UXO Site selected: Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA

General Area: Quantico, VA

Site Type/Program: Operational Range - Marine Corps

Location: Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico Range Complex is located in Northern Virginia, approximately 36 miles South of Washington, D.C. and 20 miles North of Fredericksburg, VA.

Brief History: Quantico consists of approximately 55,805 acres adjacent to Quantico, Virginia in Prince William, Stafford and Fauquier Counties. The Marine Corps activated the base in 16 July 1917 as Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. The mission for the new base included advanced training for graduates from recruit depots and officers for the eventual deployment to Europe during World War I. Following the war it became a permanent installation and developed as the Marine Corps education center and a doctrine, techniques and equipment development center. The World War II expansion saw the installation increase in size ten-fold, allowing for a significant increase in the size and type of live fire exercises previously limited due to the size of the base.

Range / Site Description:

The operational ranges on MCB Quantico are situated on to parcels separated by Interstate 95. The cantonment area is located on the east side. The west side known as the Guadalcanal area is where the majority of the ranges are located including the high explosive ranges. MCB Quantico has 17 operational training/maneuver areas in conjunction with the live-fire ranges and impact areas. The high explosives ranges and main impact area are located on the west side of the Interstate 95 in the Guadalcanal area. Below is a comprehensive list of the training areas aboard Quantico:

  • TA-1 Encompasses the Mainside Quantico cantonment area and is excluded as a maneuver training area. Consists of 4250.2 acres of gently rolling terrain, underbrush, containing cantonment infrastructure and facilities, and access to 4 Landing zones (LZs)
  • TA-2 Used for small-unit infantry tactics, physical training, conditioning hikes, and basic land navigation courses. Consists of 1224.4 acres of steep hills and gently rolling terrain, dense underbrush, containing cantonment infrastructure and facilities, and access to one LZ.
  • TA-3 Used for small-unit infantry tactics, physical training, conditioning hikes, and basic land navigation courses. Consists of 1162.1 acres of steep hills and gently rolling terrain, dense underbrush, containing the primary ASR-8 Radar Site supporting the Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, and access to one LZ.
  • TA-4 Used for small-unit infantry tactics, physical training, conditioning hikes, and basic land navigation courses. Consists of 1191.5 acres of steep hills and gently rolling terrain, dense underbrush, containing the primary ASR-8 Radar Site supporting the Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, and access to one LZ.
  • TA-5 General Maneuver area and Basic Land Navigation course. Consists of 3612.9 acres divided into two operating areas with gently rolling terrain, dense underbrush, and access to 5 LZ.
  • TA-6 General maneuver area. Consists of 5805.4 acres divided into three operating areas with hilly terrain and access to 4 LZs. TA-8 General maneuver area. Consists of 2413.4 acres divided into two operating areas with gently rolling terrain and access to 5 LZs and Murphy Demo Range.
  • TA-9 Limited Maneuver/Impact Area. Consists of 6345.9 acres divided into three operating areas with access to 2 LZs. Rifle range impact area located to the South.
  • TA-10 Limited Maneuver/Impact Area. Consists of 4975.9 acres divided into three operating areas. Bordered on all sides by improved/unimproved surface roads.
  • TA-11 Limited Maneuver/Impact Area. Consists of 6436.9 acres divided into two operating areas with access to 2 LZs. Rifle range impact area located to the South.
  • TA-12 Limited Maneuver/Impact Area. Consists of 1338 acres divided into three operating areas with access to 2 LZs. Bordered to the North by Range 14 complex of ranges.
  • TA-13 Limited Maneuver/Impact Area. Consists of 1123.6 acres with access to GPs 31, 38, and 44.
  • TA-14 Limited Maneuver/Impact Area. Consists of 2232.9 acres with relatively flat terrain ideal for movement to firing positions on Range 15, and access to MOUT facility and 7 LZs.
  • TA-15 General Maneuver area. Consists of 3434.9 acres divided into two operating areas with varying terrain dissected by tank trails and unimproved roads. Has access to 16 LZs.
  • TA-16 General Maneuver Area/Advanced Land Navigation Course. Consists of 8117.4 acres divided into seven operating areas with varying terrain dissected by tank trails and unimproved surface roads. Has access to Combat Town, Raid Facility and 17 LZs.
  • TA-17 General Maneuver area. Consists of 2229.2 acres divided into two operating areas with varying terrain and numerous creek obstacles and danger areas. Has access to 4 LZs.

