San Clemente Island

San Clemente Island
Chronological Military History (1934-2000)

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1990's

1990

In March, a CH-53E helicopter, belonging to HC-1, hoisted a 36-foot personnel launch from the jagged rocks at Wilson Cove. The boat, used in special warfare training, was blown onto the rocks by 80-knot winds in February. After attempts to tow the boat failed, the decision was made to use a helicopter to lift the boat to safety. The helo-lift proved to be highly successful with the boat being returned to SPECWAR for possible repairs. ³⁸

Construction of new Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUDS) facilities at Northwest Harbor was completed. They included 23 new buildings for personnel, administrative, and operations support. ¹

In June and July, the island was visited by two groups of scouts. Boy Scout Troop of Escondido, CA., spent the weekend of 23-24 June snorkeling, diving, and fishing at the shore-side scout camp at Wilson Cove. They participated in two nature expeditions and discovered the abundant cultural history and natural resources of San Clemente Island. Then during the weekend of 29 June-2 July, the Girl Scount Troop 1027 of Ocean Beach, CA., enjoyed a fabulous weekend in the sun, swimming and diving. Besides the cultural tour, they observed night carrier-controlled landings from the control tower at the airfield. ³⁹

In October, the 14^th CEB from Fort Ord, CA., returned and performed twelve (12) major facility "self help" construction projects for SCORE, NOSC, and NALF. These projects included five buildings for the SCORE Torpedo Facility (TORPFAC), a boat house and storage facility for the NOSC OEEET project, facilities and roadwork for the SCORE "Tombstone" (EW) and "Little Rock" (EW) sites, and excavation of an area in Wilson Cove for a new NALF Fire Station. Again, VC-3 was the site for their support camp. ⁵

1992
In August, the U.S. Army 864^th Engineers from The Presidio, CA., deployed in an amphibious exercise, to conduct "self help" construction support for SCORE and NALF. These projects included construction of eight (8) buildings, 1.7 miles of road repair, and five (5) electronics support structures and utilities. ⁵ This "self help" deployment saved the Navy $1.08M in labor and equipment costs, vice performance by a civilian contractor. ⁶

On 12 March, George Weiss, a veteran of the many RDT&E projects on the island, passed away in his barracks. George had worked on the island continuously for 26 years. A nicer and more helpful person the island has never known.

1995
New Special Warfare Command (SPECWARCOM) Maritime Operations (MAROPS) training and support facility was commissioned. ¹

1996
San Clemente Island Operational Management Plan (OMP), and Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was initiated by the Naval Facility Command (NAVFAC), Southwest Div. ¹

The Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS-374) from MCAS, Tustin, CA., deployed in support of several SCORE support facilities construction projects. ⁵

The Electronic Warfare (EW), and Command and Control Warfare (C2W) training, was now conducted from five (5) island sites. These sites included the Range Electronic Warfare Simulator (REWS), Threat Avoidance Subsystems (TAS) at Little Rock, Tombstone, VC-3 area, and SOARFAC. ⁷

SCORE was certified, and commenced conducting Mine Readiness Certification Inspections (MRCI) for fleet units. ⁷

In October, a Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW) was flown into the MIR for a sub-munitions test against a number of target vehicles.

In November, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) "Predator" was flown from the island in an operational exercise with a submarine.

1997
SCORE installed and began operating the "Kingfisher" range, a tethered underwater mine avoidance training range, located on the west side of the island. ⁷

Operation and maintenance of the SHOBA range was transferred from the Electronic Warfare Training Group, Pacific (EWTGPAC) to SCORE. ⁷

In October, a "proof of concept" exercise was conducted to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of deploying ASUW and AAW target drones from San Clemente Island vice PMTC, Point Mugu. This exercise was an unqualified success, overcoming a myriad of technical, political, and safety related issues. Planning was initiated to continue with exercises of this type, and expanding SCORE's capability to offer Fleet Missilex Training up to the FltEx level, with San Clemente Island as the logistical base. ³⁰

1998
Construction of facilities and installation of equipments was completed, and operations commenced, for the new FACSFAC ARSR-4 radar complex at Mount Thirst. ¹

SCORE initiated unit level offensive mining exercises in the two (2) Minex Training Ranges (MTR1 & MTR2) on the west side of the island, utilizing Castle Rock and Eel Point as IP's. ⁷

SCORE also initiated Surface-to Air and Air-to-Air missile exercises, by launching and controlling surface and air targets from the island. ⁷

In November, the submarine HMS Splendid conducted the British Navy Acceptance Tests by sub-surface launching of a Tomahawk missile from the Naval Weapons Test Range at Point Mugu. The missile performed flawlessly, resulting in a direct hit on the island MIR target.

This test was observed by the Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Archie Clemins, First Sea Lord/Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sir Michael Boyce (Royal Navy), and Southwest Navy Region Rear Admiral Veronica Froman. ²⁸

1999
Major construction completion of new personnel support facilities (ie, 10-single and multi-level berthing, 1-common, 1-messhall, 2-utility, etc). Present island manning levels were: ~356 (March 99). ¹

SCORE now operated sixteen (16) USW and EW range operational and support sites on the island. These sites were distributed over the full length of the island. ⁸

The island was redesignated "San Clemente Island Range Complex". ¹

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