Tender Tale - Ship's Office - Neat Stuff

Ship's Office - Neat Stuff - Picture Gallery

Guided Missile School, Dam Neck, Virginia

When the Soviet Union first threatened the United States with it's new ICBMs - the US Navy had the only deterrent force that could be deployed at the time - and in sufficient strength to mount a credible deterrent. That force, of course, was a fleet of 41 Fleet Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines deployed around the globe ready to answer any attack.

Those submarines were a combination of all that the navy had learned about nuclear propulsion, ultra quiet and efficient hull design, and new and extraordinarily sophisticated technologies in weapons and navigation. In fact - the technologies in the boat's ultra accurate navigation systems employed both within the boat itself as well as the missiles was so advanced - that no training programs existed that could adequately train the technicians needed to operate, repair and maintain those systems. The Navy had already established several nuclear training programs at Charleston and Mare Island (among others), but needed a training facility dedicated to the new ballistic missiles and their guidance and navigation systems.

Aerial Photo of FAATC // GMS Dam Neck - as it was in the mid to late 70s. This and a current "comparison" photo appear at the end of this page.

The Fleet Anti-Air Warefare Training Center had some spare facilities plus plenty of room to grow. In addition - (at the time) it was quite isolated and low key - both things being quite desirable for a project with many classified details. The Guided Missile School was established in July, 1952 - using both existing buildings - and new buildings built with "special" capabilities. Some of the old buildings were quite suitable for traditional class rooms - and the barracks - while old - were quite servicable and comfortable. These were used for the first six months of training which prospective technicians would attend - a somewhat "tuned" version of Navy Electronics "A" school. Towards the south end of the complex of buildings - were the newer and "special" built buildings where the graduates from "A" school - as well as fleet sailors returing for additional training would attend various "C" schools - where the various "specialties" of technicians would learn their craft. Missile Technicians would learn various parts of the Polaris (and later Posiden and Trident) missiles from propulsion and navigation, to handling / tesing, REB/Payload, etc.

Fire Control Technicians would learn the interface and control systems that would interconnect the missile with the submarine's power, navigation and control systems. Electronics Technicians would learn the various Navigation Systems such as SINS (Ships Inetrial Navigation System) - and the systems that supported the SINS such as NavAides (Loran A & C, SRN Satelite, BRN Sonar, etc.) and Digital Techs which worked on the NAVDAC computer system that interface all of the Navigation data to the rest of the boat (including to Fire Control for the missiles).

It's been estimated that over it's 40 year contribution to the fleet - more than 30,000 techs were trained in one of the "C" schools at GMS Dam Neck. The "down-sizing" of our fleets saw the end of GMS in March, 1994. However - even to this day - much of the "facilities" are still visible - though empty. As many of us spent a year (and some spent much more) at Dam Neck - it's fitting that it be remembered "somewhere".

Administrative Building at the north end of the main complex area. The Despensary is just visible at the right.

Turning towards the west - looking just past the old barracks is one of the parking lots for the barracks - and the end of one of the training buildings which contained Anti-Aircraft RADAR training classes.

Backing up a bit - three of the old barracks - and the RADAR on the Anti-Aircraft RADAR training building.

Field Day inside one of the old barracks. The partitions formed "cubilces" in which two people were berthed. The "racks" were pulled out into the passageway so that the floors could be scrubbed and waxed.

Looking south - the mess hall is in the foreground, left - while some of the GMS "C" schools buildings are seen in the background. The tall buildings allowed for handling the various weapon systems "hands on" while keeping out of the weather - and out of sight of prying eyes.

Turning futher counter clockwise - the "eastern set" of old barracks is accross the courtyard; the drone launching facilitey is just beyond the dunes; the HAM Radio shack is to the right.

Three of the drones at the done maintenance and launching facility. These were flown as practice targets for the Anti-Air Warfare students learning the RADAR fire control systems. They were *supposed* to dial in an error of a few degrees so that their shots (yes real live 5inch stuff) would explode just behind the drones. Unfortunately (much to our delight) they would forget to dial in the lag error... and OOOPS...

Back in the court yard, and turing toward the east the "eastern set" of the old barracks - with the new barracks visible in the background. If you look closely over the rooftops - just left of center of the picture - one of the Ant-Air Warefare RADAR antennas can be seen.

Turing on around nearly full circle in the court yard - a football game is underway. Note that this was before the track and associated facilities were put in. Also note the dispensary in the background.

Fourth of July, 1970 at Dam Neck. Special Services put on a huge pic-nic for all hands. The parade was well attended - one of the contestants for "Miss Independance Day" is passing by for "inspection". This was on the ball park area just north of the hobby shops / special services area.

Another contestant for "Miss Independance Day".

IF you can get past the crowning of the winner of the "Miss Indepedance Day" contest - you can see several of the GMS school buildings in the background. (yeah - I know - at this point who cares... OK... get I the message!)

If you can get past "Miss Indepandance Day" - Special Services Hobby shops are in the background. At the time I was running the electronics hobby shop - so had the key to that bulding. When it started raining that evening - and "Miss Independance Day" was waiting for her ride - it was nice to have a dry place to chat with her for a few minutes. I was really impressed that she was so down to earth and kind to "just another swab" she happened to run into one day.... especially a day which would have swelled many other's egos...

A comparison of Dam Neck then and now... The monochrome image is thought to be from the mid 1970's or so. The color image is relatively current. As you can see - new barracks where the old ones were... and a LOT of new buildings here and there. (color map courtesy Google Maps).

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