Table of Contents
Introduction
Underground military bases are subterranean facilities employed for a variety of military and scientific purposes. These bases have been featured prominently in popular culture and Hollywood movies, but in reality, their uses are far more varied than merely serving as doomsday refuges. The Department of Defense owns numerous such facilities, and their operations span from the U.S. nuclear missile program to tracking man-made space debris as part of space operations, including NASA missions and International Space Station support.
DoD Nuclear Missile Silos
One of the prominent uses of underground military bases is for the storage and launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These bases, known as nuclear missile silos, are referred to as "the tip of the spear" of the U.S. military's offensive capabilities. Most of these silos are located in the northern tier states, such as Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota is one such base, with a network of underground missile sites manned by officers responsible for actual or practice missile launch operations. These bases run round-the-clock, and the crews work in shifts due to the remote locations of the missile silos.
Cheyenne Mountain Complex
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is another example of an impressive underground military base. This massive, secure, underground complex lies under some 2,000 feet of granite and served as the home to critical NORAD operations during the Cold War. The facility was built to withstand a nuclear explosion as close as approximately one mile away and was considered at one time to be the only U.S. facility capable of enduring the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. The complex was used for various missions including Air Defense Command Satellite Systems, Ballistic Missile Defense Center, Combat Operations Center, Space Defense Operations Center, and others. In recent times, the base has been redesignated as an Alternate Command Center and is used for training and military exercise support.
Raven Rock Mountain Complex
The Raven Rock Mountain Complex (RRMC), also known as Site R, is an underground nuclear bunker close to Blue Ridge Summit in Pennsylvania. Built during the Cold War, it was designed as an alternative location for Pentagon operations under a Continuity of Government plan. Over the years, planning has evolved to include secret underground operations like Raven Rock. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has been identified as the installation’s largest tenant unit.
Incomplete Information
Despite extensive research, there is still a lot of information that remains unknown about underground military bases due to the secrecy surrounding these installations. Information about the specific design, construction, and operational details of these bases is generally classified. Moreover, while it is known that there are many such bases worldwide, the exact number remains uncertain.
In conclusion, underground military bases play a crucial role in the defense infrastructure of many nations, particularly in providing a secure location for command and control operations, housing critical defensive and offensive capabilities, and ensuring the continuity of government operations in times of crisis. These subterranean facilities, due to their strategic importance and the classified nature of their operations, continue to be a subject of intrigue and interest.
