Poloa Defensive Fortifications Explained

Poloa Defensive Fortifications
Location:Poloa Beach
Poloa, American Samoa
Coordinates:-14.3164°N -170.8342°W
Map Alt:Locator map
Built:1941 or 1942
Builder:United States Marine Corps
Added:November 14, 2012
Refnum:12000917
Nocat:yes

The Poloa Defensive Fortifications are a set of historic military structures on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa. Consisting of three concrete pillboxes along the beach, these fortifications were built by American Marines as part of a system of defenses against a feared Japanese amphibious invasion of Samoa during the early part of World War II. The Poloa pillboxes stand out from other emplacements on Tutuila for their relatively less robust construction, possibly reflecting American tactical planning for greater defense in depth at this location. The threat of invasion eased by late 1942, and the fortifications never saw combat.[1]

The Poloa fortifications were added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 2012.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. .
  2. Web site: National Park Service . National Park Service . Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/03/12 through 12/07/12 . December 14, 2012 . August 30, 2014 .