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Spec Ops Plaza Multi-Cache

Hidden : 3/8/2007
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


This outdoor military equipment museum is located behind the Jackson Medical Center, 2387 West Jackson Blvd. in Jackson, Mo. Dr. Charles Pewitt created the memorial to be an interactive history lesson. He received approval from the U.S. Army to buy demilitarized equipment for the display. No admission is charged. The collection consists of nearly 20 pieces, including an M109 howitzer propelled gun from the Vietnam era (next to the building), M551 Sheridan light tank (U.S. Army 1966-1997), a World War II-era M42 Duster tank, an M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier from the Vietnam era, three cannons from 1820s British warships and a Civil War cannon. Newer pieces include a Tomahawk cruise missile launcher, a Regulus cruise missile and a twin 3-inch 50-caliber semi-automatic anti-aircraft gun from the USS Arkansas. In addition, the museum has an M38 training warhead from an Army weapon called Honest John. This weapon was developed in 1951 and was deployed in 1954. Between 1960 and 1965, over 7,000 missiles were produced. It was used by the U.S. Army in Greece, Turkey and South Korea. It could carry conventional or nuclear warheads. It was a free-flight (unguided), mobile, surface-to-surface, short-range weapon with a maximum range of only 23.6 miles. The Honest John was not very accurate. It was affected considerably by low-level winds. It had to be warmed by electric blankets for 24-48 hours prior to launch if the temperature was less than 77 degrees F. This provided the enemy ample time to detect launch preparations and to react accordingly. The system was declared obsolete in 1982 and deactivated. This is a multi-cache. The published coordinates begin at the warhead, behind the medical building, where parking is also available. A separate road from the highway leads to the rear of the building and to the museum. These coordinates mark the equipment needed to complete the clues: Sheridan: N37 22.977 W089 42.007 Duster: N37 22.973 W089 42.028 Carrier: N37 22.974 W089 42.038 Follow the clues to find the missing numbers to the cache coordinates: N37 23.??? W089 42.??? Add the number of LARGE wheels inside one track of the Sheridan tank to the TOTAL number of wheels (including sprocket wheels) inside one track of the Duster tank. Multiply the sum by the number of stars on the Command Carrier. (Disregard the star on top if you see one!) Multiply the result by 10. Using this answer, find the markings on the warhead and subtract the three-digit "date loaded." IMPORTANT NOTE: The "date loaded" numbers are fading. The date is 575. Use this number. Subtract 325 from this answer. Then add the result to the last three digits of the "part number." [IMPORTANT NOTE #2: If this number is not readable due to weathering, see hint.] Use these three digits to complete both north and west coordinates. Dr. Pewitt granted permission to place the cache.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

N fgbar jvgu "pbarf" 10 cnprf rnfg bs ohvyqvat fuehoorel. Obahf pyhr: gerr oruvaq ubjvgmre.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)