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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:41:13 AM EDT
[#1]
Cool thread!
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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:49:02 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Very Cool THANKS OP! Reminds me, what happened to the member who found, unburied and was rehabbing one? He hasn’t posted in a while and his YouTube channel is virtually dead; hasn’t posted any new videos/updates in a long time. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:56:33 AM EDT
[#3]
That would make one hell of a man cave
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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:58:57 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Planned for. Central ND, WY, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, NY, Virginia, Oregon, California, AZ, TX, GA, MO, MI, WI and CO Cheyenne mountain. As far as I know AK, ND, CO and Wy IIRC were the only ones to get any major progress before being nixed by the SALT treaty. I know there was a radar base that was intended for the sentinel/Safeguard system in operation near Sundance WY. Phase 1 was for two sites at Nekoma, ND, and near Ledger, MT. By the time the ABM treaty was signed in 1971 limiting ABMs to one site (we chose a missile field to protect, the Soviets chose their capitol), the site at Nekoma was mostly done and the MT site was just starting, so they stopped construction there, bulldozed most of it under, then walked away. Here's what it looks like today: 
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Posted: 7/31/2019 11:10:07 AM EDT
[#5]
Watching the youtube video's linked. It blows my mind how fast the sprint takes off. Really Really impressive.
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Posted: 7/31/2019 11:40:03 AM EDT
[#6]
Very cool. Thanks for posting.
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Posted: 7/31/2019 11:43:01 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Watching the youtube video's linked. It blows my mind how fast the sprint takes off. Really Really impressive. Crazy stuff. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:02:48 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
INSANELY jealous that you got a tour. I drove by that site repeatedly for four years and would have loved to go inside, but never had the chance. I'm glad the owner's trying to keep it as a partial museum--that site's a one-of-a-kind place. For those interested, here's the most complete website on the complex I've ever found. The site I toured was the Cavalier site. I have yet to get a hold of the Nekoma site owner for a tour. I hear the Nekoma site is pretty well gutted, to the point that the metal salvaging that has been done there caused flooding that they have been fighting. There was sites at Cavalier, Nekoma, Langdon and a couple other sites in between. One day I will get a hold of the Nekoma owners and line up a tour there and do some country side driving to see if I can find the other sites. The Nekoma site has 16 Sprints for short range interceptors and 30 spartan missiles for long rangeintecepts. IIRC the Sprint had a 1 kt enhanced radiation thermo-nuclear warhead and the Spartan had a 5000kt enhanced for a neutron flux to kill incoming warheads. Safeguard locations.  Attached FileEastern ND MM sites.  Attached File Attached FileThere is not a lot of solid map info on site locations on the net for the old SMSG complex locations. But Locals will usually point them out. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:18:22 PM EDT
[#9]
Two interesting facts for you:
- The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:22:12 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Two interesting facts for you: - The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:23:30 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Two interesting facts for you: - The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:32:16 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@limaxray  |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:33:01 PM EDT
[#13]
Pretty neat OP! WE SURE KNOW HOW TO SPEND MONEY,,,DAMN.
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:38:23 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Pretty neat OP! WE SURE KNOW HOW TO SPEND MONEY,,,DAMN. All of those sites were shut down in less than ten months of operation. The PAR site at Nekoma was 500 million dollars to build. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:39:15 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
First. On the way there I came across this Spartan on display. Can anyone tell me whats wrong with it? (Spartan was the long range interceptor that was used in conjunction with the Sprint which was a short range. Spartan was for outside the atmosphere intercept, Sprint was for inside and near atmosphere intercepts). https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48418967242_08049441bb_h.jpg |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:40:49 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can you tell us what's wrong with it? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
First. On the way there I came across this Spartan on display. Can anyone tell me whats wrong with it? (Spartan was the long range interceptor that was used in conjunction with the Sprint which was a short range. Spartan was for outside the atmosphere intercept, Sprint was for inside and near atmosphere intercepts). https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48418967242_08049441bb_h.jpg It was pointed out that is is painted wrong. 
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:40:51 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I may have a thread on a visit to a Minuteman site soon.
