Battery Mendell

This is Battery Mendell, found in the Marin Headlands. According to the National Park Service, "Battery Mendell's mission was to keep enemy warships farther from San Francisco's harbor than any of the earlier coastal defenses were equipped to do. Built in 1905, the battery was positioned as far west on the headlands as possible and armed with the biggest guns in America. The two 12-inch cannon could hit vessels 8 miles out to sea.

"Battery Mendell was designed for 'disappearing guns' that rose up for firing and then dropped back down behind the protective parapet. That ensured greater cover for both the weapons and troops than older batteries had provided. However, new technology, such as that employed at [the] nearby Battery Wallace...soon enabled high-angle fire. This near doubled the distance guns could shoot."