Weapon Storage and Security System WS3

Ramstein

6th

5

4th

2

Söllingen

Bremgarten

3

1

Nuclear-capable air force of NATO with US ammunition support (1 Volkel , 2 Brüggen , 3 Kleine Brogel , 4 Nörvenich , 5 Büchel , 6 Hahn )

General Roger Brady inspects a training bomb at Volkel Air Base .

The Weapon Storage and Security System (WS3) is a storage system for storing nuclear weapons in the aircraft hangars in underfloor magazines. It is used by the US armed forces on airfields in other NATO countries. From the magazines, B61 atomic bombs can be mounted directly on the combat aircraft such as the F-16 fighter jets . The construction program for WS3 storage systems included a total of 437 magazines at the end of the 1980s, but was limited to 208 magazines after the end of the Cold War.

The magazines were installed at all airfields in Germany, but also in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey and Great Britain in the early 1990s, and they were still planned for use in nuclear weapons.

An internal investigation by the US Air Force in 2008 revealed general security concerns.

history

The nuclear storage of nuclear weapons for the US Air Force and the allied NATO partners has been done via the Weapon Storage and Security System (WS3) since 1986. For the land forces there was the 59th Ordnance Brigade based in Pirmasens.

The beginnings of nuclear custody

The nuclear equipment of the German Air Force began with the Wagon Train program . 1./JaboG 33 was the first unit to receive nuclear weapons at Büchel Air Base . The weapons arrived at the air base in 1962 under the strictest guard of the US Custodial Detachment. Furthermore, the Jabo squadrons in Memmingen and Nörvenich were made nuclear ready. The 306th Munitions Maintenance Squadron was set up to support the allied units of the Canadian Air Force as well as the associations in Belgium and Northern Germany, which sent detachments to the operational airfields. In 1968, HQ USAFE put the 7232nd Munitions Maintenance Group (MMG) into service at Ramstein Air Base to ensure the centralized command of the NATO Atomic Stockpile Program. 7232nd MMG sent detachments (Munitions Maintenance Squadron, MMS, then Munitions Support Squadron, MUNSS) to the operational squadrons of the host tactical units .

Det 600/306 MMS, Kleine Brogel (BE) (1962–1964 Det 0600/306 MMS, 1964–1967 Det 0600/7232 MMG)
Det / 306 MMS, Lahr (FR 1962–1966) (GE)
7061 MUNSS, Araxos (GR), under 7206th Air Base Group Hellenikon AB (GR)
7361 MUNSS, Kleine Brogel (BE) (1967–1972 Det 1 / 36th TFW Bitburg AB, 1972–1976 7361 MUNSS (support base: 36th TFW Bitburg AB 1967–1976))
7362 MUNSS, Volkel (NL)
7363 MUNSS, RAF Brüggen (RAFG) (GE)
7391 MUNSS, Balıkesir (TR), under TUSLOG (The United States Logistics Group) Ankara AS
7392 MUNSS, Eskişehir (TR), under TUSLOG (The United States Logistics Group) Ankara AS
7393 MUNSS, Mürted-Akıncı (TR), under TUSLOG (The United States Logistics Group) Ankara AS
7394 MUNSS, Malatya Erhaç (TR), under TUSLOG (The United States Logistics Group) Ankara AS
7401 MUNSS, Rimini (IT), under 40th Tactical Group Aviano AB (IT)
7402 MUNSS, Ghedi Torre (IT), under 40th Tactical Group Aviano AB (IT)
7501 MUNSS, Büchel (GE)
7502 MUNSS, Nörvenich (GE)
7261 MUNSS, Memmingen (GE)

7000th MUNSS

On April 1, 1974, HQ USAFE 7232nd MMG decommissioned and subordinated the individual detachments to the 7000th Munitions Support Squadron (MUNSS), which was also based in Ramstein and was subordinated to Seventeenth Air Force at Sembach Air Base . 1985 - 1993 7000th MUNSS (disbanded in 1988, 7100th Mission Support Squadron put into service) was subordinated to the 7100th Combat Support Wing in Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden. The aim of the reorganization was to improve the supervision and management of nuclear stocks. From 1994 to 1996 there were three regional intermediate levels in the management structure below Seventeenth Air Force (also dissolved in 1996). The 7055th Operations Squadron at Kapaun Air Station (Kaiserslautern-Vogelweh) was charged with training Allied personnel in handling US nuclear weapons. The nuclear safekeeping was carried out by:

