by Guest » January 22, 2024, 12:01 pm
hayhugh wrote: ↑January 21, 2024, 12:48 pm
There were still armed Army troops alongside the lock in the late 50's.
Anti-aircraft batteries were re-established at the Soo in the summer of 1950 after mock attacks made military planners believe the locks were vulnerable to low-level air raids. The locks were closed to visitors, and pleasure boats and passenger vessels had to use the Canadian lock until 1953. By the time the AAA guns were removed in June 1960, the Soo Locks were the last remaining location in the U.S. guarded by artillery.
Going back to WWII, here's an article from 1945 that reveals the extent of defenses at the Soo. I was amazed at the number of barrage balloons (51), much less anti-aircraft guns (48). The Soo was the only location beyond the West Coast to have barrage balloons. Not mentioned were smoke camouflage units and searchlight batteries. Most of this was reduced dramatically once the tide of the war turned in 1943.
[quote=hayhugh post_id=260321 time=1705859283 user_id=1197]
There were still armed Army troops alongside the lock in the late 50's.
[/quote]
Anti-aircraft batteries were re-established at the Soo in the summer of 1950 after mock attacks made military planners believe the locks were vulnerable to low-level air raids. The locks were closed to visitors, and pleasure boats and passenger vessels had to use the Canadian lock until 1953. By the time the AAA guns were removed in June 1960, the Soo Locks were the last remaining location in the U.S. guarded by artillery.
Going back to WWII, here's an article from 1945 that reveals the extent of defenses at the Soo. I was amazed at the number of barrage balloons (51), much less anti-aircraft guns (48). The Soo was the only location beyond the West Coast to have barrage balloons. Not mentioned were smoke camouflage units and searchlight batteries. Most of this was reduced dramatically once the tide of the war turned in 1943.[attachment=0]Guarding_Soo_Locks.jpg[/attachment]