Nike Site S-13/14 Redmond: Battery Control Area Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Shaddow: Times change and so do my priorities

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Hidden : 3/8/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


Nike Site S-13/14, Redmond, Washington

Nuclear tipped surface-to-air missiles in Redmond?! That’s right, up until 1974 when they were decommissioned.

Missiles on Display in Firing Position
Nike Hercules in foreground, Nike Ajax in background



During the Cold War these missiles were America’s last ditch defense against the threat of a nuclear bomber attack by the Soviet Union. The first series of missiles was the Nike Ajax which had a short range, long preparation time and was armed with a high explosive warhead capable of taking out a single plane. Later, this site was shifted to newer Nike Hercules missiles which had a greater range, faster speed, and a nuclear warhead which was capable of taking out a flight of bombers.

When the threat shifted from manned bomber attack to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) the missiles were no longer necessary and the site was decommissioned.

Control Area

This cache is located at the remaining buildings of the control center. When operational this area would have had the radar, computer, and control equipment needed to detect and identify a target and then it would launch and guide a missile to intercept it. The remainder of the site had barracks, recreation areas, a mess hall and another infrastructure to support the personal required to run the site.

Typical Radar



Missile Fire and Control Diagram



The Site Today




Sign and Fence From Days Gone By



The missile launch site was at a separate location marked by cache GC216PZ Nike Site S-13/14 Redmond: Launcher Area.

More information about Nike Ajax and Hercules missiles and the Nike Sites can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_(rocket)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nike_missile_locations
http://ed-thelen.org/MMTravis.html
http://www.techbastard.com/missile/nike/index.php

The Cache

A small lock-n-lock. The hide is not meant to be clever, only functional, so should be an easy find. It’s available 24/7 but please be considerate of the nearby neighbors.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ng gur punatr va gur guveq qvzrafvba

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)


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