Nike Missile Site W-25 (Control Area): Difference between revisions

 

==History==

During the Cold War, Nike Missile sites were created throughout the U.S. as an air defense system to protect the country against potential nuclear attacks. This extensive defense system, consisting of roughly 265 missile sites, was maintained by the Air Force, Army, and Navy. The Washington-Baltimore Defense Area consisted of 19 sites located in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia.

 

W-25, which would have defended the Washington-Baltimore Area from nuclear attack <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>

, was originally to be constructed on Kent Island, MD, but due to high real estate costs, the US Army moved it to an area off Queen Anne Bridge Road in Davidsonville, MD, in 1954 <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>. In 1958, land for a 16-unit Armed Forces Housing Project for the families of those stationed at W-25 was purchased on the north side of Queen Anne Bridge Road <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>. In 1963, W-25 was given the honor of being named "the National Nike Site" <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>. In May 1964, the Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) bestowed W-25's adjacent launch site with its Distinguished Firing Battery Award, which the battery received for outstanding performance during ARADCOM's firing competitions <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>. In December 1964, W-25's fallout protection construction, which included sturdy concrete buildings and air filtration systems, was completed <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>.

 

==Operation==

Had there been a nuclear attack, W-25's IFC Area would have tracked the target vehicle and the Nikes fired at it using its three radars <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>. The Acquisition Radar would detect the approach of an incoming bomber plane, then the Tracking Radar would feed the target vehicle's location and details about its movements into the computer, and then the Missile Tracking Radar would follow the Nike <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>. The computer would then guide the missile towards the target and calculate the nearest intercept point <ref name = militarystandard>"Nike Missile Base W-25, Maryland", TheMilitaryStandard, http://www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/w25.php. Accessed 20 July 2022.</ref>

 

 

==Defense Area Naming System==