Nike (rocket)

Nike Ajax anti-aircraft missile

Nike Ajax anti-aircraft missile site near San Francisco, USA

Nike Hercules anti-aircraft missile

Nike Zeus rocket

Nike was an American air defense missile program (SAM-N-25 - designation until 1962, MIM-14 / 14A / 14B - name from 1962), which in the original version MIM-3 Nike Ajax and later in the improved variant Nike Hercules on For many years it was the backbone of US air defense. It was designed for use against high-flying, supersonic and also multiple targets (e.g. against bomber pulks). In the Nike Zeus variant , it was also used in the first US missile defense system.

technology

Nike consisted of a starting stage with a Nike solid rocket motor (bundled fourfold in the Nike Hercules) and a second stage powered by liquid fuel (only NIKE Ajax; NIKE Hercules had a solid propulsion engine as the second stage). The warhead could be armed conventionally (BHE, BLE) (M17 high-explosive blast-fragmentation) or nuclear (BXS, BXL) (W-31 nuclear (2 kT, 40 kT)). The conventional warheads created a cloud of metal fragments that would damage the aircraft to be defended against and cause them to crash.

history

The first ground test of the rocket took place in September 1946 on the "White Sands Proving Ground" in New Mexico . The first (as yet unguided) launch was carried out a week later, with the missile carrying cameras and gauges instead of a warhead. In 1947, the test flights were continued while experiments were carried out to track targets using a monopulse radar . However, problems with the reliability of the boosters led to considerable delays in the schedule, so that in 1948 it was decided to discard the original configuration and instead use the one-piece booster of the " RIM-2 Terrier " rocket program of the US Navy developed by the Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory adapt. After the problems were solved and the project made rapid progress, a contract was signed in January 1949 with Western Electric, Bell Laboratories and Douglas Aircraft for the production of 1,000 of the "Nike Ajax" rockets, now known as "SAM-A-7" 60 floor installations completed. In February 1951, a "QB-17" drone was first shot down on the White Sands test site, whereupon the Army Anti-Aircraft Command (ARAACOM) set up a training battery and training crews began. In March 1954, the first regular "Nike Ajax" unit was set up in Fort Meade , Maryland. Over the next four years, around 200 batteries were built around major cities and strategic destinations in the northern United States.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, it was decided at the beginning of the 1960s to equip the Bundeswehr with anti-aircraft missile systems manufactured by the United States. They should replace the now clearly overburdened anti-aircraft tube artillery . For combating high-flying targets (mainly bombers), the choice fell on the heavy anti-aircraft missile system "Nike Ajax" (later converted to "Nike Hercules"). Combat flight targets at low and medium altitudes (especially fighter-bombers ) should be carried out by the MIM-23 HAWK system . In Germany during the Cold War, the 2-kT nuclear warheads BXS and the 40-kT BXL were kept ready for possible ground-to-ground and surface-to-air missions. They were under the control of the United States Armed Forces and could only be armed by them.

Most of the American Nike systems were decommissioned in April 1974 due to the SALT-1 agreement . Even before the reunification , the decommissioning of the German FlaRak systems "Nike Hercules" began.

The Nike in the Cold War

The Nike-Ajax two-stage anti-aircraft missile was developed in the USA in the 1950s to combat high-flying bombers, which corresponded to the perception of the threat at the time. In 1958 she was extradited to the US Army. An improved version, Nike-Hercules, was delivered to the European NATO allies from 1960. Four drive rockets were bundled together in the first stage, the second stage could carry either a conventional or an atomic warhead. The combat distance was 120 km; the Nike-Hercules could climb up to 30 km. In order to be able to repel an air attack successfully, it was no longer necessary to hit the incoming bomber directly. The enormous explosive force, especially in its nuclear variant, already brought about the desired success within a radius of more than one kilometer from the target. The missile was guided to the target by the weapons system computer under the supervision of the battery control officer (BCO) until it exploded, which allowed the entire system to saturate relatively quickly. In general, it must be noted critically that the entire conception was based on the assumption of large groups of high-flying heavy bombers from the aerial warfare of World War II. They offered no protection against fighter-bombers flying low at high speed. The Nike anti-aircraft missiles were therefore also decommissioned in the 1980s.

