on Panama mounts, buried), the combined mortar batteries of Battery Prince, Battery Merrit, and Battery Carr (all 1912 - 1943). Batteries on Culebra Island are Battery 8 (two 14-inch railway guns) (1929 - 1946), and Battery V (10B) (two 155mm on Panama mounts, still exist). Two mobile 75mm beach defense guns (Battery AW) were also emplaced here. Battery Newton (Battery 9 ?) (16-inch DC transferred from Sandy Hook, NJ) (1915 - 1943, partially filled in) and Battery AV (two mobile 75mm) were on Perico Island. Also on Perico Island were two 105mm AA guns (1930's). Fort Grant was turned over to Panama in 1979. Naos Island was used by the Panamanian military until 1989. Flamenco Island was used as a prison until 1989, now controlled by the Panamanian Coast Guard. Culebra Island is now owned by the Smithsonian Institution for tropical marine studies.

ค ALSO: Additional Pacific batteries: Battery W (1B) (four 155mm on Panama mounts, still exists) and Battery 2B on Taboquilla Island, Battery X (two 155mm on Panama mounts, still exists) on Urava Island, Battery Y (1A) (two 155mm on Panama mounts, still exists) on Taboga Island, a four-gun 155mm battery (mounts buried) on Paitilla Point, and Battery AU (1917 - 1946) (two fixed 4.7-inch, replaced by two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks buried) (four mobile 75mm) on Paitilla Point. There were 14 searchlight positions (Venado Island, Bruja Point, Taboga Island (2), Taboguilla Island (2), Naos Island (2), Flamenco Island (2), San Jose Rock, Perico Island, and Paitilla Point (2)). The harbor minefield consisted of 16 groups of 19 bouyant mines each during WWI, and 26 groups of 13 ground mines each, with hydrophones, during WWII, controlled by the mine casemates on Naos and Flamenco Islands at Fort Grant. There were numerous fire-control observation stations, many still exist. During WWII an underground bunker complex was built for the Panama AA Defense Command (Balboa) (location ?), and an underground Emergency Joint Command Post was built on Gordo Hill, located inland between Gamboa and Paraiso.

Fort Clayton
(1920 - 1999), Diablo Heights
Located near the Miraflores Locks. It was used as Headquarters U.S. Army, Panama.

Camp Otis
(1911 - 1917), Las Cascadas
A labor camp at the Gaillard (Culebra) Cut, turned over to the US Army as a temporary post. Other military camps nearby were Camp Gaillard (originally named Camp Elliott) and Empire Camp.

Fort Davis
(1919 - 1995), Gatun
Located near the Gatun Locks. Originally called Camp Gatun.

Fort Gulick
(1941 - 1995), near Margarita
Located near Gatun Lake northeast of Fort Davis. A portion of the reservation was transferred to Panama in 1984, and renamed Fort Espinar.

คค HARBOR DEFENSES of CRISTOBAL (Atlantic / Caribbean entrance)

คค Fort Randolph
(1911 - 1979), Margarita Island
Located near Coco Solo and the Galeta Island Naval Station. Batteries here are Battery Webb (14-inch DC) (1914 - 1948), Battery 1 (two 14-inch railway guns) (1928 - 1946, partially destroyed), the combined mortar batteries Battery Tidball (1912 - 1943) and Battery Zalinski (1912 - 1943), Battery Weed (6-inch DC) (1912 - 1946), Battery X (4A) (four 155mm on Panama mounts) (1940, still exists), Battery 2C, Battery 5A, and Battery AW (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced with two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks remain). Four 75mm beach defense guns (1930's) were emplaced adjacent to Battery Weed. An industrial park and private resort are now under development. AA Battery 5 (three 3-inch AA) (1930's) was located on the mainland east of Margarita Island.

