Silver Strand Training Complex

File:Aerial view of Radio Compass Station looking east, Imperial Beach, California. Altitude 200 feet. - NARA - 295621.jpg

Initially created in 1920 as the Navy Radio Compass Station, it was renamed in 1940 as the Navy Direction Finder Station when a permanent direction finding station was established.{{cite web |url=http://www.niocsd.navy.mil/history.htm |title=NAVIOCOM San Diego History |date=1 February 2010 |work=Navy Information Operations Command San Diego |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=16 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722200929/http://www.niocsd.navy.mil/history.htm |archive-date=22 July 2011 }} In 1943, thirty WAVES were stationed there, culminating in 1945 with a total of 112 WAVES;{{cite book |title=U. S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association |last=McGinnis |first=George P. |year=1997 |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-56311-250-8 |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbjIjcU7JXcC&dq=%22Imperial%20Beach%20Radio%20Station%22&pg=PA41 |access-date=16 February 2011}} 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 Disposed Antenna Array, an AN/FRD-10.{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/classic_bullseye.htm |title=AN/FRD-10 CLASSIC BULLSEYE |last1=Pike |first1=John |publisher=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=16 February 2011}} In 1971, it was renamed as the Naval Radio Receiving Facility. The last of its type to be built, it ceased operation in 1999.{{cite web |url=http://www.jproc.ca/rrp/masset.html |title=CFS Masset |date=December 2008 |work=RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE IN THE CANADIAN NAVY |publisher=Jerry Proc |access-date=16 February 2011}}

In 1942, the United States Army took ownership of 412.14 acres in Coronado Heights and designated it Fort Emory in honor of Brigadier-General William H. Emory, itself being subordinate to Fort Rosecrans, being manned by the 19th Coast Artillery.{{cite web |url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/FtEmory.html |title=Fort Emory |date=18 May 2008 |work=California State Military Museum |publisher=California State Military Department |access-date=16 February 2011}}{{cite book|last=Linder|first=Bruce|title=San Diego's Navy|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=2001|page=129|isbn=1-55750-531-4}} Armament of the base consisted of four 155 mm guns of Battery Imperial, which were later superseded by the two 6-inch M1905 guns of Battery Grant.{{cite book |title=The Guns of San Diego: San Diego Harbor Defenses, 1796-1947 |last=Thompson |first=Erwin N. |author2=Howard B. Overton |year=1991 |publisher=National Park Service |location=San Diego |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cabr/hrs7a.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805124453/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cabr/hrs7a.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |access-date=16 February 2011}} Coastal radars were authorized in 1943.{{cite book |title=THE GUNS OF SAN DIEGO: San Diego Harbor Defenses, 1796-1947 |last=Thompson |first=Erwin N. |author2=Howard B. Overton |year=1991 |publisher=National Park Service |location=San Diego |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cabr/hrs7b.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122020813/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cabr/hrs7b.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |access-date=16 February 2011}} Construction of a two-gun 16-inch battery (#134) was completed in 1944; however, the guns were never mounted; these guns would have supplemented the 16-inch Battery Ashburn at Fort Rosecrans.{{cite book |title=THE GUNS OF SAN DIEGO: San Diego Harbor Defenses, 1796-1947 |last=Thompson |first=Erwin N. |author2=Howard B. Overton |year=1991 |publisher=National Park Service |location=San Diego |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cabr/hrs7.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204093825/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cabr/hrs7.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=16 February 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/HDSD.html |title=Harbor Defenses of San Diego |author=Mark J. Bernow |work=California State Military Museum |publisher=California State Military Department |access-date=16 February 2011}} In World War II, Fort Emory was garrisoned by the 19th Coast Artillery Regiment, and after October 1944 by the 523rd Coast Artillery Battalion.[http://cdsg.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/FORTS/CACunits/CACreg1.pdf Gaines, William C., Coast Artillery Organizational History, 1917-1950, Coast Defense Journal, vol. 23, issue 2, p. 13] The land upon which the fort was located was turned over to the Navy in 1947, with a single army family as caretaker of the facilities, which were declared surplus a year later; in 1950 it was finally transferred to the Navy, integrating with the Imperial Beach Radio Station.

Today the {{convert|578|acre|km2|0}} facility provides an excellent training environment with waterborne approaches from both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay sides.{{cite web|title=Silver Strand Training Complex|url=https://cnrsw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVBASE-Coronado/|work=CNIC website|access-date=30 May 2011}} Offshore the Coronado Roads area is used for ship systems testing.{{cite news |title=US Navy on the T-AKE As It Beefs Up Supply Ship Capacity |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/us-navy-on-the-take-as-it-beefs-up-supply-ship-capacity-updated-01826/ |newspaper=Defense Industry Daily |date=3 February 2011 |access-date=17 February 2011}} The city-like layout of the base also provides a realistic site for critical urban warfare training.

