Hole in the Head Press

Nike Hercules Missile Model Available

This  1/40 scale US Army Nike Hercules Missile by Revell is available from Tower Hobbies.

Nike Ajax Warhead

Nike Warhead Systems

The family of warheads  used with guided missile MIN-14 includes one fragmentation warhead (T45) and the W31 nuclear warhead in three yields; 2 kt (kilo ton) (Mike-97), 20 kt (Mike-22), and 40 kt (Mike-23).  Some sources indicate yields of 1 kt, 20 Kt, and 40 kt.

Fragmentation

Warhead T45 consists of approximately 20,000 cubical, 140 grain, steel fragments arranged in single and double layers around a 625-pound explosive charge and warhead booster. Detonation of the warhead is initiated by a burst pulse form the missile guidance set. The burst pulse ignites a small explosive charge in two safety and arming devices M30A1. These charges ignite two explosive harnesses M38. The explosive harnesses detonate the warhead booster which in turn detonates the warhead charge. The safety and arming devices M30A1 cannot be fired until they are armed by the force of acceleration during the boost period. The fragment distribution (blast pattern) of warhead T45 is approximately spherical with a conical dead zone to the rear.

Nuclear

The W31  was designed by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The W31is a boosted fission nuclear device, meaning that the yield is enhanced by the addition of a mixture of deuterium and tritium gas to the core.  By adjusting the amount of D-T to the core, yield can be increased by 100%.  The W31 could be set to yield a range from one to forty kilotons. (Some references indicate a yield from two to forty kilotons.) Presumably, this was done by adjusting the amount of D-T in the core.

Nuclear Warhead Test

It is believed that the only time a NIKE nuclear warhead was tested was during the Operation Dominic.  A subset of tests, Operation Fishbowl, were conducted at the Pacific Test Range in November, 1962. 

Shot Fishbowl Tightrope was a Department of Defense sponsored live launch of a Nike Hercules Missile with a   W31 nuclear warhead.  The warhead detonated at 69,000 feet approximately two miles South South West of Johnston Island. The yield of this test is not in the public literature, but

The airburst created an intense white flash as seen on Johnston Island, too bright to view through high density goggles.  The detonation was accompanied by a strong heat pulse.  A yellow-orange disk formed, slowly changing to a purple toroid which faded from view after several minutes.

Fishbowl Tightrope Shot *

This shot is generally regarded as the last U.S. atmospheric test. The later zero-yield atmospheric plutonium dispersal tests conducted in Operation Roller Coaster are however listed as "nuclear tests" by the U.S. government and counted as part of the total of U.S. nuclear tests. Furthermore, several later Plowshare nuclear tests (Cabriolet, Palanquin, Buggy, and Schooner) were surface cratering shots, in which the explosions intentionally broke through the surface, venting a substantial fraction of the radioactivity produced.

* (Source:) http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Dominic.html

 

National Guard Poster

Army Nike Unit DIs

Army and Army National Guard Nike Unit Distinctive Insignias

List of insignias required for the next edition of Rings of Supersonic Steel.  This is the best information currently available, if you believe that a DI exists for a unit that is listed as not having a DI, please let us know.

We're looking for good examples of the missing DIs to photograph for the upcoming edition of Rings of Supersonic Steel.