คค Fort Sherman
(Fort Sherman History)
(1911 - 1953/1999), near Col๓n
Located across the harbor from Crist๓bal at the entrance to Limon Bay. Batteries located on Toro Point are Battery Mower (14-inch DC) (1912 - 1948) and Battery Stanley (14-inch DC) (1912 - 1948), the combined mortar batteries Battery Howard (1913 - 1943) and Battery Baird (1913 - 1943), and Battery W (four 155mm on Panama mounts) (1940, buried) adjacent to the lighthouse. Four mobile 75mm beach defense guns were also at the lighthouse (Battery AU and Battery AV). Battery 151 (casemated 16-inch) was never built, although several gun tubes were delivered. Located on Shelter Point are Battery Kilpatrick (6-inch DC) (1915 - 1946) and AMTB Battery 3C (90mm) (1942 - 1948, gunblocks remain). Battery Kilpatrick was converted to a reptile zoo in the 1950's. On Iglesia Point near the Chagres River are Battery Pratt (originally Chagres Battery #1) (12-inch BC) (1916 - 1948, casemated 1942), Battery Mackenzie (originally Chagres Battery #2) (14-inch BC) (1916 - 1948), and Battery AS (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced with two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks remain). Battery Pratt was later converted as the alternate command post for Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command. Also here was AA Battery 1 and AA Battery 2 (three 3-inch AA each) (1930's). On Brujas Island was Battery AT (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced by two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks remain). The reservation became the U.S. Army's Jungle Operations Training Center after 1953.

คค Fort DeLesseps
(1911 - 1955), Col๓n
Located on Manzanillo Island adjacent to the Hotel Washington. Batteries here are Battery Morgan (6-inch BC) (1914 - 1948) which still exists, and Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 3B (90mm) (1942 - 1948) on the Cristobal Mole, whch has been built over. AA Battery 4 (two 3-inch AA) (1930's) was also located on the Cristobal Mole.

คค ALSO: Additional Atlantic batteries: Battery U (four 155mm on Panama mounts) (1930's, still exists) and Battery AR (two mobile 75mm) (1919 - 1946) on Tortuguilla Point, Battery V (four 155mm on Panama mounts) (1940) on Naranjitos Point (still exists), Battery Y (four 155mm on Panama mounts) (1940) (still exists), and Battery AX (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced by two 75mm in 1919, buried) on Palma Media Island, Battery Z (1A) (four 155mm on Panama mounts) (1940, now in surf), Battery 1B, and Battery AY (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced by two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks remain) on Galetta Island, and Battery AZ (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced with two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks remain) on Largo Remo Island. There were ten searchlight positions (Largo Remo Island, Galeta Island (2), Fort Randolph, Cristobal Mole, Toro Point, Fort Sherman, Naranjitos Point, and Tortuguilla Point (2)). The harbor minefield consisted of 15 groups of 19 bouyant mines each in WWI, and 26 groups of 13 ground mines each, with hydrophones, in WWII, controlled by the mine casemates at Shelter Cove, Fort Sherman, and at Fort Randolph. There were numerous fire-control observation stations, many still exist. During WWII an underground bunker complex was built for the Panama AA Defense Command (Cristobal) (location ?).

San Lorenzo Castle ?
(World Heritage Site)
(1595 - 1770), near Col๓n
Located on the Caribbean coast at the entrance to the Chagres River. Formerly called Castillo de San Lorenzo de Chagres, and later Fort San Lorenzo. This area was first fortified in 1575. The fortress took 30 years to complete in its original form. It was built on a bluff at the mouth of the river, surrounded on all sides with palisades and wooden and earthen ramparts, with four bastions on the landward side, and two bastions facing the sea. Attacked by English pirates under Henry Morgan in 1671, who blew up the powder magazine killing most of the garrison. Rebuilt with stone in 1680. Attacked by English naval forces in 1740 and demolished. Rebuilt in 1761. The site was not used by Colombia after independence from Spain. The site became a Panamanian National Monument in 1908, but fell within the boundary of Fort Sherman in 1911. It was transferred back to Panama in 1979. During World War II an American searchlight position and several 3-inch anti-aircraft guns were set up here to defend against possible German U-boat attacks up the Chagres River to Gatun Dam. Battery AQ (1915 - 1946) (two 4.7-inch, replaced with two 75mm in 1919, gunblocks remain) was also located here. Another website (1) | Another website (2).

