American Coastal Defenses, 1885-1950 (Five Stars)

This volume in the Osprey Fortress series looks at the Coast Artillery installations built throughout the United States and its territories to protect American soil from naval (and later, air) attack. The United States has always believed in defending its shores (the wars with the British made great use of the Royal Navy and taught some singular lessons to Americans) but this book focuses on the equipment, training, organization, fortifications and personnel of the Endicott-Taft System, the modern coast artillery created during the first half of the 20^th century. Army planners spread out the modern forts, with long-range, disappearing guns, very heavy mortars, remote-controlled mines and optical aiming equipment to key harbors along the coasts, predicting that a determined enemy from across the oceans would need to seize one or more in order to sustain an army on American soil. The possibility of airborne invasion or nuclear attack doomed the fortresses into obscurity.

Well-illustrated with photographs, artwork and maps.