During the 1960s, the U.S. Army undertook a clandestine mission known as Project Iceworm, aiming to establish mobile nuclear missile launch sites beneath the Greenland ice sheet. This initiative sought to position medium-range missiles strategically close enough to target sites within the Soviet Union. To test the feasibility of this ambitious project, the Army initiated a cover research effort named “Camp Century” in 1960. Under this deceptive guise, engineers constructed an extensive network of underground structures and tunnels, encompassing living quarters, a kitchen, a recreation hall, an infirmary, laboratories, supply rooms, a communications center, and even a nuclear power plant.
Operated in secrecy for seven years, the base remained hidden from the Danish government. The code-named Camp Century served as a facade to assess the practicality of deploying a missile launch system under the Greenland ice. However, in 1966, the program faced an abrupt cancellation due to unstable conditions caused by shifting ice. The remnants of Project Iceworm, now crushed and buried, lie concealed beneath the Arctic snow.
The historical narrative of Project Iceworm reflects a chapter in Cold War-era military strategies, showcasing the extent to which governments pursued covert initiatives to secure a strategic advantage. The remnants of this ambitious project stand as a testament to both the technological aspirations and environmental challenges faced during an era marked by geopolitical tensions and the pursuit of military dominance.