Ninetoes vs Project Iceworm

Ninetoes investigates another incident involving the United States and Greenland… and missiles, Project Iceworm.

Hey there, history lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today, I am looking at some Cold War history with Project Iceworm. I have coffee in my system and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

In 1959, the United States Military Established Camp Century in northwest Greenland. This was done to test the feasibility of construction techniques. It was 150 miles away from the American-owned Thule Air Base, which has been in operation since 1951. Camp Century was established to establish affordable ice-cap military outposts.

The United States Department of Defense told the Danish Government that Camp Century was going to test various construction techniques under Arctic conditions, explore practical problems with a semi-mobile nuclear reactor, as well as support scientific experiments on the ice cap. Twenty-one trenches were cut and covered with arched roofs. Prefabricated buildings were built inside. The total length of Camp Century was 1.9 miles (3,000 meters) and housed a hospital, a theater, a church, and a shop. Two hundred people occupied Camp Century.

Project Iceworm was going to be a network of mobile nuclear missiles housed under the Greenland ice cap. The intent of this was to have an area that could survive a first strike and launch a retaliation. The missiles would be able to reach Russia from this emplacement.

If Project Iceworm was to be fully implemented, it would cover an area of 52,000 square miles. This is roughly three times the size of Denmark. Clusters of missile launch centers would be spaced four miles apart. The United States Army intended to deploy a shortened version of the U.S. Air Force’s Minuteman missile called the Iceman.

There was a problem with this plan. On top, the ice cap looks firm. Underneath was a different matter. Due to temperature fluctuations and density, building underground was not feasible. These changing conditions would lead to walls bulging and deforming, and eventually the ceiling would collapse. The nuclear reactor was taken out in 1964 and replaced with a diesel power plant. Camp Century became a summer-only operational camp.

The camp was decommissioned in 1967. The infrastructure and waste were left behind under the assumption that it would be entombed under the ice forever. A study conducted in 2016 found that the ice sheet covering Camp Century could melt by 2100. When this happens, the infrastructure as well as the chemicals and radioactive waste could enter the environment.

The Danish government was never asked permission for the missiles to be placed. Because of this, American missiles were never placed in Greenland.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.