The anti-aircraft battalions were deployed in a closed belt behind the HAWK weapon system from the North Sea to the Stuttgart area, and until France left NATO integration as far as Lake Constance. The Belgian and Dutch associations formed a second line behind the German Nike belt. This extended the warning time for the Benelux countries by a few precious minutes. The "Aircraft Carrier Rhineland-Palatinate" - the American airfields were not distributed over their entire stationing area in southern Germany, but were concentrated in the Ramstein – Hahn – Bitburg area - was secured by additional Nike positions in the second row or in property protection . The United States also deployed Chaparral and Vulcan air defense systems .

The American units belonged to the army - the Nike had been developed for the US Army -, but the Central European allies belonged to the air force, as the weapons in combination with fighters and HAWK anti-aircraft missiles from the air defense command posts, the Sector Operations Center (SOC) , were used. In the area of ​​the British-dominated 2ATAF, these were SOC1 in Brockzetel and SOC2 in Uedem. In the south of the 4ATAF, SOC3 in Kindsbach took over this task as part of the integrated air defense. The planned SOC4 in Drachenbronn in Alsace was not implemented before 1966, after France left its role, its task was taken over by the American-run SOC3. It was not until 1988 that the SOC4 in Messstetten was put into service under German leadership. Great Britain did not participate in the Nike belt, but protected its “clutch airfields” with anti-aircraft missiles of the Bloodhound type in property protection.

The ability to equip Nike with atomic warheads made nuclear safekeeping necessary according to the two-key principle. An American custodial team was stationed at each of the 38 German, Belgian and Dutch positions, without whose “permissive action” no nuclear launch could take place. The teams belonged to 10 US Army Artillery Detachments (USAAD), which in turn were subordinate to the 59th Ordnance Brigade in Pirmasens via the 5th US Army Artillery Group (5th USAAG) in Büren. Büren was also the central storage location for nuclear weapons. The Nike belt in the Federal Republic of Germany was followed by positions of the Italian, Greek and Turkish air forces with US nuclear custody - albeit no longer closed in one belt.

The Nike belt in the Federal Republic of Germany (AFCENT)

Hohenkirchen FlaRakBtl 26 1. 2. 3. 4th Delmenhorst FlaRakBtl 24 1. 2. 3. 4th Barnstorf FlaRakBtl 25 1. 2. 3. 4th Handorf 1 GGW 118 119 120 121 Schöppingen 2 GGW 220 221 222 223 Vörden 12 GGW Echtrop FlaRakBtl 21 1./21 2. 3. 4th Burbach FlaRakBtl 22 1./22 2. 3. 4th Grefrath 9e Wing 54 55 56 57 1. Albach  FlaRakBtl 23 2. Schöneck 3. Kemel 4. Obersayn Düren 13e Wing 50 51 52 53 Bitburg 4-6 ADA Wackernheim 2-1 ADA Darmstadt 1-67 ADA A. B. C. D. Pirmasens 2-56 ADA New bridge 5-6 ADA Kornwestheim 3-71 ADA A. B. C. C. D. Stetten am kalten Markt BEN 520 1961–1966 Friedrichshafen BEN 521 1961–1966

The Nike belt in the AFCENT area

BITBURG AB SPANGDAHLEM AB TAP OFF RAMSTEIN AB SEMBACH AB TWO BRIDGES OFF BÜCHEL Air Base PFERDSFELD Air Base RCAF Base SÖLLINGEN RCAF Base GROSTENQUIN Landau Balesfeld Baumholder Dexheim Dichtelbach Geinsheim Brimingen Hontheim Lviv Oberauerbach Obersayn 4./FlaRakBtl 23 Quirnheim Schönborn Welschbillig Reitscheid Wüschheim AS 4-6 ADA A. B. C. D. Wackernheim 2-1 ADA A. B. C. D. Pirmasens 2-56 ADA A. B. C. D. New bridge 5-6 ADA A. B. C. D. D. 50 Sqn 51 Sqn Düren Blankenheim 2./FlaRakBtl 22 3./FlaRakBtl 22 Burbach Waldbröl 3./FlaRakBtl 23 Kemel RCAF Base MARVILLE

