Category:Chicago NIKE Sites

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Chicago Area NIKE Defense System (1955-1974) - The NIKE missile defenses of the Chicago area (including Gary, Indiana) during the Cold War presented unique challenges to the planners and builders. The highly populated area and the vast expanse of Lake Michigan dictated the placement of batteries in urban areas so as to maximize the coverage over the lake. The typical circle of coverage around a city became a half circle of coverage at Chicago. Some 21 separate launch sites were constructed (some with two site designations) within the Chicago-Gary Defense Area by the Chicago District of the Corps of Engineers.

The Chicago Area NIKE batteries were commanded and coordinated from the AADCP command post at Arlington Heights (C-80DC) using the Missile Master computer system and later the Missile Mentor System. Each launch site had a corresponding control site with radar that acquired the enemy targets and tracked both the incoming targets and the outgoing NIKE missiles until the intercept was accomplished. In most cases, these control sites also served as the administrative and housing areas for their respective batteries. Each battery was garrisoned with about 100-140 personnel.

All of the Chicago Area Defense System was initially equipped with the Nike Ajax missiles. As the newer, longer range, Nike Hercules missiles became available some Ajax sites were converted, including C-03, C-41, C-49/50R, C-61, C-72, C-93, C-46, and C-47. Many of the unconverted Ajax sites were closed in the 1960s as the Hercules sites were activated. By 1974 the NIKE system had become obsolete and the entire system was deactivated.

See Also:

• NIKE System
• SAGE System
• Defense Installations Portal