Silver Strand Training Complex
Encyclopedia
Silver Strand Training Complex (SSTC), formerly known as the Naval Radio Receiving Facility (NRRF), is the premier training facility for U.S. Special Operations Forces. Located between Imperial Beach
and Silver Strand State Beach near San Diego in southern California, USA, this facility is known by locals as the "elephant cage" which is the nickname of a large Wullenweber
directional finding circular antenna. The antenna area was used several years ago to provide directional finding, primary communication links for U.S. Navy submarines
. the antenna is still in place, even though it was scheduled to be removed in fiscal year 2007. Presently the base is subordinate to Naval Base Coronado
and commanded by that base's Commanding Officer.
were stationed there, culminating in 1945 with a total of 112 WAVES; there they engaged in SIGINT
. By 1953, it was known as Naval Radio Receiving Station Imperial Beach, and in 1965 it received its well known Wullenweber Circular Display Antenna Array, a AN/FRD-10. It was the last of its type to be built; it ceased operations in 1999.
took ownership of 412.14 acres in Coronado Heights and designated it Fort Emory in honor of BG Emory
, itself being subordinate to Fort Rosecrans, being manned by the 19th Coastal Artillery
. Armament of the base consisted of four 155mm guns
of Battery Imperial, which was superseded by the two 6 inch guns (M1905) of Battery Grant. Coastal radars were authorized in 1943. Construction of a 16 inch battery were completed in 1944, however the guns were never mounted; these guns would have supplemented another 16 inch battery, Battery Ashburn at Fort Rosecrans. The land composing of the fort was turned over to the Navy
in 1947, with a single army family as caretaker of the facilities which was declared surplas a year later; in 1950 it was finally transferred to the Navy integrating with the Imperial Beach Radio Station.
sides. Offshore the Coronado Roads area is used for ship systems testing. The city-like layout of the base also provides a realistic site for critical urban warfare training.
In 2010, the Navy proposed increased training, including mine-sweeping training, amphibious operations
, as well as special warfare operations. This faced opposition during public hearings by environmentalist
, due to possible impact upon the California Least Tern
, San Diego fairy shrimp, and to a lesser extent the Western snowy plover. Later that year new warning signs were put up by the Navy warning of increased training, and of endangered species. A ten year long, 818 page environmental impact statement was released relating to this proposed increased activity, it was created with the assistance of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
. In an unrelated proposal, the bases water area will be used for training by the Littoral Combat Ship
s for antisubmarine warfare; the Navy has filed its impact upon wildlife with NOAA as it relates to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
.
Imperial Beach, California
Imperial Beach is a residential beach city in San Diego County, California, with a population of 26,324 at the 2010 census. The city is the most southern beach city in Southern California and the West Coast of the United States...
and Silver Strand State Beach near San Diego in southern California, USA, this facility is known by locals as the "elephant cage" which is the nickname of a large Wullenweber
Wullenweber
The Wullenweber is a type of Circularly Disposed Antenna Array sometimes referred to as a Circularly Disposed Dipole Array . It is a large circular antenna array used for radio direction finding...
directional finding circular antenna. The antenna area was used several years ago to provide directional finding, primary communication links for U.S. Navy submarines
Submarines in the United States Navy
There are two major types of submarines in the United States Navy: ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. In the U.S. Navy, all combatant submarines are nuclear-powered. Ballistic subs have a single, strategic mission: carrying nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missiles...
. the antenna is still in place, even though it was scheduled to be removed in fiscal year 2007. Presently the base is subordinate to Naval Base Coronado
Naval Base Coronado
Naval Base Coronado is a consolidated Navy installation encompassing eight military facilities stretching from San Clemente Island, located seventy miles west of San Diego, California, to the La Posta Mountain Warfare Training Facility and Camp Morena, located sixty miles east of San...
and commanded by that base's Commanding Officer.
Naval
Initially created in 1920 as the Navy Radio Compass Station, it was renamed in 1940 as the Navy Directional Finder Station when a permanent direction finding station was established. In 1943, thirty WAVESWAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
were stationed there, culminating in 1945 with a total of 112 WAVES; there they engaged in SIGINT
SIGINT
Signals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
. By 1953, it was known as Naval Radio Receiving Station Imperial Beach, and in 1965 it received its well known Wullenweber Circular Display Antenna Array, a AN/FRD-10. It was the last of its type to be built; it ceased operations in 1999.
Army
In 1942, the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
took ownership of 412.14 acres in Coronado Heights and designated it Fort Emory in honor of BG Emory
William H. Emory
William Hemsley Emory was an United States Army officer and surveyor of Texas.-Early life and career:...
, itself being subordinate to Fort Rosecrans, being manned by the 19th Coastal Artillery
U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps
The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps was a Corps level organization responsible for coastal and harbor defense of the United States between 1901 and 1950.-History:...
. Armament of the base consisted of four 155mm guns
Canon de 155mm GPF
The Canon de 155 Grande Puissance Filloux mle.1917 was a 155 mm cannon used by the French Army during the first half of the 20th century.-History:The gun was designed during World War I by Colonel L.J.F...
of Battery Imperial, which was superseded by the two 6 inch guns (M1905) of Battery Grant. Coastal radars were authorized in 1943. Construction of a 16 inch battery were completed in 1944, however the guns were never mounted; these guns would have supplemented another 16 inch battery, Battery Ashburn at Fort Rosecrans. The land composing of the fort was turned over to the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1947, with a single army family as caretaker of the facilities which was declared surplas a year later; in 1950 it was finally transferred to the Navy integrating with the Imperial Beach Radio Station.
Operations
Today the 450 acres (2 km²) facility provides an excellent training environment with waterborne approaches from both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego BaySan Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
sides. Offshore the Coronado Roads area is used for ship systems testing. The city-like layout of the base also provides a realistic site for critical urban warfare training.
In 2010, the Navy proposed increased training, including mine-sweeping training, amphibious operations
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
, as well as special warfare operations. This faced opposition during public hearings by environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
, due to possible impact upon the California Least Tern
California Least Tern
The Least Tern is a species of tern that breeds in North America and locally in northern South America. It is closely related to, and was formerly often considered conspecific with, the Little Tern of the Old World...
, San Diego fairy shrimp, and to a lesser extent the Western snowy plover. Later that year new warning signs were put up by the Navy warning of increased training, and of endangered species. A ten year long, 818 page environmental impact statement was released relating to this proposed increased activity, it was created with the assistance of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
. In an unrelated proposal, the bases water area will be used for training by the Littoral Combat Ship
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
s for antisubmarine warfare; the Navy has filed its impact upon wildlife with NOAA as it relates to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
Marine Mammal Protection Act
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 was the first article of legislation to call specifically for an ecosystem approach to natural resource management and conservation. MMPA prohibits the taking of marine mammals, and enacts a moratorium on the import, export, and sale of any marine mammal,...
.