Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) History 1950 - 1997

Introduction: Welcome to IUSS History 101. The study of history is only of value to us if we use it as a foundation of learning in which to look forward and build towards a better future. The course objective is to give you some highlights from the last 40 plus years of undersea surveillance and previously classified views into the establishment of one of the most critical intelligence collection systems of the Cold War.

The 50's and 60's witnessed the birth, early childhood development and growth of undersea surveillance; originally the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS). With the 70's came technology upgrades both in shore and underwater systems; planning for new cable ships, super NAVFACs and the follow on to the Towed Array Sensor System (TASS), the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS). The 80's realized consolidation of shore assets due to technology advances in underwater systems, arrival of the first SURTASS ships, delivery of the cable ship USNS Zeus, and the end of the Cold War; this last one to have repercussions that most of us did not anticipate. The 90's where we are today.

Here are some events of note:

As a result of its experience during the recent hostilities the navy has announced its intention to exploit passive sonar in its Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW) effort. The year is 1949.

As a result of this renewed interest in underwater acoustic research the Navy established Project Hartwell under MIT leadership. It was initiated to structure a long range program for submarine defense. The committee concluded that detection of low frequency sound was the answer to the snorkeling diesel submarine problem.

1950

The Hartwell Committee recommended approximately $10 million of R&D funding per year to be applied to the development of an effective long range acoustic detection sensor system using bottomed arrays. The evolution of undersea surveillance had begun.

• 29 October: Western Electric and ONR reps meet to rough WECOs proposal into a contract. A letter contract was issued 13 November.

1951

A 6-element test array is installed at Eleuthera and Ensign Joe Kelly is assigned as BUSHIPS Code 849 to oversee this high priority project; named Project Jezebel.

• Project Jezebel was Bell Labs effort and Project Michael was the Columbia University effort.

1952

CNO Directs BUSHIPS to procure six sets of LOFAR station components for deployment in the North Atlantic basin in a Top Secret letter.

• Classified name SOSUS is established.
• Unclassified name CAESAR established to cover installation and production. An Unclassified Cover Story is established to explain the mission. Click Here
• Number of stations planned is increased to nine.
• HMS Alert installs initial 40-element operational array off Eleuthera
  Bahamas (2-19 January) total cost for 50-day charter is $56,400 ($840/day plus fuel).
• Cable ships Neptune and Myer assigned to Project CAESAR: the humble beginnings of the "CAESAR Fleet" to later include: Thor, Aeolus, Mizar, Huddell, Zeus and a cameo appearance by USNS Waters.

1953

Part of Project Jezebel was the study of short range, high frequency, upward looking sets of bottomed, active sources located in a strait as a complement to SOSUS; this was known as Project Colossus.

1954

Ten additional CAESAR stations (3 Atlantic, 6 Pacific and 1 in Hawaii) are authorized.

• Sound Search Course 572 "Green Door" established at FSS, Key West, FL
• September - First NAVFAC, NAVFAC Ramey, Puerto Rico, commissioned followed by NAVFAC Grand Turk in October and San Salvador in December.

1955

NAVFACs established in Bermuda, Shelburne Nova Scotia, Nantucket MA, and Cape May NJ.

1956

NAVFACs Cape Hatteras NC, Antigua, and data Evaluation Centers in New York and Norfolk VA become operational.

1957

NAVFACs Eleuthera Bahamas and Barbados in the Atlantic, and San Nicolas Island in the Pacific are established

1958

Commander, Oceanographic System Atlantic established. Oceanographic units in New York, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Norfolk VA. disestablished.

• NAVFACs Point Sur, CA., Centerville Beach, CA., Pacific Beach, WA., Coos Head, OR. are established.

1958-1960

Project supports installation of Atlantic and Pacific Missile Impact Location System.

