American Seacoast Defenses and the Long Island Sound
Illustrated talk, presented virtually May 18, 2025 by Mark Berhow, author and chairman of the publications committee for Coast Defense Study Group
Hosted by HLFM director Pierce Rafferty
From the establishment of the United States in 1790 through 1950 the federal government fortified its major deep water harbors to deter attack from foreign navies. Long Island Sound has been a prominent location for these defense programs because of its many natural harbors and its “back door” access to New York. Rapid developments in warship and artillery technology during this time led to an evolution of seacoast fortifications with increasing effective range as reflected in the Long Island defenses. The saga of these forts and the changes that led to their eventual closure are covered in this presentation.
Mark Berhow is a retired research chemist who worked for the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Pasadena, California and Peoria, Illinois. He has had a long interest in American military history and the defenses of United States. He is actively involved with the Coast Defense Study Group as the chairman of its publications committee and is currently the editor in chief of the Coast Defense Journal and the CDSG Newsletter. He has written both books and articles on American seacoast and air defenses.
