[Towertalk] More on Lightning protection

[N6ZO@aol.com]

I have had occasion to visit the Naval Weapon station at Charleston SC.  This 
is where the boomers tie up to load and unload missles.  There are two  250 
foot towers erected and the sub ties up at a pier between them. Other naval 
and commercial vessels tie up at these piers when the other berths are full.

As I remember it, there is a heavy wire running between the two towers. there 
are no "spiked" objects or lightning rods on these towers that I remember.  I 
was told that if there was a lightning strike in the area,  the navy WANTED 
to be sure that any strike to be taken by the towers and not the sub.  Don't 
know how often they are successful at taking lightning strikes but there are 
no signs warning people away from the towers.

Wonder what else they did to those towers to ATTRACT lightning?

chet