Harbor Defenses of the Delaware

39°34′17″N 75°35′01″W / 39.57139°N 75.58361°W / 39.57139; -75.58361

Harbor Defenses of the Delaware
Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island
Active	1896–1950[1]
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
Type	Coast artillery
Role	Harbor Defense Command
Part of	First Army (1933–1941) Eastern Defense Command (1941–1945)
Garrison/HQ	Fort DuPont, Delaware City, Delaware (1900–1942) Fort Miles, Lewes, Delaware (1942–1950)
Mascot(s)	Oozlefinch

The Harbor Defenses of the Delaware was a United States Army Coast Artillery Corps harbor defense command.^[1] It coordinated the coast defenses of the Delaware River estuary from 1897 to 1950, beginning with the Endicott program. These included both coast artillery forts and underwater minefields. The areas protected included the cities of Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington along with the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. The command originated circa 1896 as an Artillery District and became the Coast Defenses of the Delaware in 1913, with defenses initially at and near Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island near Delaware City. In 1925 the command was renamed as a Harbor Defense Command. During World War II the defenses were relocated to Fort Miles on Cape Henlopen at the mouth of the Delaware Bay.^[2][3][4][5]