The protection of the "aircraft carrier Rhineland-Palatinate" ( USAFE and Luftwaffe) by deploying the Nike weapon system ( USAREUR and Luftwaffe as well as Force Aérienne / Luchtmacht)

nation	Unit / association	US Custodial Unit	Location	barracks	BOC	Duration
Germany	FlaRakBtl 26	35th USAAD	Hohenkirchen	Wangerland barracks	BOC 13	1973-1989
Germany	1./FlaRakBtl 26	Team A, 35th USAAD	Hohenkirchen	Wangerland barracks	BOC 13	1973-1989
Germany	2./FlaRakBtl 26	Team B, 35th USAAD	Rodenkirchen	Stadland barracks	BOC 13	1973-1989
Germany	3./FlaRakBtl 26	Team C, 35th USAAD	Wiesmoor	Fehn barracks	BOC 13	1973-1989
Germany	4./FlaRakBtl 26	Team D, 35th USAAD	Dornum	Blücher barracks	BOC 13	1973-1989
Germany	FlaRakBtl 24	51st USAAD	Delmenhorst	Feldwebel-Lilienthal-Kaserne (Adelheide)	BOC 12	1961-1989
Germany	1./FlaRakBtl 24	Team A, 51st USAAD	Elsfleth	Wesermarsch barracks	BOC 12	1961-1989
Germany	2./FlaRakBtl 24	Team B, 51st USAAD	Delmenhorst	Caspari barracks (Deichhorst)	BOC 12	1961-1989
Germany	3./FlaRakBtl 24	Team C, 51st USAAD	Edewecht	Oldenburg Air Base	BOC 12	1961-1989
Germany	4./FlaRakBtl 24	Team D, 51st USAAD	Syke (Leerßen)	Caspari barracks (Delmenhorst-Deichfeld)	BOC 12	1961-1989
Germany	FlaRakBtl 25	42nd USAAD	Barnstorf (Eydelstedt)	Hülsmeyer barracks	BOC 10	1961-1988
Germany	1./FlaRakBtl 25	Team D, 42nd USAAD	Varrel bush	Ahlhorn Air Base	BOC 10	1961-1988
Germany	2./FlaRakBtl 25	Team A, 42nd USAAD	Barnstorf (Eydelstedt)	Hülsmeyer barracks	BOC 10	1961-1988
Germany	3./FlaRakBtl 25	Team B, 42nd USAAD	Wagenfeld	Auburg barracks	BOC 10	1961-1988
Germany	4./FlaRakBtl 25	Team C, 42nd USAAD	Rewards	Barracks at the Landwehr	BOC 10	1961-1988
Netherlands	1 GGW	509th USAAD	Münster-Handorf (Vörden)	Air Force Barracks Handorf [Btl] (Vörden [USAAD])	BOC 9	1962-1975
Netherlands	A Sqn, 1964 118 Sqn / 1 GGW	Team B, 509th USAAD	Vörden	Willem Versteeg Kamp, Hesepe (Bramsche)	BOC 9	1962-1975
Netherlands	B Sqn, 1964 119 Sqn / 1 GGW	Team A, 509th USAAD	Munster-Handorf	Air Force barracks	BOC 9	1962-1975
Netherlands	C Sqn, 1964 120 Sqn / 1 GGW	Team D, 509th USAAD	Borgholzhausen	Camp Borgholzhausen	BOC 9	1962-1975
Netherlands	D Sqn, 1964 121 Sqn / 1 GGW	Team C, 509th USAAD	Bad food	Tiling Kazerne Bohmte	BOC 9	1962-1975. Accommodation also in the Roberts Barracks, Osnabrück (BAOR).
Netherlands	2 GGW	508th USAAD	Schoeppingen	Kamp Schöppingen	BOC 7	1962-1975
Netherlands	220 Sqn / 2 GGW	Team A, 508th USAAD	Schoeppingen	Kamp Schöppingen	BOC 7	1962-1975
Netherlands	221 Sqn / 2 GGW	Team B, 508th USAAD	Alder-Schermbeck	Kamp alder	BOC 7	1962-1975
Netherlands	222 Sqn / 2 GGW	Team C, 508th USAAD	Hesepe (Nordhorn)	Rheine-Bentlage Airport	BOC 7	1970–1975, 1964–1970 in Twenthe (NL)
Netherlands	223 Sqn / 2 GGW	Team D, 508th USAAD	Hops	General Wever Barracks	BOC 7	1962-1975
Netherlands	12 GGW	509th USAAD	Vörden	Willem Versteeg Kamp, Hesepe (Bramsche)	BOC 7	1975-1987