Here is a teaser! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48419436947_c3295209a5_h.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48419461697_537e6c5c6f_h.jpg I have put 2000 miles on my new camper van build in 9 days! I love it!  If you don't mind, once you get the van setup, how much does a journey like this cost on avg. per day if you don't me asking? Pretty damn awesome adventure. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:41:32 PM EDT
[#18]
Taggage.
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:42:20 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The whole Safeguard system was Army, not Air Force. And I am extremely jealous of you right now. Fun fact: Safeguard was called Sentinel when it was planned to defend cities. City folks went all NIMBY and it was re-branded as Safeguard and planned for deployment in defense of Minuteman bases. People arguing that anti-ICBM protection is bad are fucking idiots, and are often traitors in the pockets of America's enemies. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:44:08 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Sprint missile was so fast it would go "incandescent". It was successful partly because of the ablating material and chemically refrigerated housing and flight hardware. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:46:42 PM EDT
[#21]
Used to go out with a gal whose dad was an "electrician" on these sites...was only home on weekends they kept him
pretty busy out in the Dakotas. Just said he was working at various sites and not much else...not even to his family...pretty plain to see why... He had been a fighter pilot in WW2 for the Canadian AF Thanks for the pics. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:50:43 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Great thread, pics, and information. Learned a lot in this thread. If you don't mind, once you get the van setup, how much does a journey like this cost on avg. per day if you don't me asking? Pretty damn awesome adventure. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I may have a thread on a visit to a Minuteman site soon.
Here is a teaser! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48419436947_c3295209a5_h.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48419461697_537e6c5c6f_h.jpg I have put 2000 miles on my new camper van build in 9 days! I love it! If you don't mind, once you get the van setup, how much does a journey like this cost on avg. per day if you don't me asking? Pretty damn awesome adventure.  I got 14.3 average yesterday with it, and I was a bit heavy on the gas pedal. 75-80 MPH. On my Oshkosh trip I saw about 13.5 and 14 with interstate driving, and 16 on the slower roads. My leg from Caddot to Oshkosh had a good tail wind most of the way combined with my doing about 60-65 and I saw 18.5. General rule of thumb is 14 to 16 MPG. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:52:31 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
what does incandescent mean in this sense....any modern day projectile examples on film. When they said it in the film, the tip just turned a solid white color it looked like. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Sprint missile was so fast it would go "incandescent". It was successful partly because of the ablating material and chemically refrigerated housing and flight hardware. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:56:56 PM EDT
[#24]
Thanks....I'm on CL looking at vans now
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:57:27 PM EDT
[#25]
Very cool
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Posted: 7/31/2019 12:58:02 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Used to go out with a gal whose dad was an "electrician" on these sites...was only home on weekends they kept him pretty busy out in the Dakotas. Just said he was working at various sites and not much else...not even to his family...pretty plain to see why... He had been a fighter pilot in WW2 for the Canadian AF Thanks for the pics. He was involved in wiring and maintaining good amount of this sites bunker for comms and control. He was explaining how things were laid out and what was in each of the rooms. Which was awesome because as one would imagine... there is not a lot of photographs and public documentation of the contents of some of the command and control bunker rooms. I would have loved to interview him. But I wanted to follow the property owners wishes. He said take all the photos you wish. No video. So that is the way it went. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 1:03:13 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks....I'm on CL looking at vans now Three pieces of advice! Look for a high top if you like to be able to stand. I would recommend barn side doors rather than the slider. and look for a extended wheel base van. The high top is not a deal breaker for me if I were to build another. The side doors has a higher priority than the high top for me. The extended wheel base is a deal breaker for my next build! EXT wheel base = More floor space for larger bed, or same bed and more living area. A taller person would want a larger bed. Barn doors = More room for usable storage installed on the doors. (cannot do that with the slider). |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 1:08:59 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Other than the obvious. It was pointed out that is is painted wrong. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 1:22:15 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I thought it was having the forward control surfaces that won't work once it goes exoatmospheric. Sprint has tiny ones. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted: Other than the obvious. It was pointed out that is is painted wrong.  Attached File |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 1:39:33 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
IIRC the Sprint had a 1 kt enhanced radiation thermo-nuclear warhead and the Spartan had a 5000kt enhanced for a neutron flux to kill incoming warheads. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 2:22:22 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @GreasyEasy Three pieces of advice! Look for a high top if you like to be able to stand. I would recommend barn side doors rather than the slider. and look for a extended wheel base van. The high top is not a deal breaker for me if I were to build another. The side doors has a higher priority than the high top for me. The extended wheel base is a deal breaker for my next build! EXT wheel base = More floor space for larger bed, or same bed and more living area. A taller person would want a larger bed. Barn doors = More room for usable storage installed on the doors. (cannot do that with the slider). |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 2:26:37 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryCool and thanks - so the control fins are actually steerable rocket nozzles. Neat. And a nuke warhead. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 2:33:30 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Very cool, OP. Thanks for sharing! |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 2:46:34 PM EDT
[#34]
How far is that from 'the pyramid'?
