US Consulate - Udon

Does anyone remember the US Consulate at Udon?

We were recently undergoing some renovations at the old consulate and found something strange.

No it wasn't a secret underground passage.

Whilst trying to put in a new door (nothing major), the builders encountered 1/4 inch solid steel plates running throughout the walls.

These walls were not outer walls, but normal inner walls.

The thai builders stood around scratching their heads as they hadn't seen this before, and didn't know what to do.

They found a way around the problem, but the question is, what were they for? They are not for strength. Maybe they were meant to stop something? radio waves? Bullets?

Does anybody have any ideas as to what they are for?

We also have a 'vault' which has a door 6 inches thick, with an antenna on the roof.

If anyone can shed any light on the old US consulate I would be most appreciative.

Thanks

Nick

Nick, I was there but only to register my marriage and my sons birth. I am not able to she any light on your subject other than all Embassy/Consolutes are suppose to be built secure.

Maybe the steel walls were for martian attacks. Us Gov't very paranoid like that.

i'm guessing they would stop any sharap metal from a small bomb or grenade if exploded next door. maybe listening devices, especially if have lead in the steel. don't know what the front of bldg is made of. kind of overkill in the walls if front had glass.

I have 2 questions on the old consolut.

!. When was built?

2. what was the thickness of the steel plating??

Pop's

It was built around the time of the Vietnam war (sometime around the creation of Udon as a military base).

The plating is about 1/4 inch, +-7mm thick.

cheers

Being that Udon is about 50 km from the Lao boarder, and since it was build during the Vietnam era, I suspect that the steel plating is for protection. It was posisble for sappers to get across the Mekong, with the possible idea of doing some damage to the consulate, if they had they had a mind to. It also maybe possible that there is a basement to the building, and then again maybe not, with steel plating as well. The steel would also block some, but not all, signals from communication equipment in the building (remember the cold war was still going on). But most likely the steel plating was for protection, as sophisticated electronical listening devises were developed during the cold war, to get around the steel plating. With directional devises through the windows is one way.

There were some sappers that had enter the Utapao AFB in 1971, 4 of them I think. They managed to get in the B52 area and did some small damages.

Pop's

Whilst trying to put in a new door (nothing major), the builders encountered 1/4 inch solid steel plates running throughout the walls

a little trouble with reading comprehension. how old, if not mistaken, it used to be across the street and up a couple doors from where you are now. if i'm thinking of the same building..

- Generally the communications centers were lined with steel plate as an additional security measure..
- Yes, it would also stop RF a bit.
- Yes, it would stop 7.62mm bullets and shrapnel.. Generally, the "vault" would be used as a safe area in the event of any security breaches..
- The construction in Udorn was not unique, but standard throughout the world..

Thanks

btw, If anyone wants to come and take a look at the vault etc. you're welcome to come and have a look.

Cheers

Nick

ps. Is there any chance there's a secret underground passage?