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San Clemente Island
Chronological Military History (1934-2000)
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1960's
The early 60's also saw the early development of the first Fleet Operational Readiness Accuracy Check Site (FORACS) in the area at Wilson Cove. 4 The initial operations of this prototype range utilized three precision-surveyed theodolite (triangulation) stations at North Light and Wilson Cove. The initial data reduction station was in a small shack at Station North Light. 1 (The author's ship, the USS Hanson (DDR-832), was one of the early units to be tested for underwater accuracy of its sonar system). 1
A West Cove Range was installed for aircraft drops of torpedoes and depth charges into shallow water where recovery was possible. This area was also used for mine countermeasure tests, for Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) tests, for the CHAPPARAL missile testing program, the Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) with extended ranges, mine countermeasure tests, for fuze production lot tests, and gun-fired classification device testing. A Three-Dimensional Underwater Tracking Range was installed on the west side, north of Eel Point, on an experimental basis. NOTS, China Lake deployed a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) for use on the test range for the recovery of malfunctioning torpedoes from the sea floor. The Air Force 670th AC&W radar squadron moved from the island, leaving it completely in Navy hands. A new 9300-foot airstrip, and support facilities located at the northern end of the island, was completed and the WW-II airstrip was deactivated. This new $14 million air facility was originally built for the Regulus II missile operations, but was curtailed when that program was canceled. In January, this airfield, ALF, San Clemente Island, was dedicated by Capt. W. M. Collins, NAS, Commanding Officer, as Sherman Field, in honor of Admiral Frederick C. Sherman. Admiral Sherman was a three time winner of the Navy Cross in WWI and WWII, and was a brilliant leader of aerial combat in the Pacific. 9 The US Air Force radar station was deactivated in June 1961. 1 On 1 July, the administrative command of San Clemente Island was assigned to NOTS, China Lake, with NAS, North Island as the dominant user. The ALF was assigned to China Lake for administration and support. Fleet manning totaled approximately 50 personnel with NOTS project and support personnel numbering approximately 275. 4
In February, the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, prepared a preliminary study for a major renovation of the old Air Force landing field south of Wilson Cove. This study included renovation and/or enlargement of a number of the berthing, messing, administrative, utility, and aircraft support facilities. This training complex for TraPac included support for the Fleet Gunnery School, Fleet Training Group, and the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Center. Also included was installation of gun mounts at West Beach near Eel Point. Noting an impending increase in utilization at SCI for fleet operations, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), in February, requested COMELEVEN to undertake a study of an appropriate command structure. The report, forwarded to CNO in July, recommended a separate SCI command, with considerable increase in staffing, with management control by Bureau of Weapons (BUWEPS). In December, CNO directed that planning for a new command be held in abeyance, pending solution of billet and funding problems. 4 The Naval Amphibious School, Coronado, constructed a permanent complex for the Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUDS) at Northwest Harbor for SEAL advanced personnel, and team training. 1 A desalinization plant was procured from the public facility at Point Loma, and was on a barge being prepared for shipment to San Clemente Island. The Cuban Missile Crisis caused this utility to be diverted to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, when the Cuban government cut the water supply to the naval base. 1 This utility was never replaced. Fresh water, to this day, is transported weekly by barge to the island. 1 NOTS Pasadena also conducted the first successful flight test of the Submarine Rocket (SUBROC) vehicle from a submarine. 4 NOTS China Lake continued to manage and use the island, providing fleet support, until mid-1967. First successful underwater test launcher firing of a Polaris missile was conducted, and two ASROC-launched torpedoes successfully hit and sank the target submarine USS Burrfish (SS-312). 4 NOTS project personnel, at this time, were flown to and from the island in amphibian aircraft. 3
The training site at the old airfield was operated by the NAS, North Island-based Utility Squadron Three (VU-3). 13 (The authors ship, the USS Hanson (DD-832) was also the recipient of these "air-delivered" drones from the island. However, one of the two units delivered to the "Hanson" was lost during the transfer. As it approached the helo-deck on the stern of the ship, it suddenly flipped over on its back and went into the sea). The NOTS "Deep Jeep" research submersible attained a depth of 2010' on its first significant dive at the San Clemente escarpment. The "Deep Jeep" was deployed from the surface support ship YFU-53, a converted landing ship. The FORACS range became fully operational for the testing of shipboard sonars, radars, navigation and electronic sensors. This was the prototype for additional ranges in Hawaii, Cape Cod, MA., New York, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Norway, and the Greek island of Crete. 4 The Greek freighter, White Eagle, ran aground near Eel Point in a storm. The hulk of this old Liberty ship lay rusting in the pounding surf for a number of years, reminding mariners of the navigational hazards of the island. During this year, the SEALAB III and Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Ranges were implemented, and Poseidon testing began on the Polaris Pop-Up Range. 4 The Poseidon test program was completed in November. |
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