To defend against the threat of Soviet submarine operations in
the eastern Atlantic or off the coast of the U.S., in the mid-to-late 1950s, the Navy established an underwater Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS). Naval facilities (NavFacs) of the system were located along the coast of the U.S. and Carribean Islands. From those facilities cables ran to the edge of the continental shelf with hydrophones that could detect the sound of submarines.
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The first NavFacs:
1954
Ramey AFB Puerto Rico
Grand Turk, Bahamas
San Salvador, Bahamas
1955
Bermuda
Shelbourne, Nova Scotia
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Cape May, New Jersey
1956
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Antigua, Leeward Islands
1957
Eleuthera, Bahamas
Barbados, Leeward Islands
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The mission of these NavFacs was "To provide world-wide
maritime surveillance and cueing from undersea sensors
to warfare commanders and intelligence partners in support
of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)."
But, since that mission statement was (then) classified, a cover
story was provided explaining the role, purpose and operations
of the stations as an extension of and adjunct to the acoustic
and oceanographic surveys conducted by the Navy's fleet of
research ships.
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Soon the Navy realized that NavFac Cape May was threatened by beach erosion, which would eventually undermine the station buildings.
Thus, in September 1960, Delaware Senator Allen J. Frear had announced that $1,500,000 had been allotted for the construction of a Navy oceanographic research facility at Fort Miles, which had been a WWII Army Coastal Defense Artillery fort and was still being utilized as an Army training facility and as a Department of Defense military receation center.
In October 1960, the Navy had obtained 626 acres at the southern end of Fort Miles.
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Construction at NavFac Lewes began in 1961. The plan was to have the facility completed by January 1962.
By February 1962, the 18,628 square foot
Headquarters/Multi-Purpose building was completed.
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On the first floor (Navy "deck") of the building, upon entering,
there was a lobby ("quarter deck"). To the left from the quarter deck there were the watch office, the Commanding Officer's office, other administrative offices and a large conference room. To the right of the quarter deck there were eight bunkrooms that were used as Bachelor Officer's Quarters (BOQ) or rooms for newly arrived officers or visitors. Straight ahead from the quarter deck was the dining hall ("mess decks") and behind that the kitchen ("galley")
On the second deck were 18 double bunk rooms, a small
lounge, a large shower facility, two toilet rooms ("heads") and a large recreation room with a door and ladder to the outside. This was the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) and it was configured so that sailors could come and go without entering the first deck of the building.
Today the building is used as a conference center and looks much like it would have when built.
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A Terminal Building to house the oceanographic operations of the facility was built in front of the Fort Miles former six inch gun Battery Herring. The earthen cover was removed and the battery was used to house the generator for the Terminal Building.
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In addition, the casemate of Fort Miles former Battery Smith,
which had housed 16 inch guns was renovated to become an
Auxiliary Building, housing offices, shops a fire station and athletic facilities. A Transmitter Building was built for the extensive communications system. A Service Building was built for the heating plant, as well as a navy exchange and service station. Finally, the former p;otting room for Battery Smith was turned into a Club Oasis.
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The Auxiliary Building had formerly been Battery Smith, the
casemate for the 16-inch guns at Fort Miles and, although it
was earth covered, it provided 19,311 squre feet of space
for NavFac support facilities.
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Then in March 1962,
the Ash Wednesday nor'easter inundated
NavFac Cape May.
But, NavFac Lewes
was ready to open
the gate.
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Thus, by 1 May 1962 NavFac Lewes was commissioned
and operational.
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A 1962 aerial view of NavFac Lewes showed the facility in its
natural setting.
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Commanding Officers: NavFac Lewes
1 May 1962 to 16 Nov. 1962:
Lieutenant Commander Orville L. Tomlinson, USN
16 Nov. 1962 to 15 Feb. 1965:
Lieutenant Commander Bruce L. Prickett, USN
15 Feb. 1965 to 20 Apr. 1967:
Commander John M. Liston, USN
20 Apr. 1967 to 11 July 1969:
Commander Robert H. Fall III, USN
11 July 1969 to 12 Dec. 1972:
Commander George W. Stewart, USN
12 Dec. 1972 to 4 Sept. 1974:
Commander William H. Maier, USN
4 Sept. 1974 to 16 Sept. 1977:
Lieutenant Commander Robert J. Eastman, Jr., USN
16 Sept. 1977 to 30 Sept. 1979:
Lieutenant Commander Margaret A. Frederick, USN
30 Sept. 1979 to 30 Sept. 1981:
Commander William J. Zuberbuhler, USN
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When Lieutenant Commander Frederick took command of NavFac Lewes, she became the first Commanding Officer of a SOSUS NavFac and one of the first woman Commanding Officers in the Navy.
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The NavFac was disestablished in 1981. In the closure ceremony, the Commanding Officer, Commander William J. Zuberbuhler, USN proclaimed "We were the most successful Navy Base in the history of the Navy." He pointed out that NavFac Lewes had received every possible award the Navy issues.
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Upon closing, some land was returned to the State of Delaware.
But, the Navy retained 16.8 acres and the Headquarters/Multi-
Purpose Building and the Auxiliary Building, which became a Naval Reserve Training Facility.
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An aerial view shows the Navy area as it was in 1996.
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In addition to the Headquarters/Multi-Purpose Building which
housed the bachelor officers and enlisted personnel, the Navy
provided housing for married officers and enlisted in the city of
Lewes. That housing complex still exists today located north of
Savannah Road behind the school buildings.
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Today that housing is still in use by personnel attached to the
University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences.
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To read about the Terminal Equipment Building
and SOSUS technology, go here____
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Photo Credits
-First SOSUS NavFacs: Edward Whitman, "SOSUS the Secret Weapon of Undersea Surveillance", Undersea Warfare Vol. 7, No. 2 (Winter 2005).
-Headquarters/Multi-Purpose Building in 1962: Wilmington Morning News.
-Headquarters/Multi-Purpose Building in 2000. Courtesy of Ron Scarborough.
-Illustration of location of Terminal building in front of Battery Herring. Developed by author.
-NavFac Cape May: U.S. Navy, Commander Undersea Surveillance.
-Gate to NavFac Lewes: Lewes Historical Society, courtesy of Hazel Brittingham.
-NavFac Lewes plaque: Author's photo of plaque donated by Lieutenant Commander
Edward Dalrymple USN (Ret.).
-Aerial photo of NavFac Lewes 1962: Fort Miles Historical Assn. archives.
-Lieutenant Commander Margaret A Frederick: From change of command brochure
of LCDR Frederick. Courtesy of Hazel Brittingham.
-Closing the gate to the NavFac: Delaware Coast Press.
-Aerial photo 1996: From display at the Biden Center, Cape Henlopen State Park.
-Senator Biden accepting the area for the State: The Cape Gazette.
-Location of the former Navy housing: Google Earth.
-Navy housing today: Author's photo.
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To return to the home page, go here____
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