Hawaiian RR story in January issue

[wanswheel]

Excerpt from “The Railway Artillery Is Ready to Roll” by Captain Charles L. Combes, Coast Artillery Journal, Nov.-Dec. 1942, page 6

http://sill-www.army.mil/ada-online/coast-artillery-journal/_docs/1942/11-12/Nov-Dec%201942.pdf

Move fast – hit hard. This is the motto of a railway artillery regiment. It implies speed of movement and great fire power, inherent characteristics of the heavy-caliber guns carried on modern railway mounts. Properly designed, railway artillery can be moved safely at the same high speeds that are today so common to the schedules of heavy freight trains on American railroads. The first World War demonstrated the ability of railway mounts to handle successfully the heaviest types of artillery.

Full advantage of the mobility and fire power of railway artillery can be obtained only by an organization trained and equipped to handle the problems peculiar to armament and auxiliary equipment that roll on ribbons of steel. Besides knowing artillery and artillery problems, railway artillerymen must know also the art of railroading. They must be familiar with the capabilities and limitations of the heavy mobile equipment they control. Railway artillerymen have to be prepared to construct and maintain their own tracks, and be trained as well in the operation and repair of railway equipment. They must get there before they can shoot.

[wanswheel]

http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0041fargt.htm

https://books.google.com/books?id=TVe1CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA30&dq=%22railway+artillery+also+found+its+way+to+oahu%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGypGX-uPQAhVHLSYKHakIC4EQ6AEIHzAA#v=onepage&q=%22railway%20artillery%20also%20found%20its%20way%20to%20oahu%22&f=false

[vietnamchoochoo]

Good Afternoon

I enjoyed the story, but was disappointed that no mention was made of the 41st Coast Artillery Regiment (Railway) at Ft Kamehmeha.  The unit had mortars that could be deployed around the existing trackage of Oahu.

The preservation folks ought to contact the Coast Defense Study Group for more information.