Senator CANNON. You consider these are all of the same general type, these repetitive items as you classify them? Admiral PRESSEY. Yes, sir; they all meet exactly the same requirement. On page 50i, an operations building for $101,000. The HAWK battalion is without adequate facilities for supervisory and administrative personnel to perform their work. The task consists of overall supervision of the battalion and its four subordinate batteries. It includes coordination of operation and training functions in order to prepare the battalion for immediate deployment. It is necessary to house the 60 headquarters and battery supervisory personnel at one location to permit centralization of training aids, message center, classified materials storage, and other command functions. Senator SALTONSTALL. Where were the HAWKS based before? Admiral PRESSEY. They have recently been organized, sir, and were brought to the east coast in advance of the planned movement to join the wing during the Cuban crisis, sir. They were brought from the Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Senator SALTONSTALL. What are you using there? Is that field being given up? Admiral PRESSEY. They were formed and trained there, organized there for eventual deployment to the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Fleet, sir, but they were moved in an emergency and before any facilities could be prepared on the east coast to take care of them. That is the reason we have this major requirement now. Senator SALTONSTALL. You are spending a lot of money to put the HAWKS in Cherry Point. What are you using at Twentynine Palms? Are you using that field or is that being given up? Admiral PRESSEY. This is a new requirement, sir. General Masters, can you respond to this question? General MASTERS. I'm sorry-I was examining my papers here. What is the question? Admiral PRESSEY. The question is what are we doing to move the HAWK battalion from Twentynine Palms, and what are we doing now at Twentynine Palms with the space they vacated? General MASTERS. Well, we are utilizing that space for the other units which are based there. That contains our major artillery units, and it is also a major missile training facility for the west coast for the other services, sir, and we also do a great deal of training there, artillery from Camp Pendleton and tanks from Camp Pendleton. So I do not believe that space is wasted, sir. Senator SALTONSTALL. And there is no demand or change in construction due to the change in use there? General MASTERS. No, sir; I do not believe so, sir. General MASTERS. No, sir. Senator SALTONSTALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral PRESSEY. Page 50j, utilities and ground improvements at $333,000 provides the utilities and ground improvements to support the five previously described items. Senator CANNON. What was the reason you couldn't continue this entire outfit at Twentynine Palms where you were training them? Why do you have to move them to this location? Admiral PRESSEY. They are a part of the Marine wing, sir; Marine air group. As they were organized and developed for use-it is a new missile they were assigned to their respective organizations. Actually their move involved the immediate deployment from Twentynine Palms to Key West, Fla., during the Cuban crisis, one battery of this battalion was rotated from Cherry Point to Key West for some months. Senator CANNON. I understand that, but that still doesn't answer the question. In other words, this is more or less a staging area. You rotate them from here to wherever you want them just as you indicated at Key West. Why couldn't you just as well rotate them out of Twentynine Palms? Couldn't that be used as your staging area, instead of a buildup here that involves millions of dollars? Admiral PRESSEY. This is a new organization, one of which will will be with the Atlantic Fleet, sir, and one with the Pacific Fleet Marines. It is an added element of the Marine team, sir. Senator SALTONSTALL. The chairman's thought is the same as mine, Admiral. It costs $3 million to move these HAWKS from the west coast to the east coast, and the question is what is going to happen at the west coast station? Admiral PRESSEY. If these units deploy they would normally be deployed with the Marine division or the Marine air group and wing on this side for duty or emergencies in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean or Caribbean. Senator SALTONSTALL. Do you have HAWKS supporting the division on the west coast? Admiral PRESSEY. Yes, sir. Senator SALTONSTALL. And are they at Twentynine Palms? Senator SALTONSTALL. You have enough space at Twentynine Palms to take care of the HAWKS there, and this will take care of the HAWKS on the east coast at Cherry Point? Admiral PRESSEY. Yes, sir. The HAWK battalian at Twentynine Palms was in old TERRIER facilities, sir, converted to HAWK requirements. There has not been any element of this kind in the Fleet Marine Force Atlantic until this HAWK battalion moved in. If we deployed them from Twentynine Palms, we would have to get them across the country, probably by air, in order to get them here in reasonable time. As it