Netherlands	118 Sqn / 12 GGW	Team A, 509th USAAD	Vörden	Willem Versteeg Kamp, Hesepe (Bramsche)	BOC 7	1975-1987
Netherlands	120 Sqn / 12 GGW	Team C, 509th USAAD	Borgholzhausen	Camp Borgholzhausen	BOC 7	1975-1987
Netherlands	220 Sqn / 12 GGW	Team B, 509th USAAD	Schoeppingen	Kamp Schöppingen	BOC 7	1975-1987
Netherlands	223 Sqn / 12 GGW	Team D, 509th USAAD	Hops	General Wever Barracks	BOC 7	1975-1987
Germany	FlaRakBtl 21	66th USAAD	Echtrop (Büecke)	Graf-Yorck-Kaserne [Btl] (Herzog-Johann-von-Cleve-Kaserne [USAAD])	BOC 6	1959-1987
Germany	1./FlaRakBtl 21	Team B, 66th USAAD	Western Churches	Münsterland barracks (Warendorf)	BOC 6	1959-1987
Germany	2./FlaRakBtl 21	Team A, 66th USAAD	Really drop	Graf Yorck barracks	BOC 6	1959-1987
Germany	3./FlaRakBtl 21	Team C, 66th USAAD	Holzwickede	Emscher barracks	BOC 6	1959-1987
Germany	4./FlaRakBtl 21	Team D, 66th USAAD	Dates	Haard barracks	BOC 6	1959-1987
Germany	FlaRakBtl 22	52nd USAAD	Burbach	Siegerland barracks	BOC 5	1960-1988
Germany	1./FlaRakBtl 22	Team B, 52nd USAAD	Oedingen	Sauerland barracks	BOC 5	1960-1988
Germany	2./FlaRakBtl 22	Team A, 52nd USAAD	Burbach	Siegerland barracks	BOC 5	1960-1988
Germany	3./FlaRakBtl 22	Team C, 52nd USAAD	Waldbröl	Nutscheid barracks	BOC 5	1960-1988
Germany	4./FlaRakBtl 22	Team D, 52nd USAAD	Marienheide	Hermannsberg barracks	BOC 5	1960-1988
Belgium	9e wing	507th USAAD	Grefrath	Grefrath barracks	BOC 4	1970-1984
Belgium	54 Sqn / 9e Wing	Team D, 507th USAAD	Xanten	Camp Sonsbeck	BOC 4	1970-1985
Belgium	55 Sqn / 9e Wing	Team C, 507th USAAD	Chapels	Camp / Kamp chapels	BOC 4	1970-1985
Belgium	56 Sqn / 9e Wing	Team A, 507th USAAD	Grefrath	Grefrath barracks	BOC 4	1970-1984
Belgium	57 Sqn / 9e Wing	Team B, 507th USAAD	Alder-Schermbeck	Kamp alder	BOC 4	1975-1983
Germany	FlaRakBtl 23	501st USAAD	Kilian cities	Nidder barracks	BOC 3	1960-1987
Germany	1./FlaRakBtl 23	Team A, 501st USAAD	Albach	Limes barracks ( Lich )	BOC 3	1964-1987
Germany	2./FlaRakBtl 23	Team B, 501st USAAD	Schöneck	Nidder barracks (Kilianstädten)	BOC 3	1966-1987
Germany	3./FlaRakBtl 23	Team C, 501st USAAD	Kemel	Taunus barracks (Kemel)	BOC 3	1964-1987
Germany	4./FlaRakBtl 23	Team D, 501st USAAD	Obersayn	Wäller barracks (Westerburg)	BOC 3	1966-1987
Belgium	13e wing	43rd USAAD	Düren (Drove)	Camp Bodart	BOC 2	1964-1991
Belgium	50 Sqn / 13e Wing	Team A, 43rd USAAD	Düren (Drove)	Camp Général / Camp Generaal Bastin	BOC 2	1964-1984
Belgium	51 Sqn / 13e Wing	Team D, 43rd USAAD	Blankenheim	Camp Blankenheim	BOC 2	1964-1989
Belgium	52 Sqn / 13e Wing	Team C, 43rd USAAD	Euskirchen	Caserne / Kazerne Loncin	BOC 2	1964-1983
Belgium	53 Sqn / 13e Wing	Team B, 43rd USAAD	Caster		BOC 2	1964-1983
United States	4-6 ADA		Bitburg	Bitburg Air Base	BOC 16	1961-1983
United States	A / 4-6 ADA		Hontheim	Hontheim Missile Station	BOC 16	1961-1983
United States	B / 4-6 ADA		Welschbillig	Welschbillig Missile Station	BOC 16	1961-1971, 1971-1992 HAWK
