Locating Military Exercise areas by code name

S

SJI Sailor

Well-known member
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Nov 28, 2018
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802
Non-Fluid Motion Model
American Tug (formerly had C30)
This is (mostly) PNW specific. I've probably missed something obvious, but is there an easy way to find the location of specific military exercise areas by their code names, such as "WQ" or "Whiskey Quebec"? This comes up a lot in USCG notices to mariners, such as today's notice:

MILITARY EXERCISE AREA WHISKEY QUEBEC WILL BE ACTIVE FOR DEMOLITION EXERCISES FROM 0700 - 1700 LOCAL ON 03 APR 2023. WQ IS CLOSED TO MARINE TRAFFIC WHEN ACTIVE, AND MARINERS ARE RQUIRED [sic] TO REMAIN WELL CLEAR OF ANY NAVAL VESSELS.

So, where is area WQ? (This is a rhetorical question; it's near Race Rocks but I'm interested in the general question). Unless I'm missing them in the chart clutter, such areas are not labelled with the code names on NOAA charts such as chart 18400 (https://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18400.shtml). WG is not shown there (SSW of Victoria near Race Rocks.) The charts instead list easily findable things like "334.1180" (near Smith Island).

When googling the code names, some are easy to find (like the famous torpedo area "WG") while others are more difficult. For example, googling "military area WQ" leads me to one useful page, a Facebook post, which is not reassuring as to credibility or permanence. I also cannot find them listed or charted in Coast Pilot 10 (again, unless I'm looking in the wrong place).

Does anyone know of a good reference chart of these areas for the PNW? The best I've come up with is to search for W codes (Canada Navy) using the Canadian notices search here: https://nis.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/public/rest/m ... /en/search
But an actual chart, especially one for US + Canada would be much better.

Thanks in advance if anyone knows!
 
Following....I tried contacting the Coast Guard via email to obtain a read on the military exercise areas months ago, however, I never could get a response to my inquires.

Marc Doyle
2020 R-29 CB / Puffin
Port ludlow, WA
 
I don't have a comprehensive listing or chart showing military exercise areas here in the PNW like what you're looking for, however, I can direct you to a great graphic for Whiskey Golf northeast of Nanaimo, BC.

https://www.nanaimoyachtcharters.com/wp ... y-Golf.pdf

This area, plus the submarine base in Hood Canal, Puget Sound, are the only two military waters that command my attention when we're close by.

Bob
Kimberly Dawn
 
Thanks everyone! Seems like we're all in the same, uh, boat and have no comprehensive map.

In addition to WG and Bangor, I give a wide buffer to the Whidbey Island small arms fire zone when it is active! (Almost every weekday recently.)
 
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