If I remember correctly, weren't some of those operational for only one day? |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 2:50:27 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How far is that from 'the pyramid'? If I remember correctly, weren't some of those operational for only one day? Yes some had an operational life that spanned in hours before the govt pulled the plug on them. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 3:23:08 PM EDT
[#36]
Cool pics. Thanks for sharing
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Posted: 7/31/2019 3:49:32 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Pave Paws at Beale? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Two interesting facts for you: - The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 3:50:36 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
IIRC Shemya has a PAR. Cobra Dane. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Two interesting facts for you: - The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? ETA: The SSPAR at EAS is powered by the former SRMSC generators; they provide power to the entire 3x4 mile island. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:01:12 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryAs part of the testing of the Spartan 5 MT nuclear warhead, the AEC decided that they needed to test the warhead at a more remote location than the NV Test Site, since it was too close to Las Vegas. They picked a site about 75 miles NE of Tonopah, NV and called it the Central NV Test Site. However, before they could test the 5 MT warhead, they needed to "qualify" the CNTS site for large +MT warheads. Hence, Shot Faultless at 1 MT was planned and executed in 1968. Faultless was anything but and the excessive faulting around the test site precluded further testing, including the 5 MT Spartan warhead. As a result, the CNTS was shut down and Spartan testing was moved to Amshitka Island, AK, where Shot Cannikan was conducted in 1971, the largest underground nuclear weapons test ever conducted by the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crosstie And Shot Faultless? Yea: it's the only site in the Western Hemisphere where you can drive to and stand (and park) in a crater created by a nuclear weapon 24/7/365. 
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:04:34 PM EDT
[#40]
One of those videos mentions the (former) Martin Marietta (now Lockheed) plant in Orlando. A buddy of mine owns the company that re-roofed it a few years back.
