LORAN-C transmitter Lampedusa

LORAN-C transmitter Lampedusa is the X-Ray secondary station of the Mediterranean Sea LORAN-C Chain ( GRI 7990). It uses a transmission power of 325 kW.The Lampedusa LORAN-C transmitter is situated on the island of Lampedusa at coord|35|31|21|N|12|31|31|E|. The Lampedusa LORAN-C transmitter uses as an antenna a 190.5 metre (625 ft) tall mast radiator, which was commissioned in 1972. An Omega transmitting station was also constructed on the base.

In 1979, [http://www.uscg.mil/History/Women%20Chronology.html Lt. Kay Hartzell took command] of the Coast Guard base, becoming the first female commanding officer of an isolated [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode14/usc_sec_14_00000001----000-.html U.S. military base] .

On April 15, 1986, Libya fired two Scuds at the U.S. Coast Guard navigation station on the Italian island, in retaliation for the American bombing of Tripoli and Benghazi. However, the missiles passed over the island, landing in the sea, and caused no damage. As a result of the attack, the Coast Guard station was commissioned as a NATO base, including security hardening and an armory, as well as an Italian security detail stationed nearby.

At the time of the missile attack, the LORAN station was under the command of Lt. Ernest DelBueno, who panicked and attempted to evacuate his American crew by calling in a U.S. Navy transport helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Four (HC-4), abandoning the Italians on his base, and in the community on the other end of the island. To their credit, the Italians, under the leadership of the base's civilian administrator, Marco Bartolo, reflected great honor as they kept their posts; however, the incident damaged relations with the local Italians; a rift that remained for more than two years.

On January 4, 1989, U.S. Navy aircraft from the carrier USS John F. Kennedy shot down two Libyan fighters approximately 200 kilometers from the island. At the time, a U.S. Navy logistics aircraft from HC-4 was on the ground at the NATO base, preparing for takeoff. The base commander, Lt. Kenneth Armstrong, received notice from U.S. Sixth Fleet Intelligence at La Maddalena that the Libyan fighters had been shot down, and immediately grounded the unarmed logistics flight, which was scheduled to move on to Tel Aviv. Sixth Fleet Intel also informed Armstrong that Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafihad made direct reprisal threats against the American commanders at Sigonella, Sicily, and at Lampedusa.

The aircraft remained on the ground overnight, and an Italian media frenzy followed, putting Lampedusa and Armstrong in the spotlight. Armstrong responded by hosting a media tour of the base, conspicuously wearing his body armor and pointing out defensive forces on the base. The move quieted speculation that the Americans were once again preparing to leave.

The NATO base was decommissioned in 1994 and transferred to Italian military control. It can still be seen clearly on Google Earth (keyword: Lampedusa), at the west end of the island, with swimming pool and outbuildings visible.

External links

* http://www.tech-service.net/loran/LORAN-1.XLS
* http://www.megapulse.com/chaininfo.html