Cover photograph. This historical Argus Island Tower was a U.S. Navy facility, located 39 km off the Southwest coast of Bermuda in a water depth of 58 m. Built in 1960,
the Tower was used for about 10 years for underwater acoustic research and for submarine détection. The two enclosed levels on top of this four legged jacket structure
had space for diesel generators, living quarters, and laboratories. During the first few
years of the Tower’s existence, it was subjected to storm-generated waves approaching
21m, which was also the wave height upon which the Tower design was based. The
1969 inspections of the Tower revealed storm damage to many of its subsurface welded brace connections, damage that was deemed too closely to repair and subsequently
maintain. Thus, démolition using shaped charges toppled the Tower in 1976, and its
remains now rest on the coral floor of the sea.
the Tower was used for about 10 years for underwater acoustic research and for submarine détection. The two enclosed levels on top of this four legged jacket structure
had space for diesel generators, living quarters, and laboratories. During the first few
years of the Tower’s existence, it was subjected to storm-generated waves approaching
21m, which was also the wave height upon which the Tower design was based. The
1969 inspections of the Tower revealed storm damage to many of its subsurface welded brace connections, damage that was deemed too closely to repair and subsequently
maintain. Thus, démolition using shaped charges toppled the Tower in 1976, and its
remains now rest on the coral floor of the sea.