Page "Sandefjord Airport, Torp" Paragraph 9

In 1957, NATO decided to build arsenals for nuclear weapons in all member countries, including Norway.

Because the weapons were to be operated only by American personnel, this was in violation with Norwegian base policy.

However, foreign personnel was allowed to be based in Norway during war, and therefore infrastructure would be allowed to be built in Norway to allow nuclear weapons to operate from Norway during war.

Norway approved that seven air stations, including Torp, would have conventional ammunition storages that could be converted to nuclear weapons storage facilities in war, and allow the weapons to be transported into Norway following the declaration of war.

The arsenals were built underground in bedrock with reinforced concrete.

The arsenal caused massive local protests, and the municipal council made a declaration where it supported the concerns raised about the danger of an explosion.

The protests were not taken consideration to, following a report from another division of the military that stated that the risk of an explosion was close to zero.

Construction started in May 1961.

The hangar that was built at Torp was used by Horten Flyfabrikk from 1956 to 1965.

It had up to 270 employees and had previously been based at Jarlsberg.

In 1967, Marinens Hovedverft performed maintenance of a single aircraft, but terminated operations at Torp after this.