NSA Insider SOLD OUT — 11 Years GONE

The U.S. Navy’s secretive spy submarines have conducted some of the most daring intelligence operations in American history, from wiretapping Soviet undersea cables to salvaging enemy submarines from the ocean floor, proving that our nation’s most valuable defense assets often operate in complete silence beneath the waves.

Story Highlights

USS Halibut pioneered nuclear-powered submarine espionage during the Cold War, conducting classified missions that fundamentally changed intelligence gathering
Operation Ivy Bells successfully monitored Soviet communications for 11 years by installing listening devices on undersea cables, until betrayed by an NSA insider for $35,000
Modern spy submarines like USS Jimmy Carter continue this legacy, testing advanced underwater technology and special warfare capabilities while operating under strict secrecy
The compromise of critical submarine intelligence operations by internal security threats demonstrates the ongoing vulnerability of classified programs to insider betrayal

From Missile Platform to Intelligence Pioneer

The USS Halibut entered service as the Navy’s first submarine designed from the keel up to launch guided missiles, featuring a retractable ramp and special shelter capable of storing up to four Regulus I missiles. At 350 feet long with a 29-foot beam and submerged displacement of 5,000 tons, the submarine could achieve underwater speeds exceeding 20 knots with unlimited range. After the Regulus program’s suspension in 1965, the Navy reclassified the USS Halibut as a nuclear-powered attack submarine. In spring 1966, it underwent extensive modifications and began service with the Deep Submergence Group, tasked with deep sea search and recovery missions that would define its legendary status.

Operation Sand Dollar and Presidential Recognition

In 1968, the USS Halibut received orders to locate the Soviet Navy’s Golf II missile submarine K-129, which had sunk under mysterious circumstances in waters as deep as three miles. After more than three weeks of systematic searching, the USS Halibut successfully located the Soviet submarine, earning the crew the Presidential Unit Citation from President Lyndon Johnson. This operation demonstrated that American submarines could conduct precision intelligence missions in the deepest ocean waters, providing critical insights into Soviet submarine technology and capabilities. The successful location and photography of K-129 later enabled President Nixon to authorize Project Azorian in 1974, using the specially designed Glomar Explorer drillship to secretly salvage portions of the Soviet submarine.

Wiretapping the Soviet Navy

The USS Halibut underwent further modifications in 1970 to accommodate saturation divers using methods pioneered at SeaLab, preparing for one of the most critical spy operations undertaken by submarines during the Cold War. Navy divers installed a 20-foot-long listening device on a Soviet undersea cable, designed to record all communications without piercing the cable casing. Monthly retrieval operations replaced recording tapes with fresh ones, enabling the United States to monitor Soviet naval communications directly. Operation Ivy Bells successfully gathered intelligence for approximately 11 years until 1981, when the Soviets dispatched a salvage ship to remove the listening device after NSA employee Ronald Pelton sold the program details to Moscow for $35,000.

Betrayal and Security Failures

The compromise of Operation Ivy Bells by Ronald Pelton represents one of the most damaging insider threats in U.S. intelligence history, demonstrating how a single individual’s betrayal can destroy years of successful classified operations. U.S. counterintelligence discovered that Pelton had provided Moscow with detailed information about submarine cable monitoring operations, enabling the Soviets to identify and remove American listening devices. Pelton was sentenced to life in prison but was paroled in 2015 and died seven years later. The original listening device is now reportedly on display at the KGB Museum in Moscow, a permanent reminder of this security failure. This incident influenced subsequent security protocols for classified submarine programs and highlighted the critical need for rigorous personnel vetting in sensitive intelligence operations.

Modern Spy Submarine Operations

The USS Connecticut and USS Jimmy Carter, both Seawolf-class submarines, currently serve with the secretive Submarine Development Squadron 5, which tests new underwater listening gear and remotely piloted underwater vehicles. The Navy states that the unit works with civilian academic and scientific institutions for tactical development, including unmanned undersea vehicles and naval special warfare. The missions conducted by these contemporary submarines are likely reminiscent of operations performed by their Cold War predecessors, suggesting continuity in submarine-based intelligence gathering. The USS Halibut was decommissioned on November 1, 1975, after completing 1,232 dives and more than 16 years of service, but its legacy continues in modern platforms designed for specialized intelligence missions beyond traditional attack submarine roles.

Legacy of Silent Service

The development of nuclear-powered submarines fundamentally transformed Cold War intelligence operations, with the Navy recognizing that diesel submarines were inadequate for a new environment emphasizing espionage over confrontation and electronic warfare over direct engagement. The USS Nautilus, launched in 1954 as the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, provided nearly unlimited range and a submerged cruising speed of 20 knots, enabling extended underwater operations essential for intelligence gathering. The success of the USS Halibut’s intelligence missions influenced the development of purpose-built spy submarines, including the NR-1, which was designed to perform deep-sea tasks with advanced computer and sonar systems. These platforms established that American submarines would serve as sentinels, remaining vigilant against threats while operating in complete secrecy beneath the waves.