12. Operation Ivy Bells: Wiretapping Underwater
In the early 1970s, the CIA, in collaboration with the NSA and the U.S. Navy, initiated Operation Ivy Bells, a covert mission aimed at intercepting Soviet underwater communications. The operation targeted a submerged cable in the Sea of Okhotsk, connecting the Soviet Pacific Fleet’s submarine base at Petropavlovsk to its headquarters in Vladivostok. Despite the Soviet Union’s strict territorial claims and extensive surveillance, the U.S. Navy’s submarine, USS Halibut, successfully located the cable at a depth of approximately 400 feet. Navy divers then installed a sophisticated listening device that recorded communications without penetrating the cable’s casing. This device was designed to detach if the cable was raised for maintenance, ensuring the operation’s continued secrecy. The intelligence gathered provided valuable insights into Soviet naval operations and strategies. However, in 1981, the Soviets discovered the device, leading to the termination of the operation. The mission’s existence remained classified until 1985, when NSA analyst Ronald Pelton defected and revealed details of the program (military.com).
