Ft.Miles Observation Tower # 7 - Cape Henlopen, DE
Posted by: 
Ernmark
N 38° 46.580 W 075° 05.566
18S E 491941 N 4291960
Quick Description: Abandoned Observation Tower used during World War II to protect the Delaware coast - now restored and open to the public.
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 9/29/2008 10:59:50 AM
Waymark Code: WM4TT5
Views: 31
Long Description:These towers didn't actually have gun emplacements - they were used in conjunction with other nearby towers to observe & triangulate the positions of enemy vessels. The towers ranged from 39 to 75 feet high and consisted of concrete walls 1 foot thick.
In order to determine the location of a 'hostile' vessel, the coordinates of the lines of sight between 2 different towers were noted & given to the battery commander. The angles were then plotted in relation to the known distance between the two towers to form a triangle (triangulation) to determine the angle & direction of artillery fire.
Construction of these towers took place from 1939 to 1942, with the intention of the buildings having a 20-year lifespan. Quite a few of these buildings remain over 60 years later. 11 stand on the Delaware shore and 2 remain near Cape May, New Jersey.
Interestingly, the guns at Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen were never called upon to fire upon an enemy vessel.
Note - there is a parking area at the tower site.
