Burrwood, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Burrwood was a community located in the parish of Plaquemines
, Louisiana
, United States
. Burrwood is located at the far south end of the delta
of the Mississippi River. Today is totally uninhabited, with most of its territory fully or partially submerged by coastal erosion.
This town is located at the following coordinates: 28°58′05"N 89°22′39"W
to control the presence of enemy ships and submarines in the Gulf of Mexico
and to monitor traffic entering the river mouth. The construction of the base began in 1941 and the base was in committee on December 15, 1941, with Lieutenant Commander N.J. Ashley. The Army Corps of Engineers built a tower about 120 feet (36.6 m) high with a platform above the tank that supported the other tower 75 feet (22.9 m) smaller in height. Ships from New Orleans
and Baton Rouge
were inspected here.
In 1942, the U.S. Army created pieces of heavy artillery (mobile howitzer
s) on both sides of the river in Burrwood. The guns had a range of about 9 miles. The Army also established a second watchtower in South Pass
, near Port Eads. The base was capable of supporting not only civilian pilot boat
s, tugs
, dredgers, patrol boat
s, but also submarine hunters, mines
, PT boats, and ships as large as destroyer
s.
During the 1950's, Burrwood was a forward area weather/hurricane station manned by the United States Weather Bureau. There were a row of officer houses for the families, a barracks complex for the unmarried men and a two-room school house for the children of the people who manned the station, as well as, local fishermen who lived nearby.
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Plaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe à la Hache...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Burrwood is located at the far south end of the delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
of the Mississippi River. Today is totally uninhabited, with most of its territory fully or partially submerged by coastal erosion.
This town is located at the following coordinates: 28°58′05"N 89°22′39"W
History
Located in Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, the United States created a naval base known as "Section Burrwood Naval Base" during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to control the presence of enemy ships and submarines in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and to monitor traffic entering the river mouth. The construction of the base began in 1941 and the base was in committee on December 15, 1941, with Lieutenant Commander N.J. Ashley. The Army Corps of Engineers built a tower about 120 feet (36.6 m) high with a platform above the tank that supported the other tower 75 feet (22.9 m) smaller in height. Ships from New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
were inspected here.
In 1942, the U.S. Army created pieces of heavy artillery (mobile howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s) on both sides of the river in Burrwood. The guns had a range of about 9 miles. The Army also established a second watchtower in South Pass
South Pass
South Pass is two mountain passes on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Wyoming. The passes are located in a broad low region, 35 miles broad, between the Wind River Range to the north and the Oregon Buttes and Great Divide Basin to the south, in southwestern Fremont...
, near Port Eads. The base was capable of supporting not only civilian pilot boat
Pilot boat
A Pilot Boat is a type of boat used to transport pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships that they are piloting.-History:The origins of the word pilot probably disseminates from the Latin word pilota, a variation of pedota, the plural of pēdón which translates as oar...
s, tugs
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
, dredgers, patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s, but also submarine hunters, mines
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
, PT boats, and ships as large as destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s.
During the 1950's, Burrwood was a forward area weather/hurricane station manned by the United States Weather Bureau. There were a row of officer houses for the families, a barracks complex for the unmarried men and a two-room school house for the children of the people who manned the station, as well as, local fishermen who lived nearby.