1959

NAVFAC Argentia, Newfoundland established

1960

Shallow Water system installed and terminated at Navfac Argentia: Ten 8-element arrays on two 40-pair cables: counter against Hudson Bay submarine patrols by Soviets

• First and only curved array terminated at Shelburne, Nova Scotia

1961

SOSUS tracks USS George Washington from continential US to United Kingdom

1962

• NAVFAC Adak established
• NAVFAC Lewes DE established after NAVFAC Cape May destroyed by "Ash Wednesday/Good Friday" storm.
• 26 June, Cape Hatteras NC makes first SOSUS detection of a Soviet Diesel submarine
• 6 July, NAVFAC Barbados makes first detection of a Soviet Nuclear submarine as it crossed over the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.
• 26 October, first positive correlation and sighting of a SOSUS contact (NAVFAC Grand Turks) and VP contact on a Soviet Foxtrot Class submarine during the Cuban Missile Crisis; designated Charlie-20.
• First major shore processing system upgrade installed at NAVFAC Lewes DE. 9" grams (DSA) replace 4" grams; Roman Numeral time calibration marks remain

1963

• First 2x20 array installed at NAVFAC Argentia, Nfld.
• April, The USS Thresher sinks; SOSUS plays critical role in pinpointing location of incident.

1964

• Commander, Oceanographic System Pacific established.
• Project CAESAR transferred from BUSHIPS to Industrial Manager, Potomac River Command; to Naval District Washington the following year.
• OP-95, Director ASW Programs established under VADM Charles B. Martell

1966

NAVFAC Keflavik Iceland established exactly one year after decision made to deploy SOSUS to the Norwegian Sea.

• Land-line Data Relay systems installed in OCEANSYSLANT and OCEANSYSPAC by Western Electric Co; UQM-4 analyzer/displays.
• Project transferred to Naval Electronics Systems Command, (CODE EPO-3) located at Main Navy (now the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial)
• First 3x16 array system terminated at Keflavik

1968

March, Soviet Golf SSB (K-129) sinks NW of Hawaii; May, USS SCORPION (SSN 589) sinks SW of Azores. SOSUS plays a key role in the location of these vessels.

• NAVFAC Midway Island became operational
• NAVFAC Argentia, Nfld Shallow Water Complex deactivated
• NAVFAC Guam, Mariana Islands commissioned
• COMOCEANSYSPAC relocated from Naval Station, Treasure Island, CA to Ford Island, HI
• First detection of Victor and Charlie Class Soviet submarines by NAVFAC Keflavik

1970

First USN women assigned to operational billets at NAVFAC Eleuthera (Norah Taylor-Brown)

CNO designates COMOCEANSYSLANT & COMOCEANSYSPAC as "Major Commands".

• Ocean Systems Technician (OT) rating established; formerly SONAR Technicians (ST) and Electronics Technicians (ET)
• NAVFAC Barbers Point, HI commissioned.
• NAVFAC San Salvador is first NAVFAC to be decommissioned

1971

First Naval Aviator to command an Oceanographic System, CAPT Richard A. Hoffman, USN becomes COSP. He assumed title of Commodore (not heretofor used in the Pacific System) in order to emphasize real-time operational role of SOSUS.

• COSP SeaBees begin upgrades to COSP and NAVFAC enlisted quarters.
  These efforts become model for a Navy-wide "Self-help" program

1972

• PMW 124 established and the modernization of SOSUS begins.
• Joint Canadian Forces/US Navy operational manning commenced at NAVFAC Argentia, Nfld.

1973

CAPT Joe Kelly, "Father Of SOSUS" retires.

COSP is audited by GAO. GAO recognizes SOSUS  role as a "FORCE - MULTIPLIER" and recommends that SOSUS manning and budget be increased.

1974

• NAVFAC Brawdy Wales established- First "Super NAVFAC"
• NAVFAC Keflavik makes first detection on a Soviet Delta Class Nuclear submarine
• NAVFAC Ramey, PR changed to NAVFAC Punta Borinquen, PR

MID-1970s

CAPT Dempster Jackson becomes PMW 124 and the rest is history.

1976

• NAVFACs Punta Borinquen, PR and Nantucket, MA disestablished.

