[SMCARA] NSS Annapolis and Imperial Beach

[Frederic Clarke]

Yep, the antenna at Imperial Beach is what we referred to as the 
'Elephant Cage" or in the case of th one in Rota, Spain, the"Bull Ring". 
It's actual name was a "Wollenweber Array" and it was used for direction 
finding by the Naval Security Group. I think they are all gone now.

Tom

On 4/22/2020 8:55 AM, Grant Graessle wrote:
> My memory of NSS Annapolis is much more practical.
> And then that brought back memories of the Comms station at Imperial Beach
> too.
>
> My reserve unit from Lewes, DE was preparing to go overseas for an exercise
> that could easily turn into a long-term stay (Desert Storm.)  One of the
> other officers figured out that the easiest way to get our shots was to bus
> over to the Naval Academy and see the doc there.  When we got done, the
> sailors needed lunch. I first checked in with the cafeteria, and they said
> they weren't able to serve us ( I think we were too early).  So I called
> over to the security det and asked if I could bring 50 sailors over for
> lunch.  "Sure. I've got some leftovers that need to be eaten or I burn the
> money.  Win-win."  So we bussed over across the bridge and had lunch with
> the Security Det.  My memory says that the towers were still up, but one of
> the officers s boss over there said they were going to come down sometime
> in the next year.  But my memory has been known to be faulty.
>
> As a kid, I attended the YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach. Still in
> operation today!  The first time campers got to stay in the old
> Quonset huts that the YMCA took over.  I don't remember what the
> Quonset huts were for, but they were damn close to the Mexican border.  The
> return campers got to walk up the beach about a mile towards the comms
> station.  We wold camp for a week in the shadows of the antenna array and
> go surfing.   What fun and good memories.
> I remember climbing one of the old telephone poles, sitting on top to watch
> the 4th of July fireworks further up the beach.
>
> 73
> N4PGG
>
>

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