603rd Regional Support Group (RSG) RAF Mildenhall (GB)
616th RSG Aviano Air Base (IT) for IT and GR
- 402 MUNSS, Rimini (IT)
- 731 MUNSS, Araxos (GR)
- 831 MUNSS, Ghedi Torre (IT)
617th RSG Sembach Air Base (GE) for GE, BE and NL
- 601 MUNSS, 1994 617 MUNSS, 1996 52 MUNSS, Kleine Brogel (BE) (support base: 52nd TFW Spangdahlem AB 1976–1992 and 1993, 32nd Fighter Group Soesterberg AB (NL) 1992–1993)
- 604 MUNSS, Nörvenich (GE)
- 605 MUNSS, Memmingen (GE)
- 617 MUNSS, Morbach (GE) Ammunition Storage Station
- 752 MUNSS, Volkel (NL)
- 817 MUNSS, 1996 852 MUNSS, Büchel (GE)
as well as 39th Wing in TR
- 39 MUNSS, Balıkesir (TR)
- 739 MUNSS, Mürted-Akıncı (TR)

INF and WS3

The so-called retrofitting in Europe with the NATO double resolution in the area of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces ( INF Treaty ) and the stationing of cruise missiles or Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) in Europe took place under the guidelines of the new WS3 program of the US Air Force, which at the same time provided binding sizes for the number of chambers (vaults). The central location for WS3 is again Ramstein.

38th MMG and 52nd MMG

With the reorganization in 2004, USAFE returned to the Munitions Maintenance Group as the central management point and instead of the 7000th MUNSS put the 38th MMG in Ramstein into service. Just three years later, however, the unit was deactivated and instead the 52nd MMG was set up at Spangdahlem Air Base as part of the 52nd Fighter Wing. 52nd MMG is the superior department of the detachments at the operational airports in

701 MUNSS, Kleine Brogel (BE), for 10e Tactical Wing with 72 F-16
702 MUNSS, Büchel (GE), for JaboG 33 with tornadoes
703 MUNSS, Volkel (NL), for 306th, 311st, 312nd and 313rd squadron with F-16
704 MUNSS, Ghedi Torre (IT), for 154º and 102º Gruppo / 6º Stormo with tornadoes

The airfields Balıkesir (TR) and Mürted-Akıncı (TR) are in standby mode (caretaker status) without US custodial detachment. In addition, nuclear weapons are still available from the US associations in Aviano (IT) and Incirlik (TR).

US Air Bases

Air base	Vaults planned in 1986	Vaults built until 1997	Vaults 2004	Max. Cap. 1986	Max. Cap. 1997	Max. Cap. 2004	B61 (nuclear weapon)	Withdrawal of nuclear weapons	Remarks
Ramstein (GE)	58	55	55	232	220	220	90 US, 40 host	2004-05	Spangdahlem, Araxos, Memmingen
Hahn (GE)	53	-	-	212	-	-	-	1993
Aviano (IT)	18th	18th	18th	72	72	72	50 US	still existing	31st TFW
Incirlik (TR)	30th	25th	25th	120	100	100	50 US, 40 host	still existing	39th TFW
RAF Lakenheath (GB)	48	33	33	192	132	132	110 US	2007	48th TFW
RAF Marham (GB)	-	24	-	-	96	-	-	2007
RAF Bentwaters (GB)	25th	-	-	100	-	-	-	1994
RAF Upper Heyford (GB)	55	-	-	220	-	-	-	1994