Security was.... Tight. Protip: roofer laborer types aren't, generally speaking, the cream of the crop when it comes to their history with LE and the Court system. It's REALLY difficult to get enough roofers to pass a background check that intense. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:08:52 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
One of two single sided SSPAR in the US. Where's the other one? ETA: The SSPAR at EAS is powered by the former SRMSC generators; they provide power to the entire 3x4 mile island. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Two interesting facts for you: - The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? ETA: The SSPAR at EAS is powered by the former SRMSC generators; they provide power to the entire 3x4 mile island. I do believe there is a PAR there also. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:21:18 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Very cool. Thanks for posting. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:24:30 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Kwajalein? I do believe there is a PAR there also. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Two interesting facts for you: - The 3MWe gensets (6) used at the SRMSC are still in use today at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK. The gensets are the size of RR locomotives and the cyclinders are the size of large dinner plates. There was a contractor there rebuilding unit #5 when I was there Oct. 2004. - The US only designed and built two operational phased array radar stations hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. One is at the SRMSC in Nekoma, ND. Where is the other one? ETA: The SSPAR at EAS is powered by the former SRMSC generators; they provide power to the entire 3x4 mile island. I do believe there is a PAR there also. To whit: - The 3 former BMEWS sites: Thule AB, Clear Air Force Station, AK and RAF Fylingdales in England (the only 3 sided SSPAR; co-operated with the US). - The two coastal sites: Beale on the west and Cape Cod on the east. ETA: Plus the single-sided Cobra Dane UEWR at EAS, Shemya Island, AK. - The former Safeguard Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) radar at Cavalier AFS in ND. The PARCS is unique in that it's single sided like Cobra Dane, it's the only part of the operational Safeguard still in use today (besides the 6 generators) and .... it's hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. The Missile Site Radar at the SRMSC site in Nekoma is also hardened but has not been in use since the mid-70's +/-. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_Air_Force_Station Pics of the PARCS that my son and I took during our family reunion to northern SD, ND and MN in 2012: 
Note that the walls and face of the radar building is concrete; it's 3 foot thick reinforced concrete. Pics of the MSR during the same trip: 
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:33:41 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
One of those videos mentions the (former) Martin Marietta (now Lockheed) plant in Orlando. A buddy of mine owns the company that re-roofed it a few years back. Security was.... Tight. Protip: roofer laborer types aren't, generally speaking, the cream of the crop when it comes to their history with LE and the Court system. It's REALLY difficult to get enough roofers to pass a background check that intense. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:42:34 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't know what's at Kwaj, but that's *probably* a more localized missile test range radar vs the big SSPARs I'm referring to that provide Conus-level air and missile defense radar data. To whit: - The 3 former BMEWS sites: Thule AB, Clear Air Force Station, AK and RAF Fylingdales in England (the only 3 sided SSPAR; co-operated with the US). - The two coastal sites: Beale on the west and Cape Cod on the east. - The former Safeguard Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) radar at Cavalier AFS in ND. The PARCS is unique in that it's single sided like Cobra Dane, it's the only part of the operational Safeguard still in use today (besides the 6 generators) and .... it's hardened against the direct effects of nuclear weapons. The Missile Site Radar at the SRMSC site in Nekoma is also hardened but has not been in use since the mid-70's +/-. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_Air_Force_Station Pics of the PARCS that my son and I took during our family reunion to northern SD, ND and MN in 2012: https://i.imgur.com/Zc2t5fG.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Sx6rWa8.jpg Note that the walls and face of the radar building is concrete; it's 3 foot thick reinforced concrete. Pics of the MSR during the same trip: https://i.imgur.com/blqtQVn.jpg He said they were very, very attentive while he was there. He was never unattended while working.
He said security was tighter than a nuns uglies. |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 4:43:15 PM EDT
[#46]
And... the new thread is up!
https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/Minuteman-missile-MAF-LCF-visit-Oscar-Zero--Massive-pic-dump-/5-2242566/ |
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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:16:59 PM EDT
[#47]
Thanks for the great pics
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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:53:47 PM EDT
[#48]
The W71 used in the Spartan was an interesting design, along with using gold as a tamper to enhance xray production.
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Posted: 7/31/2019 8:55:18 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Did you drive past the Nekoma site daily? Or the Cavalier site? The site I toured was the Cavalier site. I have yet to get a hold of the Nekoma site owner for a tour. I hear the Nekoma site is pretty well gutted, to the point that the metal salvaging that has been done there caused flooding that they have been fighting. There was sites at Cavalier, Nekoma, Langdon and a couple other sites in between. One day I will get a hold of the Nekoma owners and line up a tour there and do some country side driving to see if I can find the other sites. The Nekoma site has 16 Sprints for short range interceptors and 30 spartan missiles for long rangeintecepts. IIRC the Sprint had a 1 kt enhanced radiation thermo-nuclear warhead and the Spartan had a 5000kt enhanced for a neutron flux to kill incoming warheads. Safeguard locations. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/183526/SG_map_jpg-1037071.JPG Eastern ND MM sites. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/183526/MM_map_png-1037072.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/183526/MM_mapN_png-1037073.JPG There is not a lot of solid map info on site locations on the net for the old SMSG complex locations. But Locals will usually point them out. |
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