Beneath our feet lies a silent sentinel Battery Yates. It once guarded the Golden Gate. Completed in 1903 Battery Yates was armed with rapid-fire guns. These guns were meant to protect the bay entrance. The battery is named after Captain George W. Yates. He was killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Battery Yates formed part of Fort Baker. It was a key component of San Francisco’s harbor defenses. Its mission was to protect inner harbor minefields. Imagine a foreign attack. Battery Yates’s guns could fire up to 30 shots per minute. They targeted fast-moving enemy torpedo boats. During World War II the guns also protected an anti-submarine net. This net spanned the entrance to the bay.
Originally Battery Yates had six 3-inch guns. These M1902MI guns were rapid-fire. They were mounted on M1902 Barbette carriages. Each emplacement had its own magazine room. It also had an associated utility room. These utility rooms served various purposes. Some were store rooms and some were tool rooms. One was an oil room.
Between emplacements #2 and #3 was a communication officer’s room. It was pentagon-shaped. A guard room sat between emplacements #4 and #5. A separate latrine building stood about 100 feet from emplacement #6. Initially, Battery Duncan provided electrical power. Only 2.9 kilowatts were needed for lighting.
These guns used complete cartridges. Ammunition was stored to support a high rate of fire. For short bursts the gun could fire 20 to 30 rounds per minute.
Interestingly the guns of Battery Yates weren’t affected by World War I. They didn’t get caught up in the redistribution or disarmament programs. However, World War II brought changes. In 1942 four of the guns were ordered relocated. They were moved to other locations in the San Francisco Harbor Defenses.
Emplacements #3 and #4 were moved to Fort Point in 1943. They were placed on a battery on the Barbette Tier. Emplacements #5 and #6 first went to Battery Kirby Beach in 1942. Then they were moved to Battery Gates in 1943. By 1946 all guns and carriages were ordered processed for salvage.
Today Battery Yates is part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area. The National Park Service administers it. No original guns or mounts remain. Yet, its history echoes through the concrete.
Before Battery Yates there was another plan. The US Army wanted to build a fort at Lime Point. This fort would match Fort Point. Lime Point is roughly where the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge stands. The army planned heavy blasting to level the rock surface. But the plans were abandoned. Instead, they built a network of batteries.
Take a moment to appreciate this spot. Battery Yates once played a crucial role. It helped protect the bay. It stood ready to defend against threats. Now it offers a scenic view. It is a reminder of a different time. A time when coastal defenses were vital.