Military

Lake Pend Oreille
Acoustic Research Detachment
Bayview, Idaho

Bayview, Idaho is home to a small Navy base involved in research and development of methods to make ships and subs operate more quietly. There are approximately 100 employees and. contractors at the base, most commute from the surrounding areas.

Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced - Pond-o-ray) provides a deep (1150 ft), quiet body of water where a free-field ocean-like environment is available without the attendant problems and costs of open ocean operations. Unique experimental hardware and floating platforms have been developed to support a wide variety of R&D programs ranging from the measurement of flow induced boundary layer fluctuations on sonar domes to the calibrations of full-scale surface ship sonar transducers. Detachment personnel supporting the experiments form a versatile resident core of highly skilled labor. They work closely with transient project scientists, engineers and technicians from the Division and other Navy and private organizations, to plan and conduct operations on the lake.

The results obtained during past experiments have been extremely valuable to the Navy, especially in the area of submarine sonar dome development. Future plans include continuation of sonar dome development and submarine silencing and target strength reduction experiments using large-scaled models, as well as increased emphasis on propulsor noise reduction. The Large Scale Vehicle (LSV), a large-scale structural model of the SSN-21 Class submarine, which was delivered to Bayview in November 1987, is being used extensively in this research work. The site's technical programs typically support analytical efforts at the NSWCCD and contribute to the development of advanced submarine and sonar designs. These programs support the Fleet, Navy systems commands, and other defense agencies. The facilities also support private industry and research efforts of the United Kingdom.

Bayview, Idaho, is located in the Panhandle of North Idaho, approximately 30 miles north of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and 30 miles south of Sandpoint, Idaho. The Canadian border is about 100 miles to the north. Bayview's population is approximately 300 during the winter months and 450 during the summer. Many retirees follow the sunshine south during our long cold winters. Those remaining enjoy the changing seasons and don't mind the snow shoveling.