Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
La Jolla-Hermosa Fire Control Site No. 3
 
 
The original site is comprised of 22 separate, but contiguous tracts, totalling 8.084 acres. These 22 tracts were obtained by the War Department between 25 November 1941 and 24 February 1943. United States government beneficial interest was in the form of land ownership, leasehold, easement, or licence. An additional 23rd "no area" tract was controlled through a permit obtained from the City of San Diego.

Acquisition by the united states was for use as a Fire Control station and cable right-of-way in conjunction with the Harbor Defenses of San Diego.

Commencing 9 November 1947 and ending 28 October 1952, 5.215 acres were disposed of by the United States through quitclaim, lease cancellation, and easement termination. On 20 August 1951, 1.043 acres was transferred to the U.S. Navy and on 13 January 1956, the remaining 1.826 acres was transferred to the U.S. Navy. As of 30 January 1992, Southwest Division/Naval Facilities Engineering Command (headquartered in San Diego) has no records indicating that they have any ownership, control, and/or any other beneficial interest in any of the tracts (2.869 acres in total) transferred to them, nor do they have any records describing the disposition of the property following their assumption of control between 1951 and 1956. At this time, the land is privately owned.
This installation provided fire control data to the following batteries:
 
 
Site Map

 
Reports of Completed Works

 

 

SCR-296 Radar Supporting Battery Ashburn, Fort Rosecrans

Typical installation of an SCR-296 radar set.

Description: Fixed Coast Artillery gun-laying medium wave radar, assigned to modern 6 inch or larger batteries.
Uses: Set is designed to track a surface target in range and azimuth. Data are sent to the plotting room and used in firing. An SCR-296-A normally is assigned to one battery, but may furnish data to more. Works with IFF RC-136-A.
Performance & Sitting: Range is shown on "A" scope. The target is tracked in azimuth with a pip matching oscilloscope or a zero-center meter. Range accuracy is about ± 30 yards while azimuth accuracy is about ± 0.20 degree under the best conditions. The set has a dependable range of 20,000 yards on a destroyer size target when employed at a height of 145 feet. Site should be not less than 100 feet above sea level; 150 to 500 feet is recommended.
Mobility:

Shipment includes areas and separate generator. When crated the total weight is 91,763 lbs. Largest unit is 5,270 lbs.
Installation: SCR-296-A includes a tower, an operating building, and two power plant buildings. The tower is obtainable in heights of 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet. Concrete floors must be put in locally.
Personnel: Operating crew consists of 5 men in addition to a power plant operator and maintenance man who should be available at all times.
Power: Primary power of 2.3 KW is supplied by PE-84C -- commercial or auxiliary 110 V, AC single phase. Generator needs high octane gasoline.
 

Information from Naval History Library Online.

For more information on the SCR-296 radar set CLICK HERE

Battery Ashburn Field of Fire and Supporting Radar Coverage

 

Report of Completed Works, SCR-196 Radar

 
 
 
 
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Updated 8 February 2016