Former U.S. Army nuclear weapons facility (Nuremberg)

Germany / Bayern / Wendelstein / Nuremberg
 closed / former military, historical layer / disappeared object
 Upload a photo
NATO 23, Former U.S. Army nuclear weapons storage facility. Obviously long abandoned, probably since the early '90s based on vegetation growth along the fence lines and atop the igloos.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   49°22'45"N   11°9'55"E

Comments

  • I did several tours of duty at November 23 ( NATO 23 ) in 1973 & 1974. Lots of odd things went on here that were classified as top secret events.We had UFO encounters, as well as large un-identified creature encounters in 1974, which were called the NATO monster.No BS-these were real events. The facility stored nuclear weapons, biological weapons and chemical weapons.It had a large underground facility,swimming size pools that stored emergency water supplies in the event of a fire.Guard towers surrounded the facility-I believe there were 3 short towers and one concrete tower,all manned with M60 machine guns with a crate of 25,000 rounds of ammo in one long belt. The Black September group tried to gain access by depositing a large pack of TNT by a fence line-and all 3 were shot dead-the tnt failed to go off due to a dead battery. Though we were sworn to secrecy-this facility is now just history. While I was stationed there we had numerous incidents-all required debriefing by military intelligence and CIA. I think we hand medium range ballistic missiles in an underground storage facility as I recall an evacuation due to fuel leaking from a vault on the post and engineers entered an area that we thought had nothing in it to work on a "bird". Frightening place to work-though normally nothing went on-I had access to the inner areas as I had training to arm nukes,and to disarm them also.
  • I am looking for former 55G or 911A from the Army Nuclear Weapons Program. I heard they had a Facebook site. I works at one of those site in Germany and stateside.
  • I worked with the 595th MP's in the late 70's early 80's. If you worked there during that time frame please respond to this message.
  • 84 to 86 , 595 mp
  • and yes there was some real bad chit there !!
  • Did a dozen tours here on gaurd duty...hated this place. Always someone shooting at us
  • When I was station in Herzo base 2/377 FA we hade to do guard duty there. I rember the Guards in the towers making noise when we were walking the perimeter. I think I was more scared of the guys I was with because we had 3 rounds of amo. 1985-1987.
  • Yes I was there from 77 to 80
  • I was in Pinder Baracks, Zindorf from 1978 to 1984 (6-14 WARBONNET PRP custodial agent at NATO 23 the good old days. I remember the big mosquitoes outside the perimeter
  • I was with 595th MP company from 1980-1983. No shots fired, no monsters, no UFO's, had plenty of ammo (about 180 rounds of 7.62 on my person). Just had to fight boredom and the occasional picture taker from the Green Party.
  • I was at Pinder from '76-'79 HHB 1st ADA . I had to deliver some office furniture over there one night with a duce & 1\2 ....really felt paranoid as I stopped at the guard shack and had M16s pointed in my direction the whole time I was going over the paperwork w/guards, etc....
  • 595th MP CO 89-91. In the dead of night 1990, myself and a SGT. Mapes were dispatched to NATO 23 oh around midnight to provide security. We weren't told why or what was going on. Apparently, Lance Missile was disbanding and they were removing the nukes under the cover of night.
  • Wondering if anyone was stationed at Nato 23 -- particularly during time when it was being dismantled. Have you had any medical problems diagnosed? Would like contact from anyone who might be willing to verify the duty station. Please contact me at robynsunnybear@gmail.com . Thank you!
  • pinder from 71-74 1/22 HHB we used to guard it every 6 months or so, 3 days of 4 hrs on 8 hrs off. cold and i never could sleep w/ all the activity in the guard house. cool part was the starlight scope.
  • This used to be Nato site #23 (Feucht). It was the operational (nuc) storage for the US 7th Corps - 210th FA Grp (non divisional artillery). Its units were 2nd Bn 377th Field Arty (Honest John 1970-1975) and 3rd Bn 37th FA (selfpropelled 8” 1970-1976) then stationed at Herzogenrauch and Zirndorf. As of 1974 the HJ was being replaced by the Lance system. In 1987 2-377th reassigned becoming 2nd Bn, 12th Field Arty until 1991. The 50 remaining Lance warheads were airlifted by helicopter in op. ‘silent echo’ (july 1990). There were also 2 other (conventional class III and V) ammo storages in the near vincinity but main security was focused on site #23. I was a MOS 55G E-8 down there. Site #23 only stored 8” grenades, HJ and Lance whds and later on only Lance whds. Never any chemical or bio weaponry nor missiles or fuel. There were definitely no underground facilities and only a concrete (main) tower and a steel (secondary) tower. Everything was secured by mechanical and later electronic Permissive Action Link (PAL) which codes were periodically changed by visiting detachments. Exept for the never ending mosquito strikes all the UFO, enemy activity, fuel leaks and (de)arming stories are BS!
  • email me at feniangoose1755@gmail.com John O'Mahony
  • I was with A Battery 6/14 FA Zirndorf 75-78. Every Arty unit that stored nukes there stood duty every 9 months or so. There was a soft outer site area that stored non nuke ammo and the hard sight in the middle where our nukes were kept. Did perimeter patrols in the woods and stood tower guard at hard site. There were some permanent party EOD guys that ran the place we were just muscle to make up a guard force. Mostly boring 4 on 8 off rotation. For 3-4 week. Some issues with terrorist Bader Meinhoff and Red Army Faction making threats and taking pot shots at guards. Deadly force was authorized if bad guys touched inner fence. Nearby by AAF had Cobras on stand by if needed for support. Hot chow was trucked in from garrison daily. I got to be a good Spade player between duty and sleeping. Interesting experiencefor an 18 year old.
