US Army Anti-Aircraft Missile Battery Command in Cold War West Germany (228)

Jan 20, 2024

A former lieutenant and captain in the US Army shares his experiences in West Germany during the Cold War, including Soviet overflights, Warsaw Pact tracking attempts, and the use of geese for perimeter security. The podcast also covers the improved Hawke anti-aircraft missile system and its deployment in exercises. Discussions include tracking military and civilian aircraft, fragility and challenges in electronics, special unit patch, sponsorship, missile system, defense career, deployment locations and rotations, US Army division air defense mechanisms, deactivating a highly proficient air defense unit, and next steps after deactivation of advanced Hawk unit.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Training and Deployment

01:59 • 20min

Tracking Military and Civilian Aircraft

22:06 • 23min

Fragility and Challenges in the Electronics of Anti-Aircraft Missile Battery Command

44:59 • 10min

Discussions on Special Unit Patch, Sponsorship, Missile System, and Defense Career

54:40 • 5min

Deployment Locations and Rotations

59:26 • 9min

US Army Division Air Defense Mechanisms in Cold War West Germany

01:08:44 • 3min

Deactivating a Highly Proficient Air Defense Unit

01:11:20 • 2min

Next Steps After Deactivation of Advanced Hawk Unit

01:13:35 • 2min

Dan served as a lieutenant and captain in a US Army air defence artillery battalion in West Germany from 1980 until 1985.

He describes details of Soviet overflights deep into West Germany and we discuss how the Warsaw Pact attempted to track their units.

Now who knew that the US Army experimented with geese for perimeter security?! Dan reveals details of this little-known specialist unit.

Dan worked with the improved Hawk anti-aircraft missile system. We talk about its capabilities, the challenges of working with 1980s electronics, its deployment and exercises. He describes a live firing exercise where an errant missile almost wiped out a group of VIPS.

Don’t miss part 2 in a couple of weeks where Dan describes his experiences in the war plans office of the general staff.

Do make sure you check out the episode extras at https://coldwarconversations.com/episode328/

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0:00 Introduction and background of Dan

1:32 The Improved Hawk missile system and its capabilities

10:29 Deployment to field locations and the challenges faced

18:13 Encounters with Soviet aircraft and military liaison missions

24:33 The innovative use of intruder geese for security

33:21 Live firing exercises and the dangers involved

42:20 The deactivation of an air defence unit and its implications

58:41 Reflections on service

1:13:38 Podcast extras, appreciation for financial supporters, and closing remarks

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