For amphibious operations training the beaches of the base have been designated Beach White, and Beach Purple, each with two training lanes.{{cite news |last=Zuniga |first=Janine |date=14 March 2010 |title=Comment time extended for Navy's strand plans |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-comment-time-extended-navys-strand-plans-2010mar14-htmlstory.html |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=11 January 2020 }} In 2010, the Navy proposed increased training, including mine-sweeping training,{{cite web |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/feb/26/navy-expansion-proposed-along-silver-strand/ |title=Navy Expansion Proposed Along Silver Strand |author=Megan Burke |author2=Hank Crook |author3=Alison St John |date=26 February 2010 |work=Editors Roundtable |publisher=KPBS |access-date=17 February 2011}} amphibious operations, as well as special warfare operations.{{cite news |title=Plans to step up Navy training worry neighbors |author=JANINE ZÚÑIGA |url=http://www.singonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/23/naval-training-plans-concern-locals/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=17 February 2011}} This faced opposition during public hearings by environmentalist, due to possible impact upon the California least tern, San Diego fairy shrimp,{{cite news |title=Navy's Silver Strand Expansion Could Harm Vulnerable Species |author=Kyla Calvert |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/aug/12/navys-silver-strand-expansion-could-harm-vulnerabl/ |newspaper=KPBS |date=12 August 2010 |access-date=17 February 2011}} 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.{{cite news |title=Navy's signs causing beach-goer confusion |author=JANINE ZÚÑIGA |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/08/security-signs-causing-confusion/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=8 April 2010 |access-date=17 February 2011}} A ten-year-long, 818-page environmental impact statement was released relating to this proposed increased activity,{{cite news |title=Last chance to comment on new training activities |author=JANINE ZÚÑIGA |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/13/increased-naval-activity-planned-silver-strand/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=13 January 2011 |access-date=17 February 2011}} it was created with the assistance of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.{{cite news |title=USFWS Carlsbad Field Office Federal Partnership Recognized by Navy Region Southwest |author=Melanie Ravan |url=http://www.navycompass.com/top-stories/top-stories/2321-melanie-ravan |newspaper=Navy Compass |date=31 August 2010 |access-date=17 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315175519/http://www.navycompass.com/top-stories/top-stories/2321-melanie-ravan |archive-date=15 March 2017 }} Sailors and Marines, training on the Complex are provided maps to avoid environmentally sensitive areas, and conduct clean-ups to minimize impact on those areas supervised by local organizations and the EPA.{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Tony |date=21 February 2013 |title=Coronado sailors clean up imperiled birds' nesting areas |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-feb-21-la-me-beach-nesting-20130222-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 December 2014 }} In an unrelated proposal, the base's water area will be used for training by the Littoral Combat Ships for antisubmarine warfare;{{cite news |title=Navy eyes wider training area off Hawaii |author=Gidget Fuentes |url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/08/navy_hawaii_training_080410w/ |newspaper=Marine Corps Times |date=4 August 2010 |access-date=17 February 2011}} the Navy has filed its impact upon wildlife with NOAA as it relates to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.{{cite web |url=http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/sstc_iha_v3.pdf |title=Incidental Harassment Authorization Application for Navy Training Conducted Within The Silver Strand Training Complex |author=Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet |date=28 December 2010 |work=National Marine Fisheries Service |publisher=National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=17 February 2011}}

In September 2014, the Navy proposed demolishing the Wullenweber Antenna Array stating it was obsolete equipment.{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Jeanette |date=3 September 2014 |title=Navy's mysterious 'elephant cage' retired |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/03/Wullenweber-antenna-silver-strand-navy/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |access-date=29 January 2015 }}
{{cite news |author= |title=Antenna Array Demolition Part Of Proposed Navy Campus |url=http://www.imperialbeachnewsca.com/news/article_7646ebb6-3ada-11e4-87d5-fbfedc1714f4.html |newspaper=Eagle & Times |location=Imperial Beach, California |date=18 September 2014 |access-date=29 January 2015 }} By early 2015, the array had been demolished.

File:Disposed Coronado Beltline Rail.jpg, in October 2017.]]