Special Ranges and Training Facilities
Below is a comprehensive list of the special ranges and training facilities aboard the MCB Quantico Complex:
  • Charlie Demolition Range - Demolition training range. Net explosive weight of demolition not to exceed 50 lbs.
  • Goettge Demolition Range - Dynamic entry/assault breacher course demolition training range. Net explosive weight of demolition shots must not exceed 5 lbs.
  • Murphy Demolition Range - Basic demolition and engineer operations training range. Net explosive weight of demolition not to exceed 50 lbs.
  • MOUT Facility - Seventeen (17) structures and an underground training network utilized for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) squad or battalion training. Includes a lighted classroom. Can accommodate blank ammunition, smoke and CS grenades, and simunition (SESAMS) and water-soluble paintballs.
  • MOUT Assault Course - Live-fire assault course training in a MOUT environment that is comprised of 5 rubberized buildings and an urban defense building. Composed of 5 stations that permit use of live-fire.
  • Combat Town (CBT) - Thirteen (13) block structures in varying degrees of repair that are used for MOUT training for squad to battalion sized units. Can accommodate blank ammunition, smoke and CS grenades, and SESAMS and paintballs.
  • RAID/NEO Training Facility (RAID FAC) - Radar site complex consisting of one administrative building and two large radar dishes. Utilized for conducting raid training, Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) training, or limited MOUT training. Can accommodate blank ammunition, smoke and CS grenades, and simunition (SESAMS) and water-soluble paintballs. Administrative building is for support of facility/exercise and damage is strictly prohibited.
  • Lunga Reservoir (Cat. Code 17440) is authorized as a drop zone. Lunga Reservoir Recreation Area and Lunga Park, while not training areas, serve as buffer zones for ranges, and are therefore subject to closure for non-training uses in order to support training on adjacent ranges.
Ranges, Artillery/Gun Positions, and Mortar Positions

To support training, Quantico provides 41 fixed, numbered ranges of approximately 48,600 acres (with overlap among ranges) and 3 Artillery/Gun/Mortar positions. The ranges and gun positions are as listed below:

  • Range 3A - Basic weapons instruction and familiarization firing range for individual small arms. Includes multiple firing points with multiple stationary tire, cardboard silhouettes, and steel hulk targets.
  • Range 3B - Basic hand grenade range for the instruction and application of hand grenade throwing.
  • Range 4 - Artillery field firing position/range in support of training evolutions.
  • Range 5 - Fire and maneuver range for squad-sized infantry units. Can also be utilized as a FARP site or as a firing position for artillery firing into TA-9 Impact Area.
  • Range 5A -Static small arms firing range.
  • Range 6 - Surveyed gun position for the 105mm Howitzer. Alternative use is for .50cal and 7.62mm defilade direct fire.
  • Range 7 - Weapons instruction and field firing range. Alternative use as a call for fire, close-in fire support, and close air support training, with five (5) mortar positions for 61mm and 81mm mortars.
  • Range 8 - Machinegun instruction, familiarization firing, and qualification range. Alternative use as an Expeditionary FARP site.
  • Range 8A - Familiarization firing of light anti-tank weapons and assault rocket launchers. Alternative use as a static small arms firing and hand grenade training.
  • Range 9 - M203 grenade launcher and anti-tank weapons simulator training range. Also used as a simulated anti-armor weapon system fire and maneuver range, and a tactical exercise without troops (TEWT) training area. Range 9A - Anti-Armor tracking simulation range. Also utilized as a simulated anti-armor weapon system fire and maneuver range, and TEWT training area.
  • Range 10 - Mobile Assault Course designed for small arms that allows for firing from moving vehicles.
  • Range 11 - Squad or platoon assault, fire and maneuver range designed for simulated and live-firing.
  • Range 12 - Small arms direct fire range able to support squad size training units. Alternate battle-site zero (BZO) range.
  • Ranges 12A, 12B, 12C - Small arms direct fire ambush training.
  • Range 14A - Multi-purpose small arms range for squad size units in the offensive.
  • Range 14B - Multi-purpose small arms range for squad size units in the offensive.
  • Range 14C - Small arms and M16 battle site zero (BZO) range.
  • Range 14D - M16 battle site zero (BZO) range. Alternate FARP site.
  • Range 14E - Trench line final protective fire range.
  • Range 14F - Squad defensive perimeter range.
  • Range 15 - All-purpose range used for rifle company or platoon defensive fires. Observation Point (OP) for indirect fire.
  • Range 15A - Fire and maneuver course designed to accommodate squad or platoon size units.
  • Range 15B - Live fire range used by a rifle company or platoon for ambush training. Alternate small arms field firing range.
  • Range 15C - Live fire range used by a rifle company or platoon for movement to contact training. Alternate small arms field firing range.
  • Range 15D (Cat. Code 17752): Live fire range used by a rifle company or platoon for movement to contact training.
  • GP-31 - Artillery indirect firing position.
  • GP-38 - Artillery indirect firing position.
  • GP-44 - Artillery indirect firing position.
Weapons Training Battalion Ranges:
4 small arms direct fire rifle ranges for qualification and competitive marksmanship training
1 RETS infantry squad defense range (Range 305)
2 pistol ranges for qualification and competitive marksmanship training
1 shotgun range
1 international competitive pistol/rifle range
1 indoor pistol range

The FBI also has a large training complex and school located on Quantico that has several small arms ranges for training. Those ranges are operated and maintained by the FBI.



Associated Munitions: small arms, mortars, projectiles, and other ground munitions within the Marine Corps ordnance inventory.

Activities Completed: Archives Search Report Completed in 2000.

Issues: Operational range complex planned for continued use.

Other Information: Only maintenance planned no cleanup or restoration as the range is still in use.

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