US bases based on the INF treaty

base	Vaults planned in 1986	Max. Cap. Planned in 1986	W-84 nuclear weapons	Withdrawal of nuclear weapons	Remarks
Comiso (IT)	2	8th	8th	1988-1991	487th TMW
Florennes (BE)	2	8th	8th	1988-1991	485th TMW
RAF Greenham Common (GB)	2	8th	8th	1988-1991	501st TMW
RAF Molesworth (GB)	2	8th	-	1988	303rd TMW
Woensdrecht (NL)	2	8th	8th	1988-1991	486th TMW
Wüschheim (GE)	2	8th	8th	1988	38th TMW, never ready for use

Nuclear custody for NATO partners

Air base	MUNSS Detachment	Host tactical unit	Vaults 1986/1997	Max. Cap. 1986/1997	B61 (nuclear weapon) (code word)	Decommissioning of the MUNSS	Remarks
Büchel Air Base (GE)	1962-1974 7501st, 1974-1996 817th, 1996-2004 852nd, since 2004 702nd	JaboG 33, PA 200 tornado since 1990	11	44	20 Host (Tool Chest)	still existing	The last nuclear weapons on German soil
Memmingen Air Base (GE)	1963-1993 7261st, 1993-1996 605th	JaboG 34, PA 200 tornado since 1989	11	44	20 host	1996	1996 B61 transferred to Ramstein, MUNSS disbanded, squadron decommissioned in 2003, airfield is used for civilian purposes. WS3 systems were expanded.
Nörvenich Air Base (GE)	1963-1974 7502nd, 1974-1996 604th	JaboG 31, PA 200 tornado since 1991	11	44	20 host	1996	1996 B61 transferred to Ramstein, MUNSS dissolved, location received Caretaker status.
RAF Brüggen (RAFG) (GE)	7363rd	No. 9 Squadron, PA 200 tornado since 1986	10	40	WE-177 nuclear weapons	1998	Squadron decommissioned in 2002.
RCAF Base Söllingen (RCAF) (GE)	Det 1900 / 7232nd MMG	1 Canadian Air Group, CF-18				1984	1993 withdrawal of the Canadian troops.
RCAF Base Lahr (RCAF) (GE)	Det 0900 / 7232nd MMG	1 Canadian Air Group, CF-104				1970	Lahr airfield taken over by the French armed forces in 1966
BAO 139 Lahr (FFA) (GE)	306th Det 0900	3rd Escadre de chasse, F-100 / Mirage III				1966	Lahr Airfield handed over to the Canadian armed forces in 1966.
BAO 136 Bremgarten (FFA) (GE)	u / i	11e Escadre de Chasse, F-100				1966	1967 Handover of the air base to the German Air Force.
Kleine Brogel military airfield (BE)	1962–1964 Det 600 / 306th MMS, 1964–1967 Det 0600 / 7232nd MMG, 1967–1972 Det 1 / 36th TFW, 1972-1993 7361st MUNSS, 1993–1994 601st, 1994–1996 617th, 1996–2004 52nd, since 2004 701st	10 Wing, F-16 since 1992	11	44	20 host (pine cone)	still existing	The last nuclear weapons on Belgian soil.
Military Air Base Volkel (NL)	1963-1974 7362nd, 1974-2004 752nd, since 2004 703rd	312 Sqn, 316 Sqn, F-16 A / B MLU since 1984	11	44	20 host (toy chest)	still existing	The last nuclear weapons on Dutch soil.
Ghedi Torre military airfield (IT)	1963-1974 7402nd, 1974-2004 831st, since 2004 704th	6 Stormo, PA 200 tornado since 1997	6, 1997 11	24, 1997 44	40 host (Stone Ax)	still existing	MUNSS under 31st TFW Aviano (US Wing). 1993 20 B61 from Rimini transferred to Ghedi Torre.
Rimini Airport (IT)	1963-1974 7401st, 1974-1993 402nd	5 Stormo, F-104	6th	24	20 host	1993	1993 20 B61s transferred from Rimini to Ghedi Torre, squadron relocated to Cervia.
Araxos Airport (GR)	1963-1974 7061nd, 1974-2001 731st	116 Combat Wing	11	44	20 host	2001	2001 20 B61s transferred from Araxos to Ramstein.
Balikesir Air Base (TR)	1963-1974 7391st, 1974-1996 39th	191 Sqn, 192 Sqn, F-16 C / D since 1997	6th	24	-	2001	Caretaker status.
Military airfield Mürted-Akıncı (TR)	1963-1974 7393th, 1974-1996 739th	141 Sqn, 143 Sqn, F-16 C / D since 1997	6th	24	-	1996	Caretaker status.
Malatya Erhac Airport (TR)	7394th	171 Sqn, 172 Sqn, F-4	6th	24	-	1991	1991 nuclear role ended.
Eskisehir Air Base (TR)	7392nd	111 Sqn, F-4	6th	24	-	1991	1991 nuclear role ended.

