Conquering Corregidor Island 11: Battery Grubbs

* the arched entrance to Battery Grubbs

* a recess found inside Battery Grubbs
* the ruins of Battery Grubbs
* a closer view of a structure support in Battery Grubbs; it gave me goose bumps realizing that it was the same support which was originally constructed there

* rusting rails[?] found on the ceiling of a structure in Battery Grubbs

Battery Grubbs in another well-maintained battery in Corregidor Island (at least among the ones we visited). Its position has a commanding view of the Bataan Peninsula and the body of water separating the island from Bataan. Constructions were done on 1907 to 1909 and the transfer (most likely of the guns and other necessary installations) was done in 1911.

* silent corridors of Battery Grubbs

* spare barrel?
* looking into the eye of the gun

* a bridge from the battery to a hill[?] located adjacent to the battery

* stairway leading up to the first gun of Battery Grubbs

The Battery was not actually manned prior to the outbreak of World War II. But with the transfer of Battery “C” 191st CA to the place in early April 1942, it obtained the necessary manpower to be operational. Battery Grubbs was not so lucky. On April 6, 1942 a direct hit knocked Gun no.2 of the battery out of service (the gun which visitors would see first upon climbing the stair nearest the battery entrance). Gun no.1 was never used due to mechanical problems (particularly in its recoil).

Despite its strategic place, Battery Grubbs was made inoperable due to the damages to the guns. In surveying the place, its position must have been a factor in its early wreckage. It was quite an open area and elevated. The attacking Japanese must have made the place a good target for their bombs and other firearms. This formative observation gains logic when Battery Grubbs is compared to Battery Way which is well-hidden. It can be recalled in an earlier entry (Conquering Corregidor Island 10: Battery Way) that Battery Way was the last operational battery in the island.

* a scenic view of the Bataan Peninsula from Battery Grubbs

* an island seen from Battery Grubbs

* view of gun no. 2 of Battery Grubbs the barrel of which was already detached from the main gun body
* a Battery Grubbs gun no. 2
* Trailer Pransis striking his usual serious pose

Battery Grubbs details:
- named after 1st Lt. Hayden Y. Grubb
- has two (2) 10-inch disappearing guns (model 1895M1 guns on model 1901 disappearing carriages)

In my first visit, our tour guide discussed the condition of the guns in Battery Grubbs. It was said that the barrels were detached from their main bodies because the soldiers stationed in the battery removed the trunnion caps after which they fired the guns causing the barrel to “jump” back. They did this so that the Japanese will not be able to use them again. This detail was echoed too by the tour guide in my second visit.

However, I came across an article at corregidor.org discussing the falsity behind that particular information. It seems that it was not the case after all. Read it the article clicking here. It would be good to read the analysis of the documented photos and the state of the battery for yourself.

Finally, my Corregidor series is finished!