Project NIKE
Project NIKE is a project developed by FishRei to recreate a 60s era NIKE missile base and system surrounding the areas of the United Texas Coalition. These relics of the Cold War have been fading into obscurity, being reclaimed by nature or being reused or torn down. As such, it should be the duty of the next generation to teach the history of these sites to teach them to newer generations further down the road.
History
-This section is a WIP
What is the NIKE Missile System?
The NIKE Missile System was a system deployed across the United States and even some allies that would provide protection from incoming Soviet nuclear attacks via strategic bombers. It would deploy a missile with a nuclear warhead (for large clusters of bomber formations) or a conventional warhead (for export use) once a target was detected and would intercept with its missile, effectively eliminating its target. Originally, the system began during the 40s when the US DoD proposed a system for a missile guided anti-aircraft system with Bell Laboratories. In 1954, the first ever NIKE missile was deployed, named the Nike-Ajax. It would undergo 4 different iterations and a experimental prototype before being renamed to Safeguard in 1969 and tasked with protecting U.S. ICBMs. The system was decommissioned in 1975.
NIKE Bases
These bases were developed, beginning with Fort Meade in 1953 and would develop to around 265 total sites across the United States. Most of these bases would end up being decommissioned around the 60s, with some going up to 1979 as their last year of deployment. These bases were deployed to protect key military installations, while also protecting civilian populations.
Gap Filler Radars
Gap Filler Radars are radars that, well, fill in the coverage gaps that other radars do not cover. These radars operated under the USAF Air Defense Command during the 60s until they were abandoned. Many sit vacant and abandoned while few sit as small museum pieces or still operate for different purposes.
Controversies
While the intentions of the NIKE launch sites and missiles had a goal in mind. It wasn't without controversy. (Work here later)
What of it today?
Most of these sites sit abandoned, demolished, or museum pieces. Most structures on these bases get repurposed into other buildings, using original structures and adding upon them as time goes on. As for those abandoned, nature reclaims them until the day someone eventually buys it out, tears it down, or the day the human race goes out. The fate of these go unknown. The goal of this project was to preserve this piece of Cold War history as these fade further out of existence, with only documents and images to leave behind remains of these sites, but aside from preservation, it also serves as a reminder that the human race is capable of it's own destruction.
Planning
-This section is a WIP
Locations
NIKE Historical Museum
-Planned
NIKE Missile Sites
- • D-17 NIKE Launch/IFC Site (Design Phase)
- • D-42 NIKE Launch/IFC Site (In Planning Phase)
- • D-91 NIKE Launch/IFC Site (Finding Location)
Strategic Air-to-Ground System (SAGS)
Missile Master System
- • Fort Pulaski SAGS (In Planning Phase)
- • Fort Drum SAGS (In Planning Phase)
Long-Range Radars
- • SAGS Station Alpha (In Planning Phase)
- • SAGS Station Bravo (In Planning Phase)
- • SAGS Station Charlie (In Planning Phase)
Gap Filler Radars
Remote Radar Stations
-Needs expanding and planning
Radar Pickets/Ships
- • Planned Cruiser (In Progress)
Project TITAN
Silos
- • 272-1 (In Planning Phase)
- • 272-2 (In Planning Phase)
Strategic Air Command
- • NORAD (Idea Phase)
Joint Venture Locations
NIKE Missile Sites
- • (Eventually)
Radars
Gap Filler Radars
- • Holitown Radar Station One (Idea & Planning Phase)
Remote Radar Stations
-Needs expanding and planning
Radar Pickets/Ships
- • (Eventually)
Project TITAN
Silos
- • 364-1 (Under Construction - Partially Finished - )
Strategic Air Command
- • PBCH (Maybe)
Members involved
Project Lead | Helpers (UN Observers) | Wiki Editors |
---|---|---|
FishRei (alias bucketsofwasps) |
|
laootr_ (i am a slave please help) |
Sources Used for Project
These websites contain info that I have used in order to properly retell the history and use of these sites. They have also been my reference for my builds. They have been a major help to this project and without their existence, I would be lost and this project would have never been started. Note that I will NOT cite any information or images because that is a task too much for me, but you may go look at them of your own volition and learn more about it yourself if you wish. This project is a major passion of mine and I didn't want this history to go to waste. -FishRei
- • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nike_missile_sites#United_States
- • https://robinsnike.org/
- • https://nikemissile.org/
- • https://www.radomes.org/museum/
- • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendix_AN/FPS-14_Radar
- • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Nike#Project_legacy
- • https://ed-thelen.org/index.html
-This page is a work in progress