United States	C / 4-6 ADA		Brimingen	Hisel Missile Station	BOC 16	1961-1971, 1971-1990 HAWK
United States	D / 4-6 ADA		Balesfeld	Balesfeld Missile Station	BOC 16	1961-1971, 1971-1995 HAWK
United States	2-1 ADA		Wackernheim	McCully Barracks	BOC 17	1961-1983. Until 1972 5-1 ADA
United States	A / 2-1 ADA		Wackernheim	McCully Barracks	BOC 17	1961-1983, 1983-1989 Chaparral
United States	B / 2-1 ADA		Dexheim	Anderson Barracks	BOC 17	1961-1983
United States	C / 2-1 ADA		Quirnheim	Gdansk barracks	BOC 17	1961-1994
United States	D / 2-1 ADA		Dichtelbach	Dichtelbach Missile Station ( Kandrich )	BOC 17	1961-1982, 1982 Patriot
United States	1-67 ADA		Darmstadt	Ernst Ludwig barracks	BOC 18	1961-1996
United States	A / 1-67 ADA		Darmstadt-Griesheim	Griesheim Missile Facility	BOC 18	1961-1992
United States	B / 1-67 ADA		Main blue	Mainbullau Missile Station	BOC 18	1961-1971, 1971-1992 HAWK
United States	C / 1-67 ADA		Hardheim	Hardheim Missile Station	BOC 18	1961-1971
United States	D / 1-67 ADA		Dallau	Dallau Tactical Defense Station	BOC 18	1961-1971
United States	2-56 ADA		Pirmasens	Husterhoeh barracks	BOC 19	1961-1984
United States	A / 2-56 ADA		Geinsheim	Geinsheim Activity	BOC 19	1961-1994
United States	B / 2-56 ADA		Landau	Camp Thomas Nast	BOC 19	1961-1984
United States	C / 2-56 ADA		Lviv	Lviv Missile Station	BOC 19	1961-1992
United States	D / 2-56 ADA		Oberauerbach	Oberauerbach Missile Station	BOC 19	1961-1991
United States	5-6 ADA		New bridge	Army Hospital Neubrücke	BOC 20	1961-1983
United States	A / 5-6 ADA		Schönborn	Schoenborn Missile Station	BOC 20	1961-1992
United States	B / 5-6 ADA		Wüschheim	Wüschheim Tac Opera Facility	BOC 20	1961-1966
United States	C / 5-6 ADA		Baumholder	Baumholder Tactical Defense Missile Facility	BOC 20	1961-1993
United States	D / 5-6 ADA		Reitscheid	Reitscheid Missile Station	BOC 20	1961-1983, 1983-1992 HAWK
United States	D / 5-6 ADA		Hontheim	Hontheim Missile Station	BOC 20	1983-1990
United States	3-71 ADA		Kornwestheim	Wilkin Barracks	BOC 21	1961-1984
United States	A / 3-71 ADA		Dallau	Dallau Tactical Defense Station	BOC 21	1977-1992
United States	B / 3-71 ADA		Sachsenheim	Sachsenheim Missile Station	BOC 21	1961-1990
United States	C / 3-71 ADA		Kleingartach	Kleingartach Missile Station	BOC 21	1961-1977
United States	C / 3-71 ADA		Hardheim	Hardheim Missile Station	BOC 21	1977-1992
United States	D / 3-71 ADA		Wurmberg		BOC 21	1961-1984
France	BEN 520	Team B / 357th USAAD Böttingen	Stetten am kalten Markt (provisional)	Camp de Stetten	BOC 1	1961-1966. Planned and explored positions of the Escadrons d'Engins: 1 Böttingen, 2 Stetten am kalten Markt, 3 Inneringen, 4 Stetten am kalten Markt
France	BEN 521	Team C / 357th USAAD Inneringen	Friedrichshafen (provisional)	Base Aérienne 136	BOC 11	1961-1966. Planned and explored positions of the Escadrons d'Engins: 1 Friedrichshafen, 2 Friedrichshafen, 3 Mengen, 4 Münsingen

