In reply to MasterDiver.
This is a ”disappearing gun” emplacement dating from 130 years ago. It is was a coastal defense weapon.
Sure looks to be that the risings seas have flooded this emplacement out. There is a sea wall on base at NAS Pensacola that has been in place for about the same amount of time and contemporary pictures showing the seawall in the first decade of the 1900’s show no discernible difference from now in water levels.
Looks like one of the sites at Fort Monroe, VA. Had a radar unit stationed there back in the 80s and they were way out in the boonies where the Arty boys had played. They’re all gone now. Except for one they preserved as an outdoor chapel “Battery Church”.
I love digging around places like that.
Ft Pickens, the one shown in my shot, was in continuous operation from 1832 to 1946 and has fortifications from all these eras scattered around.
The fortification shown is pre-WWI but look in the background to see a gun emplacement and spotting tower that was active in WWII.
That is a cool-looking machine. War always seems to have the best toys.