Abbreviations

abbreviation	text
FROM	Air base
AFB	Air Force Base
ATAF	Allied Tactical Air Force
BAO	Base Aérienne Opérationnelle
BE	Belgian, Belgium
Det	Detachment
FBW	Fighter Bomber Wing
FFA	Forces Françaises en Allemagne
FOB	Forward Operating Base
GB	British, UK
GE	German, Germany
GR	Greek, Greece
HQ	Headquarters
INF	Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces
IT	Italian, Italy
JaboG	Fighter-bomber squadron
MMG	Munitions Maintenance Group
MMS	Munitions Maintenance Squadron
MUNSS	Munitions Support Squadron
NATO	North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NL	Netherlands, Netherlands
RAF	Royal Air Force
RAFG	Royal Air Force Germany
RCAF	Royal Canadian Air Force
RNAF	Royal Netherlands Air Force
SP	Spanish, Spain
Sqn	Squadron
TFW	Tactical Fighter Wing
TMW	Tactical Missile Wing
TR	Turkish, Turkey
u / i	unidentified
USAFE	United States Air Force in Europe
USAREUR	United States Army in Europe

literature

Hans M. Kristensen / Natural Resources Defense Council, US Nuclear weapons in Europe (2005) in the version dated December 21, 2007 (PDF file; 4.91 MB)

Individual evidence

^ Air Force Blue Ribbon Review of Nuclear Weapons Policies and Producers. Air Force investigation into politics and handling of nuclear weapons, February 8, 2008 ( online ; PDF; 3.6 MB)
↑ Files on this in the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (BA-MA) in Freiburg: BW 1/12422.
^ John Clearwater, Canadian Nuclear Weapons: The Untold Story of Canada's Cold War Arsenal, Toronto and Oxford 1998, 124.
↑ On July 1, 1995 USAFE recorded: "HQ USAFE eliminated manning at the 39th Munitions Support Squadron at Balikesir, Turkey, and the 739th MUNSS at Akinci (formerly called Murted until July 2), Turkey, but could not inactivate the units because of disagreements with the Turks over equipment issues. Henceforth, the units existed in name only and USAFE kept six people at each site on temporary duty to serve as custodians of the equipment and facilities. " See Historical Highlights, the United States Air Forces in Europe 1942-1997, ed. Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 14, 1997.
↑ Host B61 nuclear weapons were intended for associations of the "host country" (host = host).
↑ In 2005 Ramstein became custodian for 52nd TFW Spangdahlem (GE), whose equipment with F-16 C / D was completed in January 1992.
↑ 20 of the 90 US B61 nuclear weapons were withdrawn from Araxos (GR) in 2001.
↑ 20 of the B61 nuclear weapons were intended for JaboG 34 in Memmingen and were withdrawn in 1996. The WS3 storage systems were expanded when the air base was closed.
↑ Location of the 31st TFW (until 1994 401st TFW), which was relocated from Torrejon (SP) to Aviano in 1992, equipped with F-16 C / D since 1996.
↑ Location of the 39th TFW, equipped with F-16 C / D since 1998.
↑ After the failed military coup in Turkey in 2016, a well-known think tank, the Stimson Institute, expressed concern about the safety of the US nuclear weapons stationed at the Incirlik air base. Storing around 50 nuclear weapons in Incirlik is "Russian roulette," said co-author of the report, Laicie Heeley. The historian Kori Schake of the Hoover Institute said in the "New York Times" that the weapons could not be used without a code. It is not possible to activate them without authorization. Even if Turkey were to become an enemy of the US, the weapons stationed there would not be dangerous, she said.
↑ Location of the 48th TFW, equipped with F-15 E since 1994.
↑ From 1995 to 1998, WS3 was also used for the RAF's WE-177 nuclear weapons, until the UK abandoned the airborne component of nuclear deterrence (1998).
↑ In 1984 the Canadian government ended the bilateral nuclear agreement with the USA and thus also ended Söllingen's nuclear role.
↑ 1969–1971 Canadian alarm rotters, previously 1962–1964 French alarm rotters. See Badische Zeitung of July 5, 2019, p. 3 Lahr's atomic secret (findings from Werner Schönleber).
↑ 1962–1964 French alarm rotters, then 1969–1971 Canadian alarm rotters. See Badische Zeitung of July 5, 2019, p. 3, Lahr's atomic secret (findings from Werner Schönleber).
↑ In 1966, the French government ended its involvement in the integrated defense of NATO and thus ended Bremgarten's role in nuclear power.

