JAAN-2 Gun Battery Plaque

Why JAAN? Here at the JAAN-2 Gun Battery Plaque, overlooking the stunning vista, the question hangs in the air. The JAAN-2 Gun Battery wasn’t just a concrete and steel sentinel. It was a symbol of unity, a testament to collaboration in a time of conflict. JAAN stood for Joint Army And Navy, a combined force guarding the vital Los Angeles harbor during World War II. Construction of the JAAN-2 Gun Battery, a sub-post of Fort MacArthur, began rapidly on August 11, 1942, just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The battery was completed on January 11, 1943, and became operational on April 12, 1943. The total cost? A surprisingly modest $8,122. These weren’t brand new weapons guarding the coast. The two 3-inch M1903 guns had a prior life at Battery Lodor on Deadman’s Island until it was deactivated in 1927. The guns were stored at the Benicia Arsenal, dusted off, and given a new purpose at JAAN-2, perched on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific. The battery was part of the larger Harbor Defense of Los Angeles, a network of fortifications protecting the vital port from potential enemy attack. Imagine the scene: soldiers and sailors working side-by-side, their eyes scanning the horizon, the rumble of the mighty 3-inch guns a constant reminder of the war raging across the ocean. The JAAN-2 Gun Battery Plaque now stands as a silent tribute to that era. Though the guns and mounts are long gone, the concrete bases remain, capped and secured by stainless steel fencing. While the guns are gone, the story of the JAAN-2 Gun Battery echoes in the ocean breeze. It reminds us of the collaborative spirit and decisive action taken to protect our shores.