Fort Greene was built as part of a general
modernization of US coast defenses, begun in 1940 with the outbreak of war in Europe and the
Fall of France. The goal was to replace all previous heavy weapons, most of which were over 35 years old, with long-range ex-Navy
16"/50 caliber Mark 2 guns. Lighter weapons would be replaced by
6-inch guns on high-angle shielded barbette carriages. Ammunition
magazines and the 16-inch guns would be in
casemated bunkers to protect against air attack. The fort was intended to protect the approaches to
Narragansett Bay as part of the
Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay, and with a range of over it could protect the eastern approaches to
Long Island Sound as well. It was mirrored by
Fort Church in
Little Compton near Sakonnet Point. Three reservations were acquired for Fort Greene 1939-1942, which was initially known as the Point Judith Military Reservation. The East Reservation was at the present Fort Greene Army Reserve Center, while the West and South Reservations are the present
Fishermen's Memorial State Park. The South Reservation was near
Point Judith Light. Battery Hamilton, or Battery Construction Number (BCN) 108, was on the East Reservation and had two 16-inch guns. BCN 109 was on the West Reservation and was designed for two 16-inch guns, but was never armed. To the west of BCN 109, also in the park, is a
Plotting, Switchboard, and Radio (PSR) bunker. BCN 211 with two 6-inch guns was on the South Reservation, along with four "
Panama mounts" (circular concrete platforms) for towed
155 mm guns. The Point Judith Fishermen's Memorial is next to the bunker of BCN 211; a path is also available to the top of the bunker. No interpretation of the military facilities in the park is provided. In 1947, with the war over, Fort Greene's guns were scrapped along with almost all other US coast artillery weapons. Several
fire control stations were built in Narragansett, disguised as beach cottages as part of the
Coast Artillery fire control system; these may date from the start of the
Endicott Program circa 1900. Most have been destroyed; one (badly damaged by storms) is near BCN 211, and some survive and have been restored at the
Camp Varnum National Guard facility, formerly
Fort Varnum. ==Present==