Hughes AN/TSQ-51 Air Defense Command and Coordination System

Hughes AN/TSQ-51 Air Defense Command and Coordination System
Missile Mentor
military command and control system
Country	United States
States	Repl. AN/FSG-1: CA IL MD MI NJ PA Other: CA FL RI TX

The Hughes AN/TSQ-51 Air Defense Command and Coordination System^[1] was a transportable electronic fire distribution center for automated command and control of remote Nike missile launch batteries. The radar netting system replace the vacuum tube AN/FSG-1 in 6 United States Missile Master bunkers after the upgrade was approved by the United States Department of Defense in 1963; and additional deployments were at Homestead-Miami, Florida, and Providence, Rhode Island, to replace Battery Integration and Radar DIsplay Equipment (BIRDIE) systems;^[2] as well as at San Francisco.^[3] As with the AN/FSG-1, the AN/TSQ-51 could provide fire control for 24 Nike batteries,^[4] but the smaller AN/TSQ-51 could be fielded in 2 trailers.

References

1. Berhow, Mark (2005). US Strategic and Defensive Missile Systems 1950-2004. Taylor, Chris (illustrations). Osprey Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 1-84176-838-3. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
2. Morgan, Mark L; Berhow, Mark A (2002). Rings of Supersonic Steel (Google Books) (second ed.). Hole in the Head Press. ISBN 0-615-12012-1. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
3. "New Firing Control System: Army Unveils Missile Mentor" (PDF). Red Bank Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. February 1, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved 2011-09-15. faster, more reliable and less expensive ... replaces the Army's six Missile Master systems...and four...BIRDIE...employed almost five years. ...the original cost of the Missile Master...was in excess of $9 million for each site, while the Missile Mentor costs less than $1 million each. ...[annual] operating and maintenance costs...would be $250,000, [cf. $1 million...of Missile Master. ...50 to 60 persons [cf.] approximately 200 [for] Missile Master ... Missile Mentor...fits compactly into two trailer vans. One van holds the battle station, display consoles for the defense commander and equipment operators, the other houses the computer and circuit panels ...[At] the Highlands Defense Site, the Missile Mentor [is] in the...building once occupied by [the] Missile Master. ...built under a $10 million contract with the Army Missile Command (MICOM).
4. "AN/FSG-1 Missile Master and AN/TSQ-51 Missile Mentor:". The Historic Atlantic Highlands Military Reservation (MR). Fort Tilden. November 11, 2005. Retrieved 2011-09-15. (includes image of console in trailer)