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Introduction: The Cold War and the Seabees’ Strategic Mission
The Cold War (1947–1991) was not only a battle of ideologies but also a race for technological supremacy. Central to U.S. strategy was the development of missile and space programs, which demanded unprecedented infrastructure. The U.S. Navy Seabees, renowned for their motto “We Build, We Fight,” were tasked with establishing remote bases to support these efforts. In 1957, Mobile Construction Battalion 7 (MCB7) deployed an advance party to San Salvador Island in the British West Indies. Their mission: construct a tent city and prepare the groundwork for radar stations critical to tracking missile launches from Cape Canaveral. This essay delves into the extraordinary accomplishments of this 150-man team, whose ingenuity and resilience transformed a barren island into a linchpin of Cold War defense.
The Seabees and MCB7: Architects of Defense
Historical Context and Battalion Structure
The Seabees, established in 1942, were a unique hybrid of combatants and builders. By the 1950s, their role expanded to support Cold War projects, including nuclear test sites and early-warning systems. MCB7, reactivated in 1951, was composed of skilled engineers, steelworkers, electricians, and mechanics. The advance party selected for San Salvador included specialists in logistics, heavy equipment operation, and communications, many of whom had prior experience in Pacific and Caribbean deployments. Their training emphasized rapid deployment, survival in austere environments, and improvisation—skills critical for San Salvador’s challenges.
Pre-Deployment Preparations
Months before landing, MCB7 conducted reconnaissance via aerial surveys and consultations with British authorities. The team studied tidal patterns, coral reef maps, and soil composition. They also coordinated with the U.S. State Department to secure diplomatic clearance, ensuring compliance with British colonial regulations. Prefabricated materials, including collapsible tents, portable generators, and water distillation units, were pre-loaded onto LSTs in Charleston, South Carolina.
San Salvador: A Microcosm of Cold War Strategy
Geopolitical Significance
San Salvador’s location, 600 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, placed it along the trajectory of missile test flights. The island’s sparse population—fewer than 500 residents—minimized political friction, while its British colonial status allowed the U.S. to leverage NATO alliances. The U.S.-UK agreement granted temporary land use in exchange for infrastructure investments, including airstrip upgrades and freshwater wells for locals.
Technical Imperatives
The radar stations required unobstructed sightlines to spaceflight trajectories. San Salvador’s flat terrain and proximity to the Atlantic Missile Range made it ideal. Data from the island would calibrate guidance systems for ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) and later, NASA’s manned missions.
Operation Beachhead: The LST Landing and Initial Challenges
The LST Fleet: Workhorses of Amphibious Warfare
Three LSTs (Landing Ship, Tanks) transported the advance party: USS Broward County, USS Harlan County, and USS San Bernardino. Each vessel carried bulldozers, graders, 10,000-gallon water tanks, and 200 tons of construction materials. LSTs were chosen for their bow ramps, enabling direct beach landings without port facilities—a necessity on San Salvador’s undeveloped shores.
Navigating Nature’s Obstacles
The landing on February 12, 1957, faced immediate hurdles:
- Coral Reefs: Sharp reefs threatened LST hulls. Seabees used depth charges to blast navigation channels, a tactic refined during Pacific island campaigns.
- Tidal Surges: Unpredictable tides stranded equipment. Amphibious vehicles (DUKWs) ferried supplies during high tide windows.
- Beach Composition: Soft sand bogged down heavy machinery. Seabees laid steel matting—salvaged from WWII airstrips—to create stable pathways.
Within 48 hours, the beachhead was secured, and a command post established under camouflage netting.
Building the Tent City: A Symphony of Logistics
Shelter and Sanitation
The advance party erected 75 squad tents, each housing six men, on raised wooden platforms to avoid flooding. Latrines, dug 300 feet from living areas, used lime pits for waste management. A field hospital with sterilization equipment and anti-venom stores addressed medical emergencies, including coral snake bites and heatstroke.
Water and Power: Lifelines of the Camp
- Freshwater: With no natural springs, Seabees installed solar stills and reverse-osmosis units, producing 1,500 gallons daily. Rainwater catchment systems supplemented supply.
- Electricity: Diesel generators powered lights, radios, and refrigeration. Engineers rigged a windmill from spare parts to recharge batteries, reducing fuel dependence.
Food and Morale
Field kitchens served 3,000 calories daily per man, with canned meats and powdered eggs supplemented by fresh fish caught by Seabees. A “rec tent” featured a projector for weekend movies, and a softball field was carved from scrubland. These efforts maintained morale despite 100°F heat and 90% humidity.
Engineering Triumphs: Innovations in Adversity
Coral Crushers and Makeshift Concrete
Lacking gravel, Seabees pulverized coral with bulldozers to create aggregate for concrete. They mixed it with seawater and cement flown in by LST, pouring foundations for future radar towers. This innovation saved months of shipping costs.
The “San Salvador Special”
To combat mosquitos, mechanics retrofitted a DUKW with pesticide sprayers, creating a mobile fumigation unit. Dubbed the “San Salvador Special,” it reduced malaria rates by 80%.
Hurricane Preparations
When Hurricane Carrie threatened in September 1957, Seabees anchored tents with submarine-grade steel cables and stockpiled emergency rations. The camp suffered minimal damage, earning a Navy Unit Commendation.
Coordination and Diplomacy: Bridging Nations
Collaboration with British Authorities
A Royal Navy liaison officer, Lt. Reginald Whitcombe, mediated between MCB7 and Bahamian officials. The Seabees repaired a local schoolhouse in exchange for access to a limestone quarry, fostering goodwill.
Engaging the Islanders
Seabees hired 30 Bahamian laborers, paying $2 daily—twice the local wage—to assist with road grading. This integration provided economic benefits and eased cultural tensions.
Legacy: From Tent City to Technological Hub
Enabling the Main Battalion’s Success
When the main battalion arrived in August 1957, they found:
- Pre-Leveled Sites: Radar foundations and drainage systems.
- Stockpiles: 500 tons of cement and prefab radar components.
- Infrastructure: A 2-mile road network and a 5,000-gallon fuel depot.
These preparations slashed the radar station’s construction timeline by four months.
Cold War Impact
The AN/FPS-16 radars, operational by 1958, tracked the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, and monitored Soviet missile tests during the Cuban Missile Crisis. San Salvador’s data was relayed to NORAD, shaping nuclear deterrence strategies.
Postscript: The Island Today
Decommissioned in 1970, the site’s concrete pads and rusted antennas remain. Bahamian historians have proposed designating it a heritage site, honoring its dual role in Cold War history and local development.
Conclusion: The Unseen Heroes of the Cold War
The MCB7 advance party’s accomplishments on San Salvador epitomize the Seabees’ ethos. Through improvisation, technical prowess, and sheer determination, they turned a remote island into a fortress of science and strategy. Their story, often overshadowed by flashier Cold War narratives, underscores the vital role of logistics and labor in global security. As one Seabee journal entry poignantly noted: “We didn’t just build a base—we built the future.”
Appendices
- Timeline of Advance Party Operations
- Diagrams of Tent City Layout
- Interviews with MCB7 Veterans
- Declassified Photos of LST Landings
References
- U.S. Navy Seabee Museum Archives, MCB7 After-Action Reports, 1957–1958.
- Whitcombe, R. (1958). Diplomacy in the Bahamas: A Royal Navy Memoir.
- Johnson, L. (2003). Cold War Infrastructure: The Atlantic Missile Range.
- Oral History Project, Seabees Veterans Association, 1995–2005.
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