adrian@math.arizona.edu (Adrian Jones) (10/16/89)
From: adrian@math.arizona.edu (Adrian Jones) One can consider the NORAD center in Colorado to be a kind of cave. Moreover, Swiss Army uses quite a bunch of caves (some natural, but most are artificial, human-carved, dug in mountains) to store materials, weapons, planes,etc... I remember I saw a documentary on TV a few years ago, showing how the army could quickly transform Swiss in a fortress (don't forget that about 90% of the houses have their own nuclear shelters). They showed a swiss air force base in the heart of a montain, with a short runway inside, closed by giant steel gates. In fact, the runway was extending on a motorway branch, usually open to traffic they closed when operating bombers rather than their normal Mirage III (they used their own version, with canard wings for more maneuverability and they update electronics. In fact they recently bought F-17 or F-18). It was very impressing to look those planes just dashing outta the mountain bullwark. They have plenty of secret places like that. There are even rumors they hide nuclear submarine on the Constance lake and on the Leman lake, but i do believe it a joke... Caves can be use as storage facilities and secret bases, or simply as a protection place. British dug out the rock of Gibraltar during WWII as they were afraid of a german offensive through Spain. In fact, there are big underground rooms 300 yards deep inside the rock that could stand a nuke attack. Most of guerillas movement use underground cave either as abris or storage facilties. For instance, the Erythree guerillas have an underground base just below their former main base bombed by soviets and americans in the last 30 years. Afghans do use caves. The French Forces hated cave fights. The algerian rebels favored those places in the mountains, with plenty of issues, difficult to conquer. The french had to use grenades and waste ammos shouting in the darkness. The Army had to use fire lancers while conquering some japanese strongholds in Pacific, where the japs dug underground networks. I remember of a vicious japanese device in Okinawa where they had put canons on rail and combined them with a mecanism to open automatically the gate of the shelter, then to shoot and close. ARIZONA JONES
s32822l@kaira.hut.fi (Ari J. Joki (OH6DJ)) (10/18/89)
From: s32822l@kaira.hut.fi (Ari J. Joki (OH6DJ)) I remember seeing some reports in international press somewhen in then 60's about the Swedish "Projekt Granit". The Swedish military was reported to be moving all signaficant HQ's, command centers, depots and whatever else underground. I am certain that at least one naval base was reported to be situated within solid rock, like the Swiss AFB reported in the referenced article. I don't remember any account of Sweden having such Air Force sites, but would be surprised if they didn't. Unfortunately I don't have my collection of older magazines here in Helsinki, but if sufficient interest is indicated by e-mail I will check the reference when I next visit my regular dwelling. Yours, AJJ Ari J. Joki ( OH6DJ ) e-mail: s32822l@kaira.hut.FI Department of Electrical Engineering in%"s32822l%kaira@santra.hut.fi" Helsinki University of Technology