Camp Perry
Encyclopedia
Camp Perry is a National Guard
training facility located on the shore of Lake Erie
in northern Ohio
near Port Clinton
. In addition to its regular mission as a military training base, Camp Perry also boasts the largest outdoor rifle range in the world. The firing is done in the direction of the open water of the lake, just beyond an earthen berm and the targets.
Camp Perry has been the host of the NRA
-sponsored National Rifle Matches since 1907. The National Matches, considered America's "World Series of the Shooting Sports", attracts shooting sports competitors from all across the world to compete in matches of all multitudes. The reservation is also home to the Small Arms Firing School, which provides shooters with expert training and facilities for improving their shooting ability. Camp Perry is also home to the Civilian Marksmanship Program
's north office.
The original land for Camp Perry was purchased in 1906, and the reservation was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
, the American naval commander who won the Battle of Put-in-Bay
during the War of 1812
. Rudimentary structures were constructed for use by competitors in the National Matches, and for transient personnel. During World War I
, Camp Perry served as a training center for Army officers and marksmanship instructors. About 1918 additional area immediately adjacent was used to construct the Erie Army Depot, for artillery ordnance storage immediately adjacent to Camp Perry.
During the Second World War, Camp Perry served as a POW camp for German
and Italian
prisoners. After the war, prisoner quarters were converted back to use by transient personnel who were at Perry for training. The camp was used extensively for several years after World War II, but use slowed somewhat during the 1960s. The Erie Army Depot closed in the mid-1960s and was eventually converted to industrial use. However, many of Camp Perry's original structures are still in use, in one form or another. On June 24, 1998 a tornado damaged several buildings on the grounds.
At present, Camp Perry is the home of the 213th Ordnance Company (Missile Support, Corps), the 372d Missile Maintenance Company (DS) Detachment 1, the 200th RED HORSE
Civil Engineering Squadron (Ohio Air National Guard
), U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit
309, and the Ohio Naval Militia
(the naval arm of the State of Ohio
's Adjutant General
's Department and part of Ohio's State Defense Forces
) and the Ohio Military Reserve
(the other part of Ohio's State Defense Forces) .
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
training facility located on the shore of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
in northern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
near Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Ohio
Port Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capital of the World."...
. In addition to its regular mission as a military training base, Camp Perry also boasts the largest outdoor rifle range in the world. The firing is done in the direction of the open water of the lake, just beyond an earthen berm and the targets.
Camp Perry has been the host of the NRA
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
-sponsored National Rifle Matches since 1907. The National Matches, considered America's "World Series of the Shooting Sports", attracts shooting sports competitors from all across the world to compete in matches of all multitudes. The reservation is also home to the Small Arms Firing School, which provides shooters with expert training and facilities for improving their shooting ability. Camp Perry is also home to the Civilian Marksmanship Program
Civilian Marksmanship Program
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a U.S. government-chartered program that promotes firearms safety training and rifle practice for all qualified U.S. citizens with special emphasis on youth. Any U.S. citizen who is not legally prohibited from owning a firearm may purchase a military surplus...
's north office.
The original land for Camp Perry was purchased in 1906, and the reservation was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
, the American naval commander who won the Battle of Put-in-Bay
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes called the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought on 10 September 1813, in Lake Erie off the coast of Ohio during the War of 1812. Nine vessels of the United States Navy defeated and captured six vessels of Great Britain's Royal Navy...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Rudimentary structures were constructed for use by competitors in the National Matches, and for transient personnel. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Camp Perry served as a training center for Army officers and marksmanship instructors. About 1918 additional area immediately adjacent was used to construct the Erie Army Depot, for artillery ordnance storage immediately adjacent to Camp Perry.
During the Second World War, Camp Perry served as a POW camp for German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
prisoners. After the war, prisoner quarters were converted back to use by transient personnel who were at Perry for training. The camp was used extensively for several years after World War II, but use slowed somewhat during the 1960s. The Erie Army Depot closed in the mid-1960s and was eventually converted to industrial use. However, many of Camp Perry's original structures are still in use, in one form or another. On June 24, 1998 a tornado damaged several buildings on the grounds.
At present, Camp Perry is the home of the 213th Ordnance Company (Missile Support, Corps), the 372d Missile Maintenance Company (DS) Detachment 1, the 200th RED HORSE
Red Horse
Red Horse may refer to:*Red Horse , an album and folk group formed by Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, and Lucy Kaplansky*The Red Horse, a novel by Eugenio Corti*Red Horse Beer, a beer brewed in the Philippines...
Civil Engineering Squadron (Ohio Air National Guard
Ohio Air National Guard
The Ohio Air National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is composed of approximately 5,000 airmen and officers assigned to four flying wings and eight non-flying support units. OHANG units are based in Columbus,...
), U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit
Port Security Unit
United States Coast Guard Port Security Units are deployable units organized for sustained force protection operations. They can deploy within 96 hours and establish operations within 24 hours. PSUs conduct OCONUS port security in support of requesting regional Combatant commander. They provide...
309, and the Ohio Naval Militia
Ohio Naval Militia
The Ohio Naval Militia is an organized, unarmed unit that has been serving the State of Ohio and the United States since 1896. It is the naval arm of the State of Ohio's Adjutant General's Department, and is therefore part of Ohio's State Defense Forces....
(the naval arm of the State of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
's Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
's Department and part of Ohio's State Defense Forces
State Defense Forces
State defense forces in the United States are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government; they are partially regulated by the National Guard Bureau but they are not a part of the Army National Guard of the United States...
) and the Ohio Military Reserve
Ohio Military Reserve
The Ohio Military Reserve is a military force which supports the State of Ohio along with the Ohio Army National Guard and Ohio Air National Guard in times of natural disaster and state and national emergencies....
(the other part of Ohio's State Defense Forces) .
See also
- Wimbledon CupWimbledon CupThe Wimbledon Cup is a marksmanship trophy that was established in the 1870s.It is awarded annually during the National Rifle & Pistol Matches which are held at Camp Perry, Ohio....
, one of the NRA National Matches held annually at Camp Perry