Site history: 1980 -1992

Cruise Missiles at Greenham Common

Greenham Common and Cruise Missiles

For many, Greenham Common is synonymous with the Cold War and the peace protests against the siting of Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) at the former airbase during the 1980‘s.

At the end of the 1970’s, NATO member countries agreed to approve plans to deploy nearly 600 nuclear cruise missiles in Western Europe. Greenham Common Airbase was identified as one of the first airbases to receive the weapons and it was aimed to have Greenham as an operational cruise missile base by December 1983.

In 1980 the British Government announced that Greenham Common would see the deployment of 96 Tomahawk Cruise nuclear missiles and in 1981 work began, preparing the airbase to receive the nuclear weapons.

Also in 1981 a peace group called “Women for Life on Earth” marched from Cardiff to Greenham at protest against cruise and on arrival a number chained themselves to the perimeter fence at Greenham. Within a few days they established the first peace camp. In early 1982 the camp became entirely for women and children only.

The Women for Life on Earth march crossing the Seven Bridge.

Click here to see a full size copy of this photo.

Image of a women‘s peace camp at Greenham Common circa 1982

The world watches the peace women protest.

International media attention was drawn to the protests at Greenham and the site became a world famous icon for protests against nuclear weapons. In December 1982 around 30,000 women gathered to join hands around the airbase in what was known as the ‘Embrace the Base‘ event. A 14 mile human chain linked Greenham with other nuclear sites.

A copy of a poster calling for women to join the "Embrace the Base" protest of

December 1982 (curtesy of The Danish Peace Academy)

Protesters and police during "Embrace the Base", December 1982.

Click here for more pictures by Sigrid Møller.

Despite the protests, work continued on site with the construction of the high security area that eventually housed the Cruise Missiles, their transporters and other support vehicles.

The area, known as the GAMA site (GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area) can still be seen on Greenham Common. GAMA remains a very visible reminder of Greenham Common‘s past and the history of international conflict during the late twentieth century.

The six hardened shelters were constructed to protect the GLCMs from possible nuclear and conventional attack. Each shelter was designed to withstand a thermonuclear airburst explosion above Greenham Common and Newbury or a direct hit from a 500lb conventional bomb.

It is believed that the shelters, that stand around 10 metres high, were built with a reinforced concrete ceiling about two metres thick, below a steel plate, around three metres of sand, a further reinforced concrete slab, all covered with tonnes of soil. Each shelter had six bombproof steel doors, three at each end. Photos of the construction of GAMA can be seen by clicking here.

Image of the GAMA site from the air in 1989

The missile silos at GAMA, in which ground launched cruise missiles of the USAF‘s 501st tactical missile unit were stored - 25th January 1989.

The INF Treaty, signed by presidents Reagan and Gorbachev in 1987, meant that by the Spring 1991 Greenham‘s role as a base for nuclear weapons would be over and by 1990 the cruise missiles had gone from the airbase. In 1992 Greenham Common Airbase was declared redundant for military purposes by the Ministry of Defence and the fate of Greenham Common hung in the balance.

Image of the main runway at Greenham following the closure of the airbase

The runway at Greenham lies deserted while its fate is decided.

Site history: 1980 -1992

Cruise Missiles at Greenham Common

Greenham Common and Cruise Missiles

More site history: 1992 and beyond and the construction of GAMA.

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