is, they are immediately available for deployment from the eastern seaboard. Senator SALTONSTALL. As a citizen of the east coast, I should be gratified by this additional protection. Admiral PRESSEY. I think it is best to have the Atlantic Marines on the Atlantic side, sir. Senator SALTONSTALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral PRESSEY. The next project is at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. It consists of nine items for a total of $3,076,000. The requirement for six of the nine items was generated by the relocation in January 1963, of the Third Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion from the Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, Calif., to the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point. The transfer was for the purpose of integrating this battalion into the antiair warfare capabilities of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Cherry Point. The early relocation of the battalion from California became necessary as a result of the Cuban crisis in October 1962, when one missile battery of the battalion was deployed to the Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The mission of this missile battalion is to provide local medium range air defense of assigned installations or areas against hostile low- and medium-altitude targets. It employs the HAWK missile. When not deployed, the battalion conducts operational training, including radar and communication exercises, integrated exercises with the tactical air operations centers of the Marine air control squadrons and the Marine wing headquarters group. Additionally, its personnel carry out actual missile firing exercises, maintain their capability to deploy as an integral unit, and perform the necessary maintenance upon their assigned electronics and communication equipment. As a result of the transfer, this station's base loading was increased by 28 officers and 489 enlisted personnel, 22 guided missile launchers, 18 guided missile transporters, 47 guided missile trailers, 16 radars, and the supporting equipment. There are no existing satisfactory operating and maintenance spaces available for the battalion. Personnel and equipment are scattered over the air station in locations which vary from the hangar of an aircraft squadron, which is deployed for shore training tasks; to aircraft storage containers normally used for longtime preservation; and to taxiways for parking vehicles and large equipments. Failure to supply the necessary facilities will serious impair the operational efficiency and combat readiness of the Third Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion. The first item is for construction of an aircraft systems training building at the estimated cost of $224,000. The existing facility, housing the maintenance trainer equipment for A-4 aircraft, valued in excess of $3 million, is a converted messhall built in 1943. It has deteriorated due to dry rot and termite damage, is a fire hazard and is scheduled to be razed. High noise levels and lack of temperature controls in the building make teaching and learning extremely difficult. This item will provide a 12,000-square-foot one-story concrete addition to the nearby existing permanent F-4 training building. It is similar in purpose to the proposed and previously discussed facility for the air stations at Meridian, Cecil Field, and Miramar. The second item is for construction of aircraft maintenance shops at the estimated cost of $1,851,000. Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, is required to support aircraft of 11 Fleet Marine Force squadrons, a jet training squadron, a station operations and engineering squadron, plus transient aircraft. A total of 280 aircraft are supported. Two of the existing hangars, used in maintaining these aircraft, were built in 1942 to accommodate seaplanes. The large hangar bays have temporary enclosures in the center area for shop space and small shop spaces are located along the sides. Also, in order to provide the minimum of space needed for adequate maintenance and storage, a number of quonset huts, utility buildings, makeshift cubicles on the hangar decks, have been pressed into use. None of these "jury rigged" facilities was designed to meet modern jet aircraft maintenance requirements. Power and other utility outlets are inadequate, lighting is archaic, and the heating system will not provide enough warmth during cold weather to allow proper bolt torque, and the physical discomforts contribute to the possibility of human error. With the introduction at this station of twin-engine jet fighter and attack aircraft, incorporating complex electronics and associated armament systems, the scope of aircraft maintenance has increased many fold. Ground support equipment has also greatly increased and there is an urgent need for protected storage. This item will provide for construction of maintenance shops in two existing hangars and lean-to additions for equipment storage. Also, existing shops and offices will be altered. The item will include demolition of temporary shelters (quonset huts), site preparation, interior electrical