The 16-inch gun, mounted on the M1919 carriage was the standard major caliber weapon of the Coast Artillery after WW1, although some 12-inch guns were still being emplaced. There were various models of the carriage (M1919M1, M1919M2, etc), and gun tubes (a wire-wound army gun, and the more common built-up Navy gun). The expected maximum range of the different tubes varied from 49,100 yards with the Army gun, to 45,150 yards with the slighly less powerful Navy gun. The Navy guns were built for a class of battleships that was never constructed due to the Washington Naval Treaty, and subsequently given to the Army for emplacement as Coast Artillery.



The early 16-inch batteries were completely in the open. All the magazines and other parts of the battery were not strongly protected, instead relying on dispersal, the concept of separating each part of the battery widely to prevent a direct hit on any part from disabling the whole battery. The battery shown is in Hawaii.



Beginning in the late 1930's, it was decided that newly constructed batteries should be casemated to protect them from aerial attack and shellfire. Many of the earlier batteries were also casemated during the course of WW2 for added protection. This image is of a newly constructed 16-inch battery at Fort Story, VA. Note the two gun emplacements at either end. The area in between housed well protected shell and powder magazines, power rooms, and the other facilities required for the battery.



This image is a closer view of a 16-inch gun in its casemate. Although it is not present in this case, most batteries had steel shields around the front of the casemate for additional protection.



This is an amazingly detailed model of a 16-inch gun located in the Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe, VA. Notice the shield below the barrel. As emplaced, the barrel would go through the shield, providing protection for the gun crew and equipment from shell fragments and concussion from near misses.

One 16-inch gun on a barbette carriage still exists. It is located at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, in Aberdeen, Maryland, and is part of a very impressive museum which is open to the public.