  • From 1967 through 1970 or so the 4th Armored Division's, 1st Battalion, 94th Artillery at William O Darby Kaserne was at first 1 battery of 8" SP Howitzers. Then the entire battalion became all 8" SP Howitzers but we were Nuclear Capable with "422 Shells". We guarded the Zennwald Ammo Storage Bunkers. After researching Zennwald I learned that there were 14 massive bunkers at that storage area. Don't know what all was stored there but helping a fellow soldier who was assigned to our Ammo Section and he made numerous trips to Zennwald Ammus. What ever was there has resulted in many health issues for him. As a draftie we served our time and did not ask questions, just followed orders. Here we are 47 years later and we are learning the truth of what was actually there. I was a Battery Clerk for our battery and I also had to do guard duty at the site. Any helpful information on Zennwald would be helpful. Oscar "Cast" Castaneda (oscargann@yahoo.com)
  • oddly enough-I was there when an ufo -cigar shaped-no windows hovered over one bunker-until fighters chased it away?-and it was not a blimp-if it was fake-why did CID and and NSA debrief us all-claiming nothing ever happened? Why we were forced to take polygraphs? Sign statements that nothing had ever happened? and why were our military records sealed by order of the White House? Why was an unknown aircraft spotted at the regional airport near Nuremberg-and why notify the regional military commanders that an unidentified object was heading towards the base? we went on full alert-but I guess since you were not there-it was all a dream.Typical bs we heard all the time from up the chain of command. I know what I saw.But I could care less at this point in time.
  • Great memories of being a tower rat at NATO 23. 595th MP Co 1985-86
  • Looking for Steve Holland, 595th MP CO, Pinder Barracks 1988-1991. Molly.McHenry@gmail.com. Thanks!
  • I was in the 1/22nd Zirndorf Battery A from 75-79
  • DO you have mysterious health issues Eugene?
  • Hello Robyn, I have had a bunch of diagnosed medical problems. I was there in 82 and 83
  • Hey I was their from 73 till 77 email me at toolej2@gmail.com
  • I too have recently been diagnosed with many medical problems, I was there from 81 to 84, can you contact me john o Mahony at Ineedmorehair@aol.com. I am looking to talk with some who have been there, thank you David Joyce
  • I was at Herzo Base 3/37 FA Special weapons section Alpha Gators 84-85. Fortunate to go to school for the old and new rounds at Graf, Pulled guard duty, and tech. ops. at NATO23 a few times.
  • What type of Med.problems?
  • My name is Lemuel Keith Helms. I was stationed in Amberg, Germany from 1968-1970. I was in the Howitzer Battery attached to the 3rd Army Calvary. I was a Special Weapons Guard and to pulled duty at NATO23 n Nuremberg. I have had several medical problems since: Crohn's Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, lipoma, dental, neuropathy, thyroid, and skin cancer. No other members of my family have any of these conditions. I feel these conditions are related to contamination I encountered at NATO23. I can be contacted at keith093@hotmail.com
  • I was in a Lance Battalion stationed at Herzo base from 83-86. We used to guard the munitions stored there as well as perform updates on the different weapons systems inside of the bunkers. I got as close to the MMA's as anyone and haven't experienced any effects up to this point. I was more concerned doing PT in the rain immediately following Chernobyl, until someone figured out that wasn't such a good idea and we took a couple of days off. Sorry to here about your condition(s) take care.
  • Hello, my husband was stationed there from 1974 through 1978 1st Armord div. He was stationed in Bamberg, Nürnberg, Zirndorf. He was one of the permanent guards inside the main control building , called a CA. He worked 4 days on, 4 days off. He has all sorts of medical problems and the VA can't find any records of this place or any orders. So he can't prove that he was there. They had to spray for weeds out of 50 gal. drums which matches what the military used in vietnam, the agent orange. They didn't have any protection from the poison. We also need someone to verify that this place actually excisted and that the longer you worked there, the more of a chance for medical problems. My husband has all of the symptoms from the agent orange. Our daughter was born with a birth defect, cleft lip and palate, she also has juvenile diabetes, my husband has diabetes, he had a heart attack, has bad neuropathy, has skin cancer, joint pain, muscle pain, skin cysts We are looking for anyone who was assigned to Nato 23
  • If anyone wants to contact me , here is my email address astridhensel@aol.com
  • Could you contact me at astridhensel@aol.com, my husband was there, has a lot of health problems because of it. Would like to talk or email to people that where there
  • hello I was an MP stationed at Pinder Barracks between 1985-1988. I was there when the nuclear missiles were taken out of Nato 23. I had thyroid cancer and need to find other soldiers stationed with me. please contact me at toriventura5@att.net. Here are some people who worked with me. Renee Newbee, Sergeant Hanks, Sergeant Carroll Banks, Sergeant Cash,
  • I was stationed with 3/17FA in special weapons section, and was assigned to NATO23 in 76/77 as a sight CA assigned to Pinder barracks HQ 1st Armoured ARTY
  • NATO 23 was real! From 1975 - 1979 I was assigned to 3/37 FA, Herzo Base. Periodically, my unit was assigned perimeter & reactionary force guard duty about once per year for 7 days in duration. While deployed there, we were subjected to alerts 24/7. Prior to deployment, we received intense training on the use of deadly force & what to do in the event of exposure to a nerve agent & radiation. While deployed there, we knew this was not a game. No one ever explained to us the contents in the facility. Final note, the NCOIC at that time had the nickname of "the Rat"; sharp as a tack but would rat you out if you were out of order while deployed at his facilty. Anyone who argues whether or not this place existed, there claim can be supported by me.
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 11 years ago