Tactical Support Center (TSC) Sigonella
Maritime Air Control Authority
Commander, Task Unit 67.1.2 [CTU-67.1.2]
Comander Task Group 431.3 [CTG-431.3]
Tactical Support Communications (TSCOMM) Department (N9) Det Sigonella is tasked with providing tactical communications support to forward deployed Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the Tactical Support Center (TSC) Sigonella. This detachment is the Navy's busiest TSCOMM and plays a key role in the operational missions of National and Allied Maritime Patrol Aircraft operating throughout the Mediterranean and Red Sea areas. Operations Division operates a variety of communications systems, while the Maintenance Division performs corrective and preventive maintenance on over 200 items of ADP, telecommunications, and electronic test equipment.
The US Navy has 16 Tactical Support Centers world-wide which support maritime patrol aviation forces deployed overseas and at homeports within the United States. The TSC is a node of the Navy Command and Control System (NCCS) Ashore Network. A TSC is equipped to provide Naval maritime sector commanders ashore with command, control, communications, and intelligence support for directing and supporting forces under their command. TSC's have state of the art equipment to assist in mission planning, tactical aircrew briefing, flight following, and post flight mission data analysis for aircrews flying a variety of maritime patrol aircraft. US Navy TSCs are equipped to support the following types of aircraft: P-3C Orions, S-3B Vikings, Canadian CP-140 Auroras, and the British NIMROD.
ASW command, control and communications in the Mediterranean began in the administrative spaces of the patrol squadron deployed to NAS Sigonella in 1968. An initial teletype and voice relay capability led to an expanded communications transmitter site constructed northwest of the base in 1970.
First designated as an Anti-Submarine Classification and Analysis Center, the facility was upgraded to an Air ASW Tactical Support Center (TSC) in 1972, making for the first time real-time mission planning and evaluation possible for deployed P-3 squadrons. TSC's were later redesignated as Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations Centers (ASWOC's) fleetwide Serving a dual role as a NATO Maritime Air Control Authority (MACA), ASWOC/MACA Sigonella became responsible for analysis, reconstruction and command and control of Maritime Patrol Aviation (MPA) forces from several allied countries flying from Sigonella in support of NATO's southern region commitments. In May 1993, the ASWOC was redesignated a TSC, but with a greatly expanded command and control role in U.S, Joint, and NATO maritime operations.
On 26 July 1993, Maritime Air Control Authority Sigonella (MACA SIG) debriefed its 1,000th consecutive flight in support of United Nations sanctions against the former Yugoslavia. Many of the countries that have flown from Sigonella in support of these operations have flown under the tactical control of MACA SIG. MACA SIG, the NATO name for the Tactical Support Center (formerly ASWOC), provided around-the-clock command and control, as well as briefs and debriefs for the international coalition of aircrews who have flown the missions.
TSC/MACA Sigonella serves as a subordinate task unit (CTU-67.1.2) of Commander, Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet (CTF-67) and provides task group (CTG-431.3) command and staff functions for NATO MPA forces assigned to Commander, Maritime Air Forces, Mediterranean (CTF-431). Task Group FOUR THREE ONE PT THREE, (CTG 431.3) was the multi-national NATO maritime patrol group tasked with the Operation SHARP GUARD embargo of the Balkan region.
Manned with 18 officers, 81 enlisted and 1 civilian among its five units and a communications detachment of 25 personnel, TSC/MACA Sigonella provides round-the-clock command, control, communication, computers and intelligence (C4I) support for all MPA operations conducted throughout the European theater and a majority of the African continent.
Quietly based in a local hotel room, a three-member MOCC (Mobile Operations Control Center) team was in the center of activity for the November-December 1996 VP-16 mission and maintenance crews deployed to Entebbe, Uganda. Fully operational within hours of arrival in Entebbe, MOCC Med provided the vital communications link between the mission aircraft and USCINCEUR. The communications suite was a room full of telephones, television monitors, VCRs, computers, radios, transformers and cords, amongst walls plastered with maps of Central Africa. LT Mike Huff, OS1 Harry Ray and DS2 Wes Martin provided communication support for the P-3 squadron and relayed information to Tactical Support Center (TSC) at NAS Sigonella, Sicily. In the MOCC, the team worked closely with the Joint Task Force staff to provide updated information on refugees in Zaire.
Since its inception, TSC/MACA Sigonella has been recognized with two Navy Unit commendations, five Meritorious Unit commendations, six Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe "Golden Anchor" awards (FY-89, 93-97), three "Silver Anchor" awards (FY-88, 92, 98), and five Commander, U.S. SIXTH Fleet "Hook-'Em" awards for USW Excellence. Especially noteworthy were TSC/MACA Sigonella's contributions to MPA operations during the recent Kosovo conflict, to include the historic first use of the P-3C platform in an offensive strike role and continuous defense of SIXTH Fleet naval units positioned in the Adriatic Sea.
Operating in a new, multimillion dollar facility, TSC/MACA Sigonella is constantly evolving in its mission of supporting forward-deployed MPA assets.
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