ROC Nuclear Monitoring Post - Cutaway Illustration
Cutaway illustration showing the interior of a typical Royal Observer Corps underground nuclear monitoring post or bunker.
Updated version of the ROC post cutaway commissioned by Historic Scotland (Autumn 2014)
Between 1955 and 1991, more than 1,500 of these underground facilities were located right across the UK, roughly 10 miles apart mainly in remote rural locations. They were of a standard design and constructed of 12 inch thick, steel-reinforced concrete 20 feet beneath the ground.
In the event of a nuclear attack, these posts would have been manned by three members of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). Their role would be to note the details of a nuclear burst and relay this information to UKWMO headquarters. This information would then be used by government and local authorities in order to decide how best to protect civilian life.
These bunkers had no mains water, electricity, gas, or heating. The only communication with the outside world was by way of a simple Tele-Talk system to headquarters and 3 to 4 other nearby ROC posts in the ‘cluster group’. The master post in each cluster group was the only post to be equipped with radio communications as a back-up.
In the event of a nuclear attack, these posts would have been manned by three members of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). Their role would be to note the details of a nuclear burst and relay this information to UKWMO headquarters. This information would then be used by government and local authorities in order to decide how best to protect civilian life.
These bunkers had no mains water, electricity, gas, or heating. The only communication with the outside world was by way of a simple Tele-Talk system to headquarters and 3 to 4 other nearby ROC posts in the ‘cluster group’. The master post in each cluster group was the only post to be equipped with radio communications as a back-up.
Had these bunkers been used in an attack, conditions inside would have been rather uncomfortable. The occupants may not have been able to leave the safety of the bunker for many weeks after fallout due to the harmful effects of radiation. Most ROC bunkers were reasonably waterproof but they would have been intensely cold and damp.
The ROC was stood down in 1991 following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Communist Bloc. About half of all ROC posts were demolished. The others remain in a derelict and abandoned state. A few have been preserved.
The ROC was stood down in 1991 following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Communist Bloc. About half of all ROC posts were demolished. The others remain in a derelict and abandoned state. A few have been preserved.
Original ROC cutaway illustration © Bob Marshalll (2011)
Original ROC cutaway illustration with annotations © Bob Marshalll (2011)