NOTES: In 1918 there were only seven 3-inch AA guns in fixed emplacements, and one 3-inch AA mounted on a railcar. Four additional 3-inch AA guns were sent in 1918 and emplaced at the Gatun Dam. In 1919 there were 42 surplus 75mm field guns and 46 surplus 155mm guns sent to the Canal Zone. Those not emplaced for beach defense were allocated to the mobile infantry forces. In 1920 there were 36 3-inch AA guns allocated to the Canal Zone. In 1931 there were 15 fixed three-gun 3-inch AA batteries in various locations, and one three-gun 3-inch AA battery mounted on a railcar. In 1939 there were 12 105mm AA guns and 71 3-inch AA guns reported emplaced in various locations throughout the territory, with more added after 1942. HAWK missile batteries replaced AA gun batteries in the 1960's. Due to lack of information, these AA sites are not included on this page at this time.

NEED MORE INFO: Panamanian Fort Cimarron (date ? and location ?)

Gun battery information gathered from "The American Defences of the Panama Canal", by Terrance McGovern, 1999, Nearhos Publications; and from "The Fortifications of the Panama Canal", by Hugh Gardner and Norman Carpenter, 1965, Historical Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces Southern Command, as transcribed by Bill Cole, 2002.

ALSO OF INTEREST:

Spanish Forts of Panama ?

Panamแ City:
Founded by the Spanish in 1519. A Casa Fuerte was probably built here at that time. In the late 16th-century the eastern area of the city, called "Las Casas Reales", was palisaded with several bastions and small guns. Attacked by the English under Francis Drake in 1595. The city was sacked by English pirates under Henry Morgan in 1671. The city was relocated about five km west in 1673, with a moated stone wall and ramparts completed in 1686, with a shore battery next to the military barracks. The city was never attacked again. The city walls were later demolished as the city grew.
Fort La Navidad (1520's) was on the west-side of the city, probably only a six-gun battery.
Fort Matadero (1590's) was built to protect the western landward approach.

Nombre de Dios:
Founded by the Spanish in 1510. A Casa Fuerte was probably built here at that time. Attacked by the English under Francis Drake in 1572. Abandoned for Portobelo in 1596 because of poor health conditions. (Spanish fortifications are undetermined at this time)

Portobelo:
Replaced Nombre de Dios as the main Atlantic port in 1596. Sacked by English pirates in 1601. Attacked by English pirates under Henry Morgan in 1668. Attacked by pirates in 1678 and 1679. Attacked and taken by English naval forces in 1726 and 1739.
Fort Santiago de la Gloria (aka Gloria Castle) built at the edge of town, consisting of two bastions with a curtain wall between, armed with 22 guns. Demolished in 1739.
Fort San Felipe (aka Iron Castle) built at the bay entrance on the north, with a 22-gun water battery. Demolished in 1739.
Peru Battery, Triana Battery, and La Trinidad Battery were built on the heights behind the town shortly after the 1601 attack.
Fort San Ger๓nimo (World Heritage Site) (1658 - 1790's ?) a long 18-gun battery at the entrance to the bay opposite the Iron castle. Demolished in 1739. Rebuilt in 1753 - 1759 with a five-gun square redoubt at the end of the now 19-gun long battery, with the gate flanked by a small rounded redoubt. Another website

Dari้n:
Founded by the Spanish in 1510, replacing the failed settlement San Sebastiแn (1509) in present-day Colombia on the eastern side of the Gulf of Urabแ. A Casa Fuerte was probably built here by Vasco Nu๑ez de Balboa. Four small forts, subposts of Panamแ City, were reported in the area in 1772.

Santa Maria:
English pirates crossed the isthmus and sacked the town and its stockaded fort in 1680.