Athens in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Night Chaparral

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 9, 2022

1. Night Chaparral Marker

Inscription. The MIM-72 Chaparral is a ground launched air-to-air missile. Development of the "Night Chaparral" began in 1963 with the short-term replacement of the MIM-64 Mauler, a quick-reaction semi-active radar homing missile system. Designation aptly described the mission and deployment concept as a large number of fire units would be deployed along with each forward division, creating a dense, almost impenetrable concentration of air defense. The range of these missiles reached up to 30,000 feet.

The Chaparral system contained three major components: a tracked vehicle, a mount launcher, and heat-seeking Sidewinder 1C missiles. Beginning in 1990, the Army began to retire the MIM-72 from regular units. By 1998 the Chaparral was no longer in service with the U.S. Army.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military.

Location. 34° 48.429′ N, 86° 58.222′ W. Marker is in Athens, Alabama, in Limestone County. It can be reached from Pryor Street West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 Pryor St W, Athens AL 35611, United States of

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America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Athens College (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); First United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Scenes From Hobbs & Market Streets (approx. 0.2 miles away); Faces of Market Street (approx. ¼ mile away); North Side of Square (approx. ¼ mile away); Limestone County Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Athens College Veteran's Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); A County Older Than the State (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 9, 2022

2. Night Chaparral Marker

Athens.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 10, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.