Nike Missile Site C-47 is a former missile site near Portage, Indiana. The Nike defense system was a Cold War-era missile system in the United States. Nike missiles were radar guided, supersonic antiaircraft missiles. The planners hoped that Nike would make a direct attack on the U.S. so costly as to be futile.[2]
Nike missile sites were constructed in defensive rings around major urban and industrial areas. Chicago was likely selected because of its population, the presence of several military bases, and the Gary, Indiana, steel industry.[2] Nike C-47 (Nike 1B, 1C/12H, 20A/12L-U, (8L-H)) near Portage was designed with two units nearly a mile apart. The first section was the Launcher Area located on the south side of County Road 700 North, approximately 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) west of County Road 500 West, in Porter County, Indiana. The second area was the Control Area, also known as the Administration Area, located on the north side of County Road 600 North, near Wheeler. Construction of the base began in 1954 and it was operational by 1956.[2]
The Chicago defensive area, one of the larger in the nation, had about 20 bases ringing metropolitan Chicago. Due to the relatively short range of the first generation Nike missiles, bases had to be close to the area they protected.[2]
Nike Missile Family
The Army began to buy land and build sites in the early 1950s. The basic system was operational by 1954 using MIM-3 Nike Ajax missiles. Newer Nike missiles extended the capability of the rings. The "Nike-Hercules" were nuclear capable and could destroy fleets of Soviet bombers over a wide area. These were deployed at a few selected sites. The Hercules could reach Soviet airspace to intercept aircraft and had the potential to be used against ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles). C-47 was one of the first Nike sites to receive the Hercules missiles.[2]
Nike Hercules
Related sitesEdit
Missile Launch Area for Nike Base C-47. Based on drawing from No. 4799001669; National Register of Historic Places, Registration Form; Nike Missile Site C47; United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 2000
C-32 Nike 3B/12H, 20A/12L-U in Porter, Indiana, was redeveloped for the offices of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The launch site is a half-mile west and is fenced behind a locked gate, although largely intact. It is privately owned, and overgrown.
C-44 Nike 2B, 4C/60A/24L-AA in Hegewisch/Wolf Lake, Illinois (dual site) is abandoned and overgrown at the south end of recreation area. The access road entrance at Avenue J and 133rd Street is largely obliterated. The launch site is also abandoned. It is on the north shore of the lake, where S. Wolf Lake Boulevard becomes S. State Line Road. The buildings are gone but foundations remain.
C-45 Nike 2B/20A/8L-A at Gary Municipal Airport, Indiana, is a redeveloped area at the north tip of the airport. A general aviation hangar, parking lot, and ramp area for aircraft parking were created. The former launch site is across Industrial Highway. The launch site was razed but remnants are still visible.
C-46 Nike 1B, 1C/12H, 20A/12L-U, (8L-H) in Munster, Indiana, was redeveloped into an industrial park. It is on the west side of Calumet Avenue north of 45th Street. The launch site is on the west side of Columbia Avenue. It was razed in 2008 and is now in private ownership.
C-48 Nike 2B/20A/8L-A in Gary, Indiana, was redeveloped as an automobile dealership on Grant Street and later abandoned. The launch site was redeveloped into commercial/industrial site near NW corner of 35th Avenue and Grant Street.
DiscontinuanceEdit
The Nike system protected the United States until 1972. The bases were closed in accord with the SALT treaty limits, and the onset of "détente".[2]
SignificanceEdit
To be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, Nike sites are required to be historically exceptional and retain a high degree of integrity, including all three major components: (1) administration, (2) radar, and (3) launch functions.[2] There are fifteen Nike sites in Illinois that are part of the Chicago-Gary Defense Area. Several have some buildings and launch areas. C-84 in Palatine, Illinois, was the last substantial site to be redeveloped.[2] Five of the bases in the Chicago ring were in Indiana. C-47 is the only site to retain all three functions. A few buildings remain at several of the bases in Indiana. The National Park Service uses several buildings from a base near the Chellberg Farm for offices and service buildings at Indiana Dunes National Park. As elsewhere, they are remnants of bases, not complete units. The early use of nuclear missiles on the site further makes C-47 a rare and exceptional site.[2]
Missiles on displayEdit
A Nike Ajax and Hercules are on display in front of the VFW post in Cedar Lake, Indiana.