Deployment of the Nike Weapons System in Southern Europe (AFSOUTH)

17th Bagnoli di Sopra Chioggia Bovolone Zelo 16 Ceggia Ca'Tron Cordovado Vittorio Veneto 7th Bassano del Grappa Montichiari Tonezza Roncà

The Nike belt in the AFSOUTH area (Italy) - (7 = Vicenza, 16 = Treviso, 17 = Padova)

Katsimidi 350 Sqn Keratea Koropi Kreokouki Çorlu Ortakoy

The Nike belt in the AFSOUTH area (Greece and Turkey) (Erzurum not on the map)

nation	Unit / association	US Custodial Unit	Location US	province	Location host	province	Duration
Italy	17th reparto	31st USAAD	Conselve	Padova	Padova	Padova	1963-1977
Italy	80th group / 17th reparto	1 / 31st USAAD	Conselve	Padova	Bagnoli di Sopra	Padova	1963-1977
Italy	81e Gruppo / 17e Reparto	2 / 31st USAAD	Chioggia	Venezia	Chioggia	Venezia	1963-1977
Italy	72nd group / 17th reparto	3 / 31st USAAD	Bovolone	Verona	Bovolone	Verona	1963-1977
Italy	79e Gruppo / 17e Reparto	4 / 31st USAAD	Zelo	Rovigo	Zelo	Rovigo	1963-1977
Italy	16e reparto	34th USAAD	Ceggia	Venezia	Treviso	Treviso	1963-1977
Italy	57th Gruppo / 16th Reparto	1 / 34th USAAD	Ceggia	Venezia	Ceggia	Venezia	1963-1977
Italy	56e Gruppo / 16e Reparto	2 / 34th USAAD	Ca'Tron	Treviso	Ca'Tron	Treviso	1963-1977
Italy	58th Gruppo / 16th Reparto	3 / 34th USAAD	Cordovado	Pordenone	Cordovado	Pordenone	1963-1977
Italy	59e Gruppo / 16e Reparto	4 / 34th USAAD	Monte Pizzoc	Treviso	Vittorio Veneto	Treviso	1963-1977
Italy	7e reparto	47th USAAD	Monte Calvarina	Verona	Vicenza	Vicenza	1963-1977
Italy	64th group / 7th reparto	1 / 47th USAAD	Monte Grappa	Vicenza	Bassano del Grappa	Vicenza	1963-1977
Italy	65th group / 7th reparto	2 / 47th USAAD	Montichiari	Brescia	Montichiari	Brescia	1963-1977
Italy	66e Gruppo / 7e Reparto	3 / 47th USAAD	Monte Toraro	Trento	Tonezza	Vicenza	1963-1977
Italy	67e Gruppo / 7e Reparto	4 / 47th USAAD	Monte Calvarina	Verona	Roncà	Verona	1963-1977
Italy	16e reparto	34th USAAD	Ceggia	Venezia	Treviso	Treviso	1977-1988
Italy	57th Gruppo / 16th Reparto	1 / 34th USAAD	Ceggia	Venezia	Ceggia	Venezia	1977-1988
Italy	80th group / 16th reparto	2 / 34th USAAD	Bagnoli di Sopra	Padova	Bagnoli di Sopra	Padova	1977-1988
Italy	81th Gruppo / 16th Reparto	3 / 34th USAAD	Chioggia	Venezia	Chioggia	Venezia	1977-1988
Italy	58th Gruppo / 16th Reparto	4 / 34th USAAD	Cordovado	Pordenone	Cordovado	Pordenone	1977-1988
Italy	17th reparto	47th USAAD	Monte Calvarina	Verona	Padova	Padova	1977-1988
Italy	67e Gruppo / 17e Reparto	1 / 47th USAAD	Monte Calvarina	Verona	Roncà	Verona	1977-1988
Italy	72nd group / 17th reparto	2 / 47th USAAD	Bovolone	Verona	Bovolone	Verona	1977-1988
Italy	79e Gruppo / 17e Reparto	3 / 47th USAAD	Zelo	Rovigo	Zelo	Rovigo	1977-1988
Greece	350th Nike Sqn	37th USAAD	Keratea	Attica	Katsimidi	Attica	1960-1979
Greece	1st Btry / 350th Nike Sqn	Team A, 37th USAAD	Keratea	Attica	Keratea	Attica	1960-1979
Greece	2nd Btry / 350th Nike Sqn	Team B, 37th USAAD	Koropi	Attica	Koropi	Attica	1960-1979
Greece	3rd Btry / 350th Nike Sqn	Team C, 37th USAAD	Katsimidi	Attica	Katsimidi	Attica	1960-1979
Greece	4th Btry / 350th Nike Sqn	Team D, 37th USAAD	Erithea	Attica	Kreokouki	Attica	1960-1979
Turkey		10th USAFAD	Çorlu	Tekirdağ	Ortakoy	Tekirdağ	1964-1981
Turkey		21st USAFAD	Çorlu	Tekirdağ	Çorlu	Tekirdağ	1964-1981
Turkey		27th USAFAD	Erzurum	Erzurum	Erzurum	Erzurum	1964-1981

