MARINE AIR CONTROL SQUADRON-4 (MACS-4): From Moonman to Vicesquad *– the Marine Corps’ deployment of the first internet-like command and control system in modern warfare.
*Tactical call signs used during the Vietnam War.
A Navy ship departed San Diego on 13 May 1967, for Da Nang, Vietnam. On board was a squadron of Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron-4 (MACS-4) with a singular cargo. They were embarking on a seminal event in modern warfare history for both the Marine Corps and the U.S. military. They were to establish a tactical air operations center (TAOC), and deploy in combat the first tactical data system for air command and control, which would allow the Navy and Air Force air control systems to connect with each other automatically.
The strategic and tactical consequences of this were enormous. For the first time, combat pilots from the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force would have instant control and communications without minimal-to-no voice commands. The results were increased security and safety, efficient de-confliction of airspace, enhanced identification of friends from foes, and real-time feedback for senior air decision makers. It was a conversion from the grease pencil command and control to the digital world of near real time. Modern command and control warfare was spawned by these initiatives. Air planning, execution, surveillance, and airspace management took on dimensions never dreamed of before.
The site chosen for the TAOC was Monkey Mountain, overlooking Danang airfield, in the northern sector (I Corps) of the Vietnamese theatre. On this site already were semiautomated Air Force command and reporting post (CRP) and a Marine Corps Hawk Battery. It was felt that this site provided optimum radar coverage far into North Vietnam and had a reasonable zone of security for the exposed radar and communication systems. The major concern was attacks from Russian MIGs and other Vietnamese aircraft. In addition, with all the air sorties and ground operations, coordination of the airspace was an imperative.
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Thanks to Michael Stankosky <mstanko@gwu.edu>
Edda Ashe <eddaashe@gmail.com> for sharing this article.
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