US CAMP units

Andy H · Post by **Andy H** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:50 am

Whilst looking into US Coastal defences, specifically those around NY, I came across a unit(s) such as 15th, 19th, 20th CAMP Btys etc

CAMP standing for Coastal Artillery Mine Planter

Does anyone know there function, weapons employed, TOE etc

Regards

Michael N. Ryan · Post by **Michael N. Ryan** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:23 am

A mine planter is army language for coastal minelayer.

You'll find them described on page 364 of Fortress America b J. E. Kaufmann and H.W. Kaufmann.

Andy H · Post by **Andy H** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:46 pm

Hi Michael

Thanks for that. I'm aware of that book and I'll go and have a looksee.

If its Army slang for a vessel, why the Bty reference and not something more nautical, such as flotilla etc

Regards

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:36 pm

Cheshire Yeomanry wrote:Hi Michael

Thanks for that. I'm aware of that book and I'll go and have a looksee.

If its Army slang for a vessel, why the Bty reference and not something more nautical, such as flotilla etc

Regards

Because it wasn't slang, it was the actual nomenclature. You see in the occasionally bizarre logic of the US Army the Coast Artillery Corps was an artillery unit and thus consisted organizationally of regiments, battalions, and batteries, regardless of the minor fact that in this case the "batteries" were in fact "flotillas". Of course why then they didn't decide to name the vessels of the batteries "guns", "howitzers" or "mortars" is I suppose another matter?