AN/FSC-82 Brandywine Receiver Site
Cold War Caching Series #9
This cache may get you on the terrorist watch list.
You are not permitted to drive directly to the front gate of
this facility. The cache has been placed right off of a public road
that leads to this facility. Please understand
this a VERY High Security site. Do NOT attempt to get any closer to
the site then just prior to the government installation signs. No
joke folks, you WILL go to jail.
During the Cold War secure global communications were paramount.
To that end the Department of Defense set up several transmitter
and receiver sites around the country. Maryland is home to one of
these sites, The Andrews Air Force Base Tri-link.
Unfortunately, due to concerns for national security resulting
from the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001 and the ongoing war
effort, the owners of several web sites including Andrews Air Force
Base site have decided to remove some, if not all, of their
content, making research into these facilities very difficult.
What we do know is that the system consisted of three locations,
Andrews Air Force Base, the Davidsonville transmitter site, and the
Brandywine receiver site.
The Brandywine Receiver Site is located approximately 13 miles
southeast of Andrews AFB. The site is one part of the Andrews
Tri-Link along with Andrews AFB and the Davidsonville Transmitter
Site. The Brandywine Globecom Annex was acquired for the
establishment of a radio station in accordance with Air Force
Directive Number AFB-A51-1F, 16 February 1951. The site consists or
1,635 acres of woods and open fields. The site was accepted into
the Air Force on 5 February 1953 and was established as an off-base
site 10 December 1967.
Early in 1967 initial surveys were conducted for installation of
equipment under the project name PRICILLA ELLEN (SCOPE CONTROL) to
support the MYSTIC STAR network which eventually took over the
Aeronautical station mission. In 1967 a survey was conducted for
location of a communications satellite terminal at the Brandywine
site. Installation of the facility was started in October and
completed in early January 1968.
In early 1969, the Department of Defense directed that HF
facilities in the Washington, DC area be consolidated. Under this
program, the Brandywine was assigned additional HF trunks to Fort
Allen, Puerto Rico, Pirmasens Germany, and to the Navel Emergency
Command Post Afloat. In 1973 Strategic Air Command (SAC) began
upgrading and replacing their GIANT TALK facilities in the United
States. Brandywine was selected to be the receiver site for the new
Andrews GIANT TALK facility.
The Gateway AN/FSC-82 installations began in 1980. The AN/FSC-82
provided secure satellite access from National Command Authority
(NCA), Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and common users to deployed
tactical forces. The AFSATCOM installation was the first AFSATCOM
Dual Consolidated Ground Terminal in the Air Force. This AFSATCOM
system provided the JCS connectivity for the primary and alternate
National Military Command Centers (NMCC and ANMCC) with the
AFSATCOM system worldwide including the Single Integrated
Operational Plan (SIOP) forces, the Commander-in-Chiefs of the
unified and specified commands, the National Emergency Airborne
Command Post (NEACP), and the Worldwide Airborne Command Posts. On
5 August 1982 the AFSATCOM terminal was accepted and activated, and
on 9 November 1982 the FSC-82 UHF Gateway installation was
completed.
In January of 1982 Rockwell International Corporation began
installation of the SCOPE SIGNAL III (SSIII) System. This was
comprised of 9 solid state HF-8054 (2 - 30 Mhz) receivers under
computer control and was an upgrade to their existing GIANT TALK
system.
The Radio Maintenance work center maintains 30 Collins HF Radio
Receivers and all associated equipment. This equipment is a vital
link in providing communications for Andrews AFB. The 19 651F-1
radios dedicated to the Special Air Missions communications system
support the President of the United States, Department of Defense ,
Department of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 89th
Airlift Wing air mission , and the Air Force Chief of Staff's
Information and Telecommunications System of the American Air
Forces supporting 17 Latin American countries. The facility's nine
R-2208 radios support the Global Communications System (Scope
Signal III) for Headquarters US Strategic Command. The final type
of radios maintained are two RT-2200 and they provide communication
support for all Department of Defense aircraft under the Scope
Command Communications system.
AFSatcom/Wideband maintenance work supports long-haul,
high-frequency (HF) radio communications and bulk secure
communications for the Andrews Area Wideband System (Tri-Link)
supporting the Presidential Radio Station, Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Defense Information Systems Agency, AMC, and ACC. Satcom supports
Satcom UHF and is the Alternate National Military Command Post with
the same customers mentioned above. Equipment includes frequency
diversity digital microwave radios (AN/FRC-173s), first and second
level digital multiplexers (AN/FCC-98s and AN/FCC-99s), encryption
devices (KG-81s), voice orderwires, patch bays, central
distribution frame (CDF), ringing generators, signaling and
termination equipment, and power rectifiers, as well satcom
terminals (AN/GSC-44s), modems (958s), teletypes (UGC-129 ASR), and
an RSU with AN/FCC-100 (V7) first level multiplexer.
AFSatcom Operations primary mission is to transmit Emergency
Action Messages (EAMs) supporting the National Military Command
Center (NMCC). Other users are the National Airborne Operations
Center (NAOC), launch control centers, nuclear submarines, recon
aircraft and battlefield commanders worldwide.
The BWN Patch & Test Facility PTF is a small facility
consisting of 90 active voice and data circuits. These circuits are
made of telephone, fax, HF radio, satellite and microwave
equipment; combined they make up eight trunks and two microwave
links.
The Site
Uh . . . Okay, I'm thinkin' we should probably stop
now.
The Cache and Disclaimers
This is a single stage cache and will take you towards the
Brandywine site. As with all active duty sites do not attempt to
enter the facility or you will be arrested or worse. This is one of
those “use of deadly force is authorized” sites.
Further down the road from the cache, towards the site, there is a
small pull-off area where you can see the warning signs.
Again, if you are questioned by Air Force Security personnel, be
open and honest about what you are doing. Carrying a “muggle
card” for occasions such as this is a very good
idea.