Surface To Air Missiles Arrive On China's Island Outpost In The South China Sea

Less ships, less ordinance. Back when I was there, every ship but the BBs and CVs docked at the piers for ordinance. The CVs and BBs had their ammo taken to and from by barge.

And back then we had several major groups that were highly active. Mobile Mine Assembly Group was constantly at work, testing, repairing, and refurbishing mines. Another area that was highly active was the repair and refit shop for the various SM class missiles. This was also highly active, with trucks and railcars going to and from this area with loads of missiles. The marshalling yard was constantly full of railcars, as were the railroad bunkers. I seem to remember there were 2 train engines, constantly moving railcars of ordinance from point to point on the base (as well as running them out to other stations like Concord and Fallbrook).

And around the marshalling yard were always a couple of dozen tractor trailers, waiting to be loaded or unloaded for over the road shipment.

To be honest, I look at the base now, and wonder how they can do much of anything. Only a couple of ordinance trucks left, no trains, not even anything I can identify as a storage yard for trucks awaiting loading or unloading. Even the old weigh station appears abandoned (how can you recieve or dispatch ordinance trucks without weigh tickets?).

Hell, even the old beach club appeared to be abandoned. And the all ranks club (Bunker 33) was closed years ago, it is now the small exchange.

 

Still, its a shame.

[video=youtube;kFFvkvlczPY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFFvkvlczPY[/video]