Watching for U-Boats: The Secrets of Fire Control Tower No. 23

If you have ever visited Sunset Beach in Cape May to hunt for “Cape May Diamonds” or view the concrete ship, you have likely noticed the hulking concrete cylinder rising from the dunes.

For years, it stood abandoned, a silent, windowless mystery covered in vines. Today, it is Fire Control Tower No. 23, New Jersey’s last restored World War II lookout tower and a chilling reminder of just how close the war came to the Jersey Shore.

The War on the Jersey Shore

It is hard to imagine today, but in 1942, the Atlantic coastline was a battlefield. German U-boats patrolled the waters off New Jersey and Delaware, hunting merchant ships in an operation known as Paukenschlag (Operation Drumbeat).

To protect the entrance to the Delaware Bay—a critical shipping lane to Philadelphia—the military constructed Fort Miles. This massive coastal defense network included heavy gun batteries, minefields, and searchlights.

But big guns are useless if you can’t see what you are shooting at. That is where Tower No. 23 came in.

It’s Not a Lighthouse (and it had no guns)

A common misconception is that the tower itself held guns. It did not. It was purely the “eyes” for the heavy artillery located miles away.

Built in 1942 for $24,700, the tower was part of a network of 15 towers stretching from North Wildwood, NJ to Bethany Beach, DE. Inside, soldiers used Azimuth Scopes to track enemy ships.

How it worked: Using a geometric principle called triangulation, spotters in Tower 23 would coordinate with spotters in other towers. By measuring the precise angles of a target from two different locations, they could pinpoint the enemy ship’s exact location and radio the coordinates to the gun batteries hidden in the dunes.

Inside the Concrete Silo

The tower is a fortress. Its walls are made of foot-thick reinforced concrete to withstand potential enemy fire.

When it was active, only the top two levels were occupied:

• The Top Deck: Housed the optics and communications gear.
• The Deck Below: Served as a “dayroom” or lounge for the soldiers on duty.

Originally, there were no stairs—soldiers had to climb precarious wooden ladders to get to the top. When the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (Cape May MAC) restored the tower in 2009, they installed a spiral staircase, making the climb accessible to the public. However, sections of the original ladder have been reconstructed to show you just how difficult the daily commute was for a 1940s spotter.

The View from the Top

Today, you can climb to the top and look through the same slit-like windows the soldiers used.

The view is spectacular. You can see Cape May Point, the Delaware Bay, and the deteriorating remains of the S.S. Atlantus (the famous concrete ship). Inside, a vintage M1910 Azimuth Instrument is on display, allowing you to try your hand at spotting.

The Lost Towers

Tower 23 is the lucky survivor. Of the original New Jersey towers:

• Towers 25 & 26 (The Wildwoods): Demolished.
• Tower 24 (Cape May): This one is actually “hiding in plain sight.” It was absorbed into the construction of the Grand Hotel on Beach Avenue. If you look at the hotel from the street, you can spot the round, blue-painted top of the concrete tower poking out of the roof!

The All Veterans Memorial

The experience around the tower has grown significantly since its restoration. The site is now home to the All Veterans Memorial Park, featuring a boardwalk loop and memorials honoring those who served in the South Pacific and the Atlantic. It serves as a contemplative space before or after your climb.

If You Visit

• Location: Sunset Boulevard, near Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, NJ.
• Access: The tower is managed by Cape May MAC. Tickets can be purchased on-site or at the Washington Street Mall information booth.
• The Climb: It is a spiral staircase. While sturdy, be prepared for a bit of a workout!
• Don’t Miss: The World War II Lookout Tower Museum is located at the base, featuring photos and artifacts from Fort Miles.

For More Information:

• Cape May MAC (www.capemaymac.org)