[1] Air Force Blue Ribbon Review of Nuclear Weapons Policies and Producers. Air Force investigation into politics and handling of nuclear weapons, February 8, 2008 ( online ; PDF; 3.6 MB)

[2] Files on this in the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (BA-MA) in Freiburg: BW 1/12422.

[3] John Clearwater, Canadian Nuclear Weapons: The Untold Story of Canada's Cold War Arsenal, Toronto and Oxford 1998, 124.

[4] On July 1, 1995 USAFE recorded: "HQ USAFE eliminated manning at the 39th Munitions Support Squadron at Balikesir, Turkey, and the 739th MUNSS at Akinci (formerly called Murted until July 2), Turkey, but could not inactivate the units because of disagreements with the Turks over equipment issues. Henceforth, the units existed in name only and USAFE kept six people at each site on temporary duty to serve as custodians of the equipment and facilities. " See Historical Highlights, the United States Air Forces in Europe 1942-1997, ed. Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 14, 1997.

[5] Host B61 nuclear weapons were intended for associations of the "host country" (host = host).

[6] In 2005 Ramstein became custodian for 52nd TFW Spangdahlem (GE), whose equipment with F-16 C / D was completed in January 1992.

[7] 20 of the 90 US B61 nuclear weapons were withdrawn from Araxos (GR) in 2001.

[8] 20 of the B61 nuclear weapons were intended for JaboG 34 in Memmingen and were withdrawn in 1996. The WS3 storage systems were expanded when the air base was closed.

[9] Location of the 31st TFW (until 1994 401st TFW), which was relocated from Torrejon (SP) to Aviano in 1992, equipped with F-16 C / D since 1996.

[10] Location of the 39th TFW, equipped with F-16 C / D since 1998.

[11] After the failed military coup in Turkey in 2016, a well-known think tank, the Stimson Institute, expressed concern about the safety of the US nuclear weapons stationed at the Incirlik air base. Storing around 50 nuclear weapons in Incirlik is "Russian roulette," said co-author of the report, Laicie Heeley. The historian Kori Schake of the Hoover Institute said in the "New York Times" that the weapons could not be used without a code. It is not possible to activate them without authorization. Even if Turkey were to become an enemy of the US, the weapons stationed there would not be dangerous, she said.

[12] Location of the 48th TFW, equipped with F-15 E since 1994.

[13] From 1995 to 1998, WS3 was also used for the RAF's WE-177 nuclear weapons, until the UK abandoned the airborne component of nuclear deterrence (1998).

[14] In 1984 the Canadian government ended the bilateral nuclear agreement with the USA and thus also ended Söllingen's nuclear role.

[15] 1969–1971 Canadian alarm rotters, previously 1962–1964 French alarm rotters. See Badische Zeitung of July 5, 2019, p. 3 Lahr's atomic secret (findings from Werner Schönleber).

[16] 1962–1964 French alarm rotters, then 1969–1971 Canadian alarm rotters. See Badische Zeitung of July 5, 2019, p. 3, Lahr's atomic secret (findings from Werner Schönleber).

[17] In 1966, the French government ended its involvement in the integrated defense of NATO and thus ended Bremgarten's role in nuclear power.