The Nike as a sounding rocket

The first stage of the Nike Ajax was also used as a sounding rocket in subsequent versions . It was also used as a second and third stage in numerous sounding rockets. For civil applications, the Nike was mostly used in connection with an upper level, for example in the form of the Nike Apache or Nike Cajun , because of its low summit height .

• Nike Apache
• Nike Asp
• Nike Cajun
• Nike Deacon
• Nike Hydac
• Nike Iroquois
• Nike Javelin
• Nike Malemute
• Nike Nike
• Nike Orion
• Nike Recruit
• Nike T40 T55
• Nike Tomahawk
• Nike Viper I.

Abbreviations

abbreviation	text
FROM	Air base
ADA	Air Defense Artillery
AFCENT	Allied Forces Central Europe
AFSOUTH	Allied Forces Southern Europe
ATAF	Allied Tactical Air Force
BE	Belgian, Belgium
BEN	Brigade d'Engins Nucléaires
Bn	Battalion
BOC	Battalion Operations Center
Btry	Battery
Co	Company
CRC	Control and Reporting Center
CRP	Control and Reporting Post
Det	Detachment
FlaRak	Anti-aircraft missiles
FlaRakBtl	Anti-aircraft missile battalion
GA	Groupe d'Artillerie
GGW	Groep Geleide Wapen
HE	High explosives
NATO	North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NL	Netherlands, Netherlands
RAF	Royal Air Force
RAFG	Royal Air Force Germany
SACEUR	Supreme Allied Commander Europe
SHAPE	Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
SOC	Sector Operations Center
Sqn	Squadron
TR	Turkish, Turkey
u / i	unidentified
USAAD	United States Army Artillery Detachment
USAAG	United States Army Artillery Group
USAFAD	United States Army Field Artillery Detachment
USAFE	United States Air Force in Europe
USAREUR	United States Army in Europe

See also

• Nuclear weapons in Germany

Web links

Commons : Project Nike  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• Encyclopedia Astronautica: Nike Ajax , Nike Hercules , Nike Zeus (all English)
• Oliver Timmermann: Rocket positions in Griesheim , pictures of an abandoned Nike position
• City wiki Pforzheim-Enz: Nike station , information and photos about the Nike station of the Americans in Pforzheim / Wurmberg