It was the garrison of the Harbor Defenses of New Bedford, Massachusetts (HD New Bedford) in World War II, as a battalion in February 1940 through expansion to a regiment in September 1943, then reduced to a battalion in February 1944 until inactivated in October 1944.

[1][2] Constituted in the Organized Reserve (OR) 1 July 1924 as the 616th Coast Artillery Battalion and allotted to HD New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Expanded and redesignated 616th CA Regiment 19 March 1926 and assigned to the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay as well as HD New Bedford.

On 1 September 1935 was withdrawn from the OR and allotted to the Regular Army as the 616th CA Battalion.

Redesignated as the 22nd Coast Artillery Battalion (Harbor Defense) (HD) and HHB activated 1 February 1940 at Fort Rodman, Massachusetts by reorganizing caretaker detachment of HHB 10th Coast Artillery.