Cape Henlopen, on the northern tip of the Delmarva (three state Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) peninsula, was used by the military to fortify the entrance to Delaware Bay. Eleven observation towers, height 39-75’, were built as lookouts for potential seaborn threats.
Clusters of gun emplacements are located around the property, as are ammunition batteries, Fort Meyers and barracks for the soldiers. These protections were built from 1939 to 1944 for defense of critical facilities in Delaware Bay as were other defenses along the coasts near shipyards and military bases. Protective weapons included 16”, 12” and 6” guns mounted to rotary turrets. An additional measure was sub-surface mines to protect the entrance to the Bay, which could be activated and deactivated remotely. These defenses were actively used during WW2, and was a retained facility until 1981 when it was transferred to the Delaware State Parks. One of the observation towers is open to the public, the internal ladders have been replaced with steel spiral stairs. The views from the top are great.
Information signs are located at various parts of the park. At Battery Herring, underwater listening devices were deployed, with wires extending 104 miles out to sea. Hydrophone devices listen for Soviet submarine activity and identified location. Experimental surface to air missiles and proximity fuse munitions were also tested there. The 16” armor piercing shells were tested for penetration through 17” hardened plate steel used to protected ship hulls. The 16” rounds had a firing range of 27 miles, which covers the mouth of Delaware Bay and beyond. The shells weigh 2,700 pounds and require 660 pounds of powder to achieve the full range.
Retired and Loving It 