The Cold War was a time of intense espionage missions, including submarine operations that could rival a James Bond movie. One such mission was Operation Ivy Bells in the 1970s. The goal was to tap into a telephone cable connecting the Soviet submarine fleet headquarters in Vladivostok with the Pacific Fleet’s base at Petropavlovsk. Captain James Bradley, credited with the original idea, proposed this ingenious plan to improve communication security.
The mission was carried out by the USS Halibut under Commander Jack McNish. The submarine used advanced tracking equipment and a mini-submarine chamber for divers. Despite facing challenges such as stormy seas and potential detection, the operation successfully intercepted Soviet communications. The US Navy later developed a more sophisticated wiretap device for further intelligence gathering.
Although the mission eventually faced a setback when the listening device was discovered by the Russians, it highlighted the lengths to which countries would go for strategic advantage during the Cold War. The story of Operation Ivy Bells, with its daring feats and espionage intrigue, remains a captivating chapter in naval history.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition
[ad_2]
Source link