U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps 1901-1950

By the end of 1898, the US Army artillery was organized into seven regiments, two of which were created that year. In 1901, the regimental organization of the US Army artillery was abolished, and 126 companies of heavy (coast) artillery and 30 companies of light (field) artillery were established. In 1907, the artillery was split into a field artillery, with a regimental organization, and the coast artillery corps, with additional coast artillery companies, making a total of 170 companies. In 1924, a regimental organization of the Coast Artillery was instituted. Thre were 16 regular army harbor defense regiments, and several tractor drawn, railway, and antiaircraft regiments, along with a number of national guard and organized reserve harbor defense and antiaircraft artillery regiments. This organizational status lasted (with the number and type of active regiments changing frequently) until the Coast Artillery regiments were broken up into separate battalions in 1943. Nearly all Coast Artillery units were deactivated 1944-1946. The Coast Artillery Corps was officially abolished in 1950.

For information on specific units, especially during WW I and WW II, consult these references:

• U.S.Army War College, Historical Section, Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War, Zone of the Interior: Organization and Activities of the War Department, 3 Vols., GPO,Wash. DC, 1949.
• Sawicki, James P., Antiaircraft Battalions of the U.S. Army, Volumes 1 & 2, Wyvern Publications, Dumphries, VA, 1991.
• Stanton, Shelby L., Order of Battle, US Army in World War II, Presidio Press, Novato, CA, 1984.
• Bean, P.W., Parisi, F.J., Puylara, J. and Littman, A.A., "Antiaircraft - Coast Artillery Corps, Distinctive Insignia Series 20," American Society of Military Insignia Collectors, 526 Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071-1621.
• McKenney, Janice E., Air Defense Artillery, Army Lineage Series, Center of Military History, United States Army, Govt. Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1985.
• War Department, Official Army Register, January 1, 1934, GPO, Wash. DC.
• War Department, Army List and Directory, GPO, Wash. DC, various dates (1908-1936).

The following revised sections from American Seacoast Defenses: a Reference Guide cover the organization of the coast artillery corps (with a list of company and regiments), uniforms, insignia, garrison buildings, and lore.

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