Hinsbeck launching area - Hinsbeck, Germany
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T-Team!
N 51° 22.024 E 006° 17.458
32U E 311426 N 5694128
While geocaching in Germany, I realized that I was close to a former Nike Missile site. We decided to make a small detour for this former Nike missile site (and also did the geocache on site).
Waymark Code: WM15T0X
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Date Posted: 02/20/2022
Views: 8
I thought that trying to figure out where the Nike missile sites could be, would be quite difficult. In the end, I must say, that due to the well documented information on Ed Thelen site (
visit link) (which is the one mentioned in the category description), it was easier than expected.
Using Google Maps and it was easy to find the area of one of the Nike missile launch sites. Next to one of the Hotbina geocaches, is the Hinsbeck launching area.
Hinsbeck launching area information:
"Hinsbeck
former nuclear weapons site, Germany
Between 1963 and 1989, the Belgian Air Force operated a total of 8 Nike firing positions (launching areas) on the soil of the Federal Republic of Germany as part of NATO air defense. The positions at Xanten, Kappeln, Hinsbeck and Erle were assigned to the 9th Missile Battalion and the positions at Nideggen, Blankenheim, Euskirchen and Bedburg to the 13th Missile Battalion.
The Nike launch area (launching area) Hinsbeck (N 51°21'55”, E 6°17'22”) of the C-Battery of the 9th Missile Battalion was about 19 km west of the city of Krefeld. (LL)
Nuclear anti-aircraft missiles of the Nike type were stationed in the Hinsbeck position. Two versions of nuclear warheads were available. The smaller one, designated B-XS, had a yield of 2 kilotons (KT). The larger B-XL originally had 40 KT explosive force. The latter were exchanged for 20 KT warheads in the 1970s. A maximum of ten nuclear warheads were available per position, eight with the power XS with 2 KT and two XL with 40/20 KT explosive power. (Jürgen Dreifke)
The former firing position with its buildings and safety equipment is still clearly visible today. (LL)"
Source: (
visit link)
Wikipedia states about the location:
"Hinsbeck in NRW. 9th Missile Wing, 56th (C) Squadron 1962–1989. Operating 36x Nike Herc (10x Nuclear armed) US custodians: B team 507th USAAD. Former IFC demolished. Former LA at 51°21'56"N 6°17'25"E. Unit disbanded and site closed."
Source: (
visit link)
About the location on Feb 19th 2022
The location looks like "the rest of the place". A fence and gate keep the horse which are grasing in the "Hinsbeck" area. There are no signs showing the history of the place. I took several pictures of the surroundings..
The geocache (
visit link) next to the spot is really worthwhile doing (at the time of creation of this waymark almost 1000 favo points). It is made by Hotbina, a cache team known for their great creations. Check out their profile here: (
visit link)