1. 1st ADA - Have DI

2. 2nd ADA - Have DI

3. 3rd ADA - Have DI

4. 4th ADA - Have DI

5. 5th ADA - Have DI  - Have Alternate DI

  6. 6th ADA - Have DI

7. 7th ADA - Have DI

8. 15th ADA - Need DI

9. 43rd ADA - Have DI

10. 44th ADA - Have DI

11. 51st ADA - Have DI

12. 52nd ADA - Need DI

13. 55th ADA - Have DI

14. 56th ADA - Have DI

15. 57th ADA - Have DI

16. 59th ADA - Have DI

17. 60th ADA - Have DI

18. 61st ADA - Have DI

19. 62nd ADA - Have DI

20. 65th ADA - Have DI

21. 67th ADA - Need DI

22. 68th ADA - Have DI

23. 70th ADA - Need DI

24. 71st ADA - Have DI

25. 106th NYArNG - Need DI

26. 111th VAArNG - Need DI

27. 112th- NJArNG  - No DI

28. 126th - WIArNG - No DI

29. 128th - MOArNG - No DI

30. 132d - TXArNG - No DI

31. 137th - OHArNG - Need DI

32. 166th - PAArNG - Need DI

33. 177th MIArNG - Need DI

34. 182d MIArNG - No DI

35. 192d CTArNG - No DI

36. 202d ILArNG - Have DI

37. 205th WAArNG - Need DI

38. 209th NYArNG - Have DI

39. 212th NYArNG - Need DI

40. 241th MAArNG - Have DI

41. 242d CTArNG - No DI

42. 243d RIArNG - Have DI

43. 244th - NYArNG - Need DI

44. 254th NYArNG - Have DI

45. 250th CAArNG - Have DI

46. 251st CAArNG - Have DI

47. 254th NJArNG - Need DI

48. 280th VAArNG - No DI

49. 298th HIArNG - No DI

50. 517th ADA - Have DI

51. 562d ADA - Have DI

Insignias needed are:

1. 15th ADA

2. 52d ADA

3. 67th ADA

4. 70th ADA

5. 106th NYArNG

6. 111th VAArNG

7. 137th OHArNG

8. 166th PAArNG

9. 177th MIArNG

10. 205th WAArNG

11. 212th NYArNG

12. 244th NYArNG

13. 254th NJArNG

Nike Site

Can You Identify this Nike Launch Site?

Angel Island SF-91

Inspection of “C” Section Magazine
April 20, 2006
Greg Jennings, Sam Stokes

Elevator Doors

The elevator doors on this section have numerous points that have been penetrated by rust.  These doors appear to the most rusted of the three magazines.

Escape Hatches

The panel room escape hatch is welded shut.  It has most of the interior latching mechanism still attached.  The exterior wheel is missing.  The panel room ladder looks to be in good condition.

The magazine escape hatch is missing all of the interior latching mechanism. (part of it is on the floor in the magazine) The exterior wheel is missing.  The ladder is attached only at the top and bottom.  The welds on the magazine escape hatch were ground off by Roy McNamee in July of 2005.

Both hatches open and close without much difficulty.

Hydraulic Pumping Unit

The hydraulic pumping unit looks to be mostly complete. The vent pipe seems to be badly leaking and there is rust on the top and sides of the hydraulic fluid reservoir.  Water has run down the pipe and is standing around the motors.

The filtering and flush valve is missing and the pressure gage on the 3-inch manifold is missing. The hydraulic fluid reservoir sight glass is missing. 

Elevator Platform

There is standing water on the elevator platform. The drain plugs have been removed and are sitting on the platform.  The platform is badly rusted, but probably not penetrated.  There is a thick bed of rust/muc/paint on the surface of the platform.  The access plate is present and in place.  There are no extra holes cut in the platform.

Th boxes with the cable holders for the cables to the elevator launcher are still there.  They are rusted, but look as if they could be cleaned up.

The elevator platform seems to be resting on the leveling pedestals, but it is about 6-8 inches below the level of the concrete floor.  The elevator platform leveling pedestals look to have been screwed down to their lowest level.

The elevator control station is on the elevator, but has suffered water damage.

The guide rails are rusted, but seemingly not as bad as the ones in the A & B Sections.

Elevator Well

As of this date, C Section has bout 6-8 inches of water in the elevator well.  There’s a tag on the sump pump switch that says, “Do not operate Sump Pump” The reason of this is unknown.

Magazine

There is evidence of water/moisture damage in the magazine as indicated by the flaked paint on the floor and walls.

From the look of the debris line on the floor, the magazine floor drains appear to be working. (These drain into the sump under the elevator?)

The sheet metal boxes around the electric cables are rusted but appear to be complete.  Without a ladder to take a closer look, it’s not possible to say how far the rust has penetrated.

All of the electrc service panels are complete and free from obvious rust.

Several of the emergency shower heads look to be corroded from water damage.

The master elevator switch is complete and in place on the back wall.

All of the electric overhead heaters have been removed.

The cage lights seem to be all in place, most with bulbs still in the fixture.

In one corner of the magazine there is a small pile of cut off hydraulic hoses and flow valves removed from the elevator door openers.

Panel Room/Hallway

There looks to be severe water/moisture damage in the panel room hallway and in the panel room.  The floor in the panel room and hallway has deteriorated due to water damage.  The floor looks to be completely gone in the entire area.

A few of the asbestos wall panels have been kicked out in the hallway, but most are still in place.