^ abcdefghi"Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved June 1, 2016. Note: This includes Don Peterson (February 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Nike Missile Site C-47" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2016. and Accompanying photographs.
BibliographyEdit
Bender, Donald E. Nike Missile Defense System Overview. Internet web page, bender@alpha.fdu.edu., online as of 1998.
Carlson, Christina, Robert Lyon, Christine Whitacre, et al. Last Line of Defense, Nike Missile Sites in Illinois. Denver, CO: National Park Service, Rocky Mountain System Support Office, 1996. Center for Air Force History, et al. Coming in from the Cold, Military Heritage in the Cold War. U.S. Air Force, Legacy Program, June 1994.
Lennox, Duncan. Jane's Strategic Weapons System. Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group, 1990.
Morgan, Mark L. and Mark Berhow. Rings of Supersonic Steel, Air Defenses of the United States Army, 1950-1979, An Introductory History and Site Guide. San Pedro, CA: Fort MacArthur Museum Association, 1996.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nike Missile Site C47.
September 01, 2023
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Nike Missile Site C 47 is a former missile site near Portage Indiana The Nike defense system was a Cold War era missile system in the United States Nike missiles were radar guided supersonic antiaircraft missiles The planners hoped that Nike would make a direct attack on the U S so costly as to be futile 2 Nike Missile Site C 47U S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtShow map of IndianaShow map of the United StatesNearest cityCounty Roads 600N and 700N south of Portage Portage Township Porter County IndianaCoordinates41 31 24 N 87 10 40 W 41 52333 N 87 17778 W 41 52333 87 17778Area29 acres 12 ha ArchitectU S ArmyArchitectural styleModern MovementNRHP reference No 99001669 1 Added to NRHPJanuary 21 2000Nike missile sites were constructed in defensive rings around major urban and industrial areas Chicago was likely selected because of its population the presence of several military bases and the Gary Indiana steel industry 2 Nike C 47 Nike 1B 1C 12H 20A 12L U 8L H near Portage was designed with two units nearly a mile apart The first section was the Launcher Area located on the south side of County Road 700 North approximately 1 4 mile 0 40 km west of County Road 500 West in Porter County Indiana The second area was the Control Area also known as the Administration Area located on the north side of County Road 600 North near Wheeler Construction of the base began in 1954 and it was operational by 1956 2 Contents 1 Facility 2 Chicago Gary Defense Area 3 Related sites 4 Discontinuance 5 Significance 6 Missiles on display 7 See also 8 References 9 BibliographyFacility Edit nbsp Building 2 and the Fallout Shelter nbsp Duty Barracks nbsp Missile Assembly Building nbsp Missile Elevator doors nbsp Radar Towers nbsp Headquarters buildingChicago Gary Defense Area EditThe Chicago defensive area one of the larger in the nation had about 20 bases ringing metropolitan Chicago Due to the relatively short range of the first generation Nike missiles bases had to be close to the area they protected 2 nbsp Nike Missile FamilyThe Army began to buy land and build sites in the early 1950s The basic system was operational by 1954 using MIM 3 Nike Ajax missiles Newer Nike missiles extended the capability of the rings The Nike Hercules were nuclear capable and could destroy fleets of Soviet bombers over a wide area These were deployed at a few selected sites The Hercules could reach Soviet airspace to intercept aircraft and had the potential to be used against ICBMs intercontinental ballistic missiles C 47 was one of the first Nike sites to receive the Hercules missiles 2 nbsp Nike HerculesRelated sites Edit nbsp Missile Launch Area for Nike Base C 47 Based on drawing from No 4799001669 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Nike Missile Site C47 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 2000This section possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message C 32 Nike 3B 12H 20A 12L U in Porter Indiana was redeveloped for the offices