12th USAFAD

The 12th United States Army Field Artillery Detachment (12th USAFAD) was a specialized unit of the U.S. Army stationed in West Germany during the Cold War. Tasked with the custodial responsibility for nuclear warheads, the 12th USAFAD operated in close cooperation with NATO allies, notably supporting Belgian artillery units equipped with Honest John and later Lance missiles. The detachment played a crucial role in the NATO nuclear sharing agreement, ensuring operational readiness and security of U.S. nuclear assets deployed in Europe. The unit was deactivated in the early 1990s following arms reduction agreements and the end of the Cold War.