distribution, aircraft utility service points, renovation of hangar bay lighting, fire protection, vehicle parking pavement and air conditioning of shop and office spaces. The third item is for construction of a HAWK equipment maintenance shop at the estimated cost of $104,000. It will provide shops and similar working space for the maintenance and repair of HAWK guided missile systems and related ground equipment. A maintenance crew of over 50 Marine technicians will be assigned to work in the proposed shops. This item will provide for erection of a prefabricated steel frame building, allowing the maintenance unit to move out of the hangar assigned to the deployed aircraft squadron and to move its equipment from the aircraft preservation container now being used for storage purposes as a temporary measure. The fourth item is for construction of a combat vehicle maintenance shop at the estimated cost of $111,000. The HAWK Missile Battalion has 278 vehicles and trailers used in accomplishing its antiaircraft mission. This equipment varies from 5-ton wreckers to radio jeeps. The trailers carry equipment such as radar, missile launchers, arc welders, and other maintenance items. Approximately 50 personnel will use the proposed facility for maintenance and administrative purposes. This item will provide a prefabricated steel frame building with vehicle racks, enabling this maintenance unit to move from the crowded space it now shares with the Second Marine Air Wing Vehicle Maintenance Unit. The fifth line item is for a combat equipment maintenance shop at the estimated cost of $61,000. A Marine air control squadron assigned to the station conducts operational training continuously under combat conditions, during which it must retain its group integrity. This requires the squadron to have facilities in which to maintain its 86 items of combat equipment such as trucks, radar vans, electronic test stands and similar equipment. The only existing covered space available is one stall of the wing service group repair building on a "space available" basis. Lack of facilities has resulted in a large backlog of maintenance which reduces the combat readiness of the squadron. The sixth item is for construction of a communications-electronics maintenance shop at the estimated cost of $105,000. The Communications Platoon and the Fire Distribution Section of the HAWK Missile Battalion are assigned quantities of communication equipment and combat information control equipment for establishing a portable command post and directing fire when deployed. There are 92 personnel assigned to keep this equipment in good operational condition. At present they are performing required maintenance and training under field conditions in mobile vans, which, while acceptable in emergency, does not permit maintenance of the equipment in ready condition for deployment on short notice. This item will provide a prefabricated metal building of 6,506 square feet with an open maintenance van lean-to. The seventh line item is for construction of a general warehouse at the estimated cost of $186,000. The HAWK Missile Battalion must be ready for immediate deployment at any time. To attain this ready condition, it must have storage space to hold backup material and spares totaling 42,000 cubic feet, and must have room for repacking and storing material used in field training maneuvers. The required space is now being provided in a hangar assigned to a deployed aircraft squadron. When this squadron returns, other space must be furnished in other scattered temporary facilities. This item will provide a prefabricated metal building of 26,500 square feet for sole use by the HAWK Missile Battalion. The eighth item is for construction of an Operations Building at the estimated cost of $101,000. The HAWK Missile Battalion is without adequate facilities for supervisory and administrative personnel to perform their work. This task, consists of the maintenance of overall supervision of the Battalion and its 4 subordinate batteries. It also includes coordination of operational and training functions to enable the Battalion to deploy rapidly. In order that these tasks may be done efficiently, it is necessary to house the 60 headquarters and battery supervisory personnel in one location. This will permit centralization of training aids, the message center, classified material stowage and other command functions. At present, these functions are temporarily carried out in various buildings scattered throughout the Station. This item will provide a prefabricated metal building of 7,273 square feet to serve as the Battalion headquarters. The final item is for Utilities and Ground Improvements at the estimated cost of $333,000. It is required to make the 5 previously described items for the HAWK Missile Battalion useable. The item will include installation and construction of electrical power and telephone lines, sewerage and water distribution services. In addition, it will provide for construction of roads and parking areas to accommodate the several hundred vehicles, radar vans and missile system equipment now parked on an aircraft taxiway. Senator CANNON. You may proceed. |