NAVSECGRU Naval Security Group Activity Northwest
Northwest
Naval Security Group Activity
[Update: NSGA Northwest was disestablished on 01 October 2001]
Naval Security Group Activity Northwest was located in Chesapeake VA on 4,500 acres. This high-security intelligence base monitored radio and other communications traffic from around the world.
The TACINTEL subsystem at the facility was used for transmission of special-intelligence communications. The subsystem is essentially a computerized message processing installation that makes it possible to transmit and receive message traffic via satellite in a
controlled environment.
In the fall of 1960, preliminary design and engineering work was
completed on a new HFDF Wullenweber antenna array. The
building, nicknamed SHOTGUN, was accepted from the contractor by
DIRLANTDOCKS on October 25, 1963. The new HFDF "SHOTGUN"
station was activated in July, 1964.
During the SHOTGUN construction of period of the 1960's, another
facet of the Naval Security Group began to emerge,
Communications Security (COMSEC). Realizing the importance of
COMSEC, NAVCOMMSTA Norfolk provided one officer and 11 enlisted
personnel. The COMSEC team not only provided communications
security support from the shore, but also went aboard various
ships to support Fleet exercises.
Originally, each of the Naval Security Group elements functioned
as separate divisions within NAVCOMMSTA Norfolk. A
reorganization took place in January, 1966, when all divisions
were brought together under one department.
The Security Group Department was composed of RPIO, ARFCOS,
HFDF, COMSEC, and SECGRU operations and consisted of 20 officers
and 130 enlisted personnel.
OPNAVNOTICE 5490 dated 5 October 1970 directed disestablishment
of the Naval Radio Station (R) Northwest under an Officer-in-
Charge and redesignated it Naval Receiving Facility Northwest.
Organization
History
Facilities
Systems and Capabilities
Sources and Methods
http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/navsecgru/northwest/
Created by John Pike
Maintained by Steven Aftergood
Updated Sunday, November 26, 2001