of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore The launch site is a half mile west and is fenced behind a locked gate although largely intact It is privately owned and overgrown C 44 Nike 2B 4C 60A 24L AA in Hegewisch Wolf Lake Illinois dual site is abandoned and overgrown at the south end of recreation area The access road entrance at Avenue J and 133rd Street is largely obliterated The launch site is also abandoned It is on the north shore of the lake where S Wolf Lake Boulevard becomes S State Line Road The buildings are gone but foundations remain C 45 Nike 2B 20A 8L A at Gary Municipal Airport Indiana is a redeveloped area at the north tip of the airport A general aviation hangar parking lot and ramp area for aircraft parking were created The former launch site is across Industrial Highway The launch site was razed but remnants are still visible C 46 Nike 1B 1C 12H 20A 12L U 8L H in Munster Indiana was redeveloped into an industrial park It is on the west side of Calumet Avenue north of 45th Street The launch site is on the west side of Columbia Avenue It was razed in 2008 and is now in private ownership C 48 Nike 2B 20A 8L A in Gary Indiana was redeveloped as an automobile dealership on Grant Street and later abandoned The launch site was redeveloped into commercial industrial site near NW corner of 35th Avenue and Grant Street Discontinuance EditThe Nike system protected the United States until 1972 The bases were closed in accord with the SALT treaty limits and the onset of detente 2 Significance EditTo be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places Nike sites are required to be historically exceptional and retain a high degree of integrity including all three major components 1 administration 2 radar and 3 launch functions 2 There are fifteen Nike sites in Illinois that are part of the Chicago Gary Defense Area Several have some buildings and launch areas C 84 in Palatine Illinois was the last substantial site to be redeveloped 2 Five of the bases in the Chicago ring were in Indiana C 47 is the only site to retain all three functions A few buildings remain at several of the bases in Indiana The National Park Service uses several buildings from a base near the Chellberg Farm for offices and service buildings at Indiana Dunes National Park As elsewhere they are remnants of bases not complete units The early use of nuclear missiles on the site further makes C 47 a rare and exceptional site 2 Missiles on display EditA Nike Ajax and Hercules are on display in front of the VFW post in Cedar Lake Indiana A Nike Ajax is on display near the Toledo Rockets Glass Bowl Stadium on the campus of the University of Toledo in Toledo Ohio A Nike Ajax is on display in front of the Villa Park VFW post 2801 in Villa Park IllinoisSee also Edit nbsp Chicago portal nbsp National Register of Historic Places portalList of Nike missile sitesReferences Edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b c d e f g h i Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database SHAARD Searchable database Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Retrieved June 1 2016 Note This includes Don Peterson February 1998 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Nike Missile Site C 47 PDF Retrieved June 1 2016 and Accompanying photographs Bibliography EditBender Donald E Nike Missile Defense System Overview Internet web page bender alpha fdu edu online as of 1998 Carlson Christina Robert Lyon Christine Whitacre et al Last Line of Defense Nike Missile Sites in Illinois Denver CO National Park Service Rocky Mountain System Support Office 1996 Center for Air Force History et al Coming in from the Cold Military Heritage in the Cold War U S Air Force Legacy Program June 1994 Lennox Duncan Jane s Strategic Weapons System Surrey United Kingdom Jane s Information Group 1990 Morgan Mark L and Mark Berhow Rings of Supersonic Steel Air Defenses of the United States Army 1950 1979 An Introductory History and Site Guide San Pedro CA Fort MacArthur Museum Association 1996 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nike Missile Site C47 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nike Missile Site C 47 amp oldid 1169259178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
