Charlie Battery - Kleingartach
The Launching Area - 1959 - 1969
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Launching Area Buildings Detail
Moving further up the road we approach the area.
From left to right: The Ready Room, The LCT (with the Star), The Generator Building Area, and Assembly (Missile Maintenance)
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Ready Room Detail
There is so little activity in this photo and that it leads me to think that it was taken on a Sunday afternoon.
All Nike Missile Batteries were 24/365 units, unless they were down for maintenance. The Ready Room was where one would hang out when on duty. During week days everyone had their assigned section, and that's where one would work. The missile sections Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Sections, the Assembly Building, the Generator Building etc. But after the work day ended, or on weekends the Ready Room were where on hung out. There was a large day room, and in back were the bunk rooms, shower, and toilets. They were just a bunch of double bunks with bare mattresses, so when on duty you brought your weapon, shaving kit, and your sleeping bag.
So not only was one on duty to man your section in case of alert, we also had to walk guard duty at night. Two hours walking and four hours off for sleeping, or if it was daylight or evening it's where you were. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner was brought down by a 5 ton cargo truck from the Barracks Mess Hall, and they were all hot meals.
One pastime that was a constant was the on going Pinochle games, and usually more than one. And there is nothing like double deck Pinochle with guys who became really good at the game. Man they were fun, especially when around 10 pm when a Schnitzel run had been made down to the local Gasthaus, usually The Ochsen Haberschlacht, or The Linde in Niederhofen. It was all very relaxed duty, except when a Battalion surprise inspection alert came at 2 am in the middle of a snow storm, then everything quickly became very real and very serious.
There's Don Crowls car again in front of the Launching Area ready room., it's the one in the middle next to the Ford.
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Don And Ken’s GI Auto Body
Sure is a pretty paint job...! Especially when it was done with a paint brush.
And who's that on the phone in the window of the “Ready Room” on Ken's left?
The doors they are in front of are to the Assembly Building.
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Assembly Building And Launching Area Overview
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Assembly Building Close-up (Missile Maintenance)
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The LCT (Launcher Control Trailer) & Generator Building Overview
The Launcher Control Trailer, or LCT, was the middle link in three link chain of command. The three link chain, in the order of the command structure was; The Integrated Fire Control area, The LCT in the Launching Area, and in each of the 3 missile sections. Each area was capable firing a missile on its own if necessary.
The Integrated Fire Control area was where the Battery Command1er Officer, BCO, coordinated a mission. It also contained the computers and 3 radars units. In coming targets were acquired and data was coordinated and integrated between the radars and missiles prior to launch. to view the IFC please “Click Here”.
The LTC was in the Launching Area, was where the Launching Control Officer was in the second link of command. This was under the command of the Launching Area Platoon Leader of a 1st lieutenant grade, or the current Officer Of The Day, as we were always on 24/7/365 alert duty.
The third link, also in the Launching Area were, the three sections, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and was commanded by a Section Chief, usually at an E-6 - Sergeant First Class- SFC grade. Each section had three missile launchers. For a detailed view of the sections panel of operation please “Click Here”.
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Overview Of The LCT And Generator Building
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Detail Of The LCT
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The Generator Building In Detail
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Launching Sections Main Security Gate W/Generator Building On The Left
Just past the Generator Building through the Security Gate is the service road to the Sections. An immediate left after the guard shack goes up the hill and around Alpha Section, and straight ahead goes on to Bravo and Charlie Sections. The service road completely circles each section back to the Security Gate.
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