Aircraft cavern

Aircraftcaverne

(Aircraft cavern, in German = Flugzeugkaverne) 

Difference between a HAS and a aircraft cavern

An aircraft cavern is bigger and more protected than a [HAS] (Hardened Aircraft Shelter). A HAS is build from thick reinforced concrete and is covered with grass and trees for camouflage. A normal HAS has space for 1 to 2 jets and the entrance is protected by a blast door. An aircraft cavern is basically a tunnel dug in to the side of a mountain because it is fully protected by the mountain. It is not possible to destroy it from the outside. An aircraft cavern has space for 30 or more aircrafts (the Yugoslavian cavern had enough space for 80 [MiG-21]s). The outside door usually consists of a light composite material made from steel with a wooden core. This door is safe against small arms fire and hand grenades attacks. Past these doors is the pre-cavern tunnel, where it is shaped like the letter S. This S shape makes it impossible to fire on the main blast doors. As long as the blast doors are closed, the area with the aircrafts is safe from NBC fallout. These blast doors are made of steel and reinforced with concrete.

Aircraftcaverns in Switzerland

• Flugzeugkaverne Alpnach (LSMA)

• Flugzeugkaverne Ambri (LSPM)

• Flugzeugkaverne Buochs (LSMU)

• Flugzeugkaverne Meiringen (LSMM)

• Flugzeugkaverne Raron (LSTA)

• Retablierstollen Saanen (LSGK)

• Retablierstollen St. Stephan (LSTS)

• Flugzeugkaverne Turtmann (LSMJ)

Retablierungsstollen

At Retablierungsstollen, there is a tunnel where it is possible to refuel and re-arm aircrafts. It is not much bigger than today’s Autobahn tunnels.

Aircraft caverns

The aircraft caverns are made from 3 tunnels:

• The first one is named Tunnel X, there is enough space for 15 aircrafts and it is equipped to handle any major overhauls, such as engine repairs or replacements.

• The aircraft are moved by lifting them up by cranes. Once they are on the crane, they can be moved the whole length of the tunnel. There is a direct link to the weapons storage chamber. The weapons storage is protected by sealed door. The weapons room can be filled with halogen to prevent fire and explosions. The weapons chamber also holds ammunition for the soldier’s firearms, and all the ammunition needed to re-arm the aircraft. This includes cannon shells, Sidewinders and [Amraams]. On the opposite side of the weapons chamber, is the Command tunnel.

• Inside the Command tunnel, are the working rooms for maintaining the aircraft systems, the communications center, briefing rooms, kitchen, dining rooms, sleeping places and diesel engines for maintaining the electrical power. Also there is enough food and water for the cavern personnel. The command tunnel is also protected by hermetically sealed doors in the case of NBC fallout.

• Next to the Command tunnel is the Tunnel Y, this is the same size as the Tunnel X, and can also hold 15 Aircraft.

• Behind the three tunnels is the fuel storage. All this allows the aircraft caverns to sustain 30 aircraft for about 30 days without resupply of electricity, fuel, ammunition, etc from the outside world.

The cavern Meiringen was built for a cost of about 120 Millions Swiss Francs and refurnished so that the [F/A-18]s would fit in it. A new Tunnel Z was build so there was no need for the overhead cranes. The Tunnel Y and Z are connected by a few linking tunnels and some parking spaces were added on the opposite walls of each tunnel. So it is possible to operate 12 F/A-18s and the fighters can roll in and out at the same time without the need to move parked aircraft. Without parked aircrafts in the way, it is possible to operate with more aircraft. The tunnels of Y and Z are linked together with a tunnel directly before the main blast doors so it is possible to refuel and rearm an aircraft during a mission without opening the main blast doors (especial useful in a NBC case). The cavern Meiringen is different than other aircraft caverns in Switzerland, because the ammunition chamber has its own tunnel to the outside. Originally this was built as tunnel for the [ A-7G Corsair II], but the Corsairs lost the evaluation by a very small margin to the [Dassault Milan]. In the end, none of these Corsair aircraft or any other aircraft type was bought.

With the new military doctrine Armeere form XXI, the aircraft caverns Alpnach, Ambri, Raron and Turtmann were closed down. The aircraft cavern Buochs was mothballed, it is no longer being used, but if necessary the whole cavern can be reactivated in a few hours.

Aircrafts used in Aircraft caverns

• De Havilland D.H.100 "Vampire"]

• [De Havilland D.H.112 "Venom"]

• [Hawker "Hunter" F.Mk.58]

• [Dassault Mirage IIIS / RS]

• [Northrop F-5E "Tiger II"]

• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D "Hornet" (only Meiringen)

These types would be able to operate in the caverns but it was not practiced

• [N-20]

• Mirage IIIBS/DS

• [P-16],

• [Learjet]

Stored in the Aircraft caverns after they were withdrawn from service

• [BAe Hawk ]

• [Aérospatiale SA.316 Alouette III]

Weblinks

• [1] Armeeschulfilm über die Schweizer Flugzeugkaverne