About this Unit
**US NavFac Chichi Jima** was a United States Navy facility established on Chichi Jima, one of the Bonin Islands, during the Cold War. Operated from 1957 until its closure in 1993, the facility was part of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) network, playing a crucial role in undersea surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering in the Pacific region.
**USS Ramsden (DER-382)** was an Edsall-class destroyer escort, commissioned in 1943, that served in World War II, the Korean War, and later in Cold War operations. In the 1960s, Ramsden was reclassified as a radar picket ship (DER), conducting early warning and surveillance missions, including patrols in support of installations like NavFac Chichi Jima, before being decommissioned in 1969.
Historical Facts
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Strategic Location: US Naval Facility (NavFac) Chichi Jima was located on Chichi Jima, the largest of the Bonin Islands, about 620 miles south of Tokyo. Its location made it a critical listening post during the Cold War.
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SOSUS Mission: NavFac Chichi Jima was part of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), a network of underwater listening posts designed to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War.
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Establishment Date: The facility was commissioned in 1957, at a time of heightened tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, and operated until its closure in 1968.
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USS Ramsden DER 382 Role: The USS Ramsden (DER-382) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort that served as both a radar picket ship and an escort for convoys during WWII, and later played a role in supporting the NavFac Chichi Jima mission.
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Air-Sea Rescue Operations: Both NavFac Chichi Jima and the USS Ramsden were involved in air-sea rescue operations, providing support and rescue for downed pilots and distressed sailors in the Western Pacific.
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WWII Legacy: Chichi Jima itself was the site of fierce WWII battles. Notably, the island was where future President George H.W. Bush was shot down and rescued after a bombing mission in 1944.
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Technological Pioneers: The SOSUS arrays operated by NavFac Chichi Jima were among the most advanced underwater surveillance technologies of their time, significantly contributing to US anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
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Cultural Exchange: US personnel stationed on Chichi Jima engaged with the local Japanese population, leading to cross-cultural exchanges and fostering goodwill during the US administration of the Bonin Islands (1945–1968).
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Decommissioning and Return: The US returned the Bonin Islands, including Chichi Jima, to Japanese sovereignty in 1968. NavFac Chichi Jima was closed, and the US military presence ended.
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USS Ramsden's Later Years: After its service in the Pacific, the USS Ramsden was decommissioned in 1969. It had earned ten battle stars for WWII service and continued to serve in various roles, including as a radar picket ship during the Cold War.