In 2014, the Navy proposed expansion of Special Warfare Command facilities at Silver Strand, dubbed "Naval Base Coronado Coastal Campus"; the proposal had four alternatives, one which would demolish a historic bunker.{{cite news |author=Abbie Alford |title=First look at future Naval Base Coronado |url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/26276873/first-look-at-future-naval-base-coronado |newspaper=KFMB Channel 8 |date=14 August 2014 |access-date=5 November 2014 }}
{{cite news |author=Jeanette Steele |title=Plan for new Navy SEAL campus |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jul/27/navy-seal-silver-strand-training-complex/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=27 July 2014 |access-date=5 November 2014 }} Concern has been raised of the effect of planned expansion on Acmispon prostratus (synonym Lotus nuttallianus).{{cite news |last=Pell |first=Sheila |date=2 December 2014 |title=Environmental roshambo: Navy smashes lotus |url=http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2014/dec/02/stringers-environmental-navy-nuttalls-lotus/# |newspaper=San Diego Reader |access-date=4 December 2014 }} At its outset, the expansion in facilities aboard Silver Strand was over $700 million.{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Jeanette |date=12 June 2015 |title=New Navy SEAL campus is a go |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sdut-navy-seal-campus-record-decision-2015jun12-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=1 August 2018 }} As of February 2016, the Navy plans to tear down the bunker;{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Marty |date=8 February 2016 |title=Fortress with a view |url=http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/feb/08/stringers-fort-emory-ww2-bunker-demolition/# |work=San Diego Reader |access-date=11 April 2017 }} it had been planned to be named for Brigadier General George Washington Gatchell, but is identified as #134.{{cite journal |last1=May |first1=Ronald V. |date=Summer 1988 |title=U.S. Army Forts Around San Diego Bay |url=http://soap.sdsu.edu/FortGuijarros/1988Vol2No2/FortGuijarrosVol2No2.pdf |journal=Fort Guijarros Quarterly |volume=2 |issue=2 |page=4 |access-date=11 April 2017 }} It had been previously used by the Navy as an instruction of SEALs, and had the designation of "Building 99";{{cite news |last=Axelson |first=David |date=22 January 2016 |title=World War II Era Bunker To Be Demolished On New Navy Coastal Campus |url=http://www.imperialbeachnewsca.com/news/article_65b8f6da-c15d-11e5-a77c-63455fe9a363.html |work=Eagle & Times |location=Imperial Beach, California |access-date=1 August 2018 }} it would have been eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In August 2016, members of the Kumeyaay nation protested the construction due to concerns about disturbing buried ancestors.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Debbi |date=31 August 2016 |title=Indians protest Navy building site they say is sacred burial ground |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/whats-now/sdut-kumeyaay-indians-protest-navy-sacred-burial-ground-2016aug31-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=1 August 2018 }} It was estimated that demolition of "Building 99" would be completed by December 2016.{{cite report |author=Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. |date=October 2016 |title=Transportation Management Plan |url=https://cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/cnrsw/Naval%20Base%20Coronado/Documents/Coastal%20Campus%20TMP_Final.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128110227/https://www.cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/cnrsw/Naval%20Base%20Coronado/Documents/Coastal%20Campus%20TMP_Final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 28, 2017 |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=6 August 2018 }} In April 2018, Representative Susan Davis raised concern of sewage spillage from the Tijuana River would have on SEAL training at the complex.{{cite news |agency=City News Service |last=Chambers |first=John |date=23 April 2018 |title=Navy asked to investigate cross-border sewage spills |url=https://fox5sandiego.com/2018/04/23/navy-asked-to-investigate-cross-border-sewage-spills/ |work=KSWB |location=San Diego |access-date=1 August 2018 }} In May 2018, construction continued with five new buildings of the 44 planned to be built, were completed with some already in use.{{cite news |last=Groeneveid |first=Jeannie |date=18 May 2018 |title=Navy's Coastal Campus – On Time and On Budget |url=https://coronadotimes.com/news/2018/05/18/navys-coastal-campus-on-time-and-on-budget/ |work=Coronado Times |access-date=1 August 2018 }} Upon completion, it is expected that over 3,000 navy personnel will be working aboard the complex.{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Marty |date=27 January 2018 |title=SEAL appeal on the Silver Strand |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/jan/27/stringers-seal-appeal-silver-strand/ |work=San Diego Reader |access-date=1 August 2018 }}

In 2015, the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command opened a course on unmanned aerial system, including the Scan Eagle, aboard Silver Strand Training Complex, with additional field activities occurring at Camp Roberts.{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Seaman Richard |date=3 June 2015 |title=A New Approach; NSW Opens UAS School |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/165362/new-approach-nsw-opens-uas-school |work=Naval Special Warfare Command |via=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service |access-date=1 August 2018 }}

{{reflist|26em}}

• [https://cnrsw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVBASE-Coronado/ Official Website]
• [http://www.silverstrandtrainingcomplexeis.com/ Environmental Impact Statement]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.sunnycv.com/southbay/exhibits/military.html |title=Military Bases in South Bay |author=Steve Schoenherr |date=29 March 2015 |website=sunnycv.com |publisher=South Bay Historical Society }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/cabr/hrs7a.htm |title=Chapter 7: World War II and After, 1941-1948 (continued) |author= |date=19 January 2005 |website=The Guns of San Diego |publisher=National Park Service}}
• [http://cdsg.org/the-harbor-defenses-of-san-diego-cdsg/ Harbor Defenses of San Diego at the Coast Defense Study Group website]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Emory |title=Fort Emory |last1=Stanton |first1=John |last2=Thayer |first2=Bill |date=7 January 2019 |website=fortwiki.com }}

Category:Military in San Diego

Category:Military facilities in San Diego County, California

Category:South Bay (San Diego County)

Category:1920 establishments in California