The blast doors and door latches are in place.

Above Ground

The electrical service boxes are rusted and broken beyond repair.

The pipe for the emergency shower is still in place but rusted.

The flapper valves around the elevator door curb will work once the debris is cleared away.

All metal parts are rusted with flaking yellow/black paint.

There is debris from plant matter, fencing, wood, and other trash all over the top of the magazine and launching area.

There is no standing water directly over the magazine.

The ventilator cover is rusted but in place.

Most of the conduit access holes leading into the magazine are uncovered.

Action Plan for C Section

1. Secure the magazine escape hatches with a lock and hasp.

2. Clean up and remove debris from the surface area of the magazine and launching area.

3. Prepare, prime, and paint all metal surfaces associated with C Section Magazine

4. Block off surface conduit access to prevent objects from being tossed into the magazine.

South Korean Nike Hercules

South Korean school children walk by a model of a
North Korean Scud-B missile.  A Nike-Hercules is
on display in the background. Hawk missiles
can just be seen behind the Scud-B.

Source

SF-91 Angel Island Clean Up

Angel Island Park Staff & Volunteer Greg Jennings Prepare
Equipment for the Clean Up at SF-91

The Staff Day clean up at the Nike Site On Angel Island was a great success. On Wednesday, 17 May, 2006, pretty much the entire staff on the island showed up with heavy equipment and lots of hand tools to spend most of the day in an effort to clean up the launch site area. Hasps and hinges were welded on all of the magazine hatches, much of the old metal, and wood that had been stacked in the area was moved and staged for removal. Several of the women on the staff went down the ladder into the "A" Section Magazine and removed debris from the inside of the magazine that had been tossed down the various open access holes over the years. Several other of the staff, male and female, manned weed whackers and cut down the weeds in the area. One of the staff, who normally pilots the boat ran the skip loader and filled the refuse bin with all sorts of heavy junk that had been lying around the site for years.   At the end of the day, everyone was treated to Park Superintendent's Dave Matthew's considerable Bar-B-Que skills with a fine dinner served at Quarters 10 at Camp Reynolds.  The park staff and volunteers are to be congratulated for such a successful effort.

Nike Equipment - HIPAR & ABAR

Nike-Hercules High Power Acquisition Radar (HIPAR)
(Photo: Redstone Arsenal Website) .

The HIPAR radar was an extended range acquisition radar used with the second generation Nike-Hercules antiaircraft guided missile system. It was not used with the first generation Nike-Ajax antiaircraft guided missile system.  It doesn't appear that the HIPAR received an "AN" designation.

Some sites used a acquisition radar known as an Alternate Battery Acquisition Radar (ABAR) The ABAR wasn't a powerful as the HIPAR, but it was less expensive.  One of the radars used as an ABAR was the AN/FPS-71.

Courtsey of the Radio-Research Insturment Co., Inc. here are the numbers for the AN/FPS-71:

Frequency: 1220 to 1350 mHz (L Band)
Range, Max: 200 naut mi
Range, Min: 300 yd
Peak Power Output: SMW
Type of Presentation: 7-in. PPI. 10-in. PPI, 5-in. A-scope
Duty Cycle: 0.001 (For .prr of 400 pps)
RF Power Source: Type Magnetron 5J26 & QKS 1181 CFA
Azimuth Scan: 360 deg. cw at 6 rpm
Antenna Gain: 34db along axis of max radiation
Range Accuracy: 3% of range + 1 naut mi (at max range)
Pulse Repetition Rate: 325 plus or minus 10 pps on 200-mi range. On other ranges adjustable from 360 to 400 pps in normal operation; fixed 400 pulses per second in MTI operation and normal operation.
Pulse Width: 2 usec Horizontal
Beam Width: 1.4 plus or minus 0.2 deg at half power points.
Vertical Beam Width: 6.2 plus or minus 0.5 deg at half power points.
Vertical Beam Position: 2.5 deg above the horizontal
IFF Reflector Feed: Dipole radiator at reflector focal point.
Peak RF Power: Handling Capacity: 2 megw at .001 duty cycle
Azimuth Position Synchro: 24-speed, 400 cps 31TX4, and 1 speed, 60 cps SHG
RF Input Connection: L-Band Waveguide Flange UG-418A/U
Special Features: Antijamming circuit that limits width of echo pulse that receiver will pass.