Woolwich Township Nike Base



Nike Missile Base PH-58 became operational in 1957. As

part of a nation wide self defense program initiated by the

United States Military. The Woolwich base followed the

normal standard calling for three underground missile

magazines. From the first day of operation it house the Nike

Ajax missile, which was a standard surface to air missile. In

the early 1960's the base started housing the big cusion of

the Ajax missile, The Hercules Missile, which carried a small

nuclear payload designed to destroy an entire fleet of

Russian bombers.

This base was manned by active units of the US Army

including, D/176th from 1957-1958, D/2/59th from

1958-1961, and B/3/43rd from 1961-1974. And the site

used the ABAR type of radar for its operations. Although

the base never fired a missile in an attack, the history is long

here. Most of the men that operated on the base lived in the

surrounding towns of Swedesboro, Repaupo, and in

Bridgeport.

The site now sits in ruin. Most of the buildings in both the

Radar site and the Launcher site are still there, but have not

faired to well to the test of time. And talks have reimerged

in the township of Woolwich to have the site redeveloped.

Most people don't know how close the U.S. actually came to

a full out war with the USSR. But sites like this that scatter

the country side remind us everyday that in those times we

were close to the end.