1977

First woman Commanding Officer of a NAVFAC as LCDR Peggy Frederick takes command of NAVFAC Lewes

• CAPT Harry Cox relieves RADM Dempster Jackson as PMW 124
• Readiness Training Facility, Centerville established at NAVFAC Centerville Beach, CA

1979

• NAVFAC Barbados, TWI disestablished.

1980

NOPF Dam Neck VA. established-WESTLANT consolidation

• NAVFACs Eleuthera, Bahamas and Grand Turk, TWI disestablished.

1981

NOPF Ford Island HI. established

• NAVFAC Lewes, DE disestablished.
• NAVFAC Midway disestablished; acoustic data remoted to NAVFAC Barbers Point, HI

1982

NAVFAC Cape Hatteras, NC disestablished.

1983

Service ratings OTA (Analyst) and OTM (Equipment Maintainer) established.

• NAVFAC Midway Island acoustic data re-routed from NAVFAC Barbers Point, HI to NOPF Ford Island, HI.

1984

USNS STALWART (T-AGOS 1), first of 18 monohull SURTASS ships, arrives at Little Creek.

• USNS Zeus commissioned- first navy cable ship built from the keel up
• IUSS Operational Support Center (IOSC) established at Little Creek; IOSC Detachment, Pacific established at Pearl Harbor, HI.
• NAVFAC Antigua, TWI secured operations.
• NAVFAC Point Sur, CA disestablished; acoustic data remoted to NAVFAC Centerville Beach, CA.
• NAVFAC San Nicolas Island, CA disestablished.
• Readiness Training Facility, Centerville Beach, CA disestablished.

1985

Readiness Training Facility established at Dam Neck.

• Fixed Distributed System (FDS) test array terminated at NAVFAC Brawdy.
• USNS STALWART (T-AGOS 1) began first operational SURTASS patrol; New System Name - Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS)
• NAVFAC Barbers Point, HI disestablished; acoustic data remoted to NOPF Ford Island, HI.

1986

NAVELEX (PME-124) becomes SPAWAR (PMW 180)

1987

NAVFAC Whidbey Island WA established

• NAVFAC Pacific Beach, WA disestablished; acoustic data remoted to NAVFAC Whidbey Island, WA

1988

CAPT Joe Kelly passes away at Bethesda Naval Hospital

1989

PMW 180 renamed PD 80

1990

Authorization for IUSS officers to wear IUSS Warfare Specialty breast insignia

1991

System mission is declassified after 41 years of secrecy. COMOCEANSYSLANT/PAC (COSL/COSP) changed to COMUNDERSEASURVLANT/PAC (CUSL/CUSP).

• NAVFAC Guam, Mariana Islands disestablished.

1992

NAVFAC Centerville Beach survives three earthquakes: 6.9,7.0,7.1 on Richter scale.

• USNS Victorious, first SWATH hull SURTASS accepted by the Navy
• USNS STALWART (T-AGOS 1) and USNS WORTHY (T-AGOS 14) removed from operational service as IUSS platforms.
• IUSS began reporting whale detections in response to CNO tasking.
• SOSUS Work Stations (SWS) replaced paper gram displays at NOPF Dam Neck.

1993

First woman Commodore as Commander Undersea Surveillance Pacific: CAPT Marnee Finch

• NAVFACs Centerville Beach, CA and Adak, AK decommissioned; acoustic data remoted to NAVFAC Whidbey Island, WA.

1994

Commander Undersea Surveillance Atlantic and Pacific consolidate into one command located in Norfolk, VA: Commander Undersea Surveillance and staff relocate to Dam Neck VA. Unfortunately, the downsizing of undersea surveillance is in full swing.

• HMCS Trinity established at Halifax Nova Scotia; CFS Shelburne, Nova Scotia disestablished.
• Readiness Training Facility, Dam Neck disestablished
• NAVFAC Argentia, Nfld disestablished; operations turned over to Canadian Forces IUSS Centre (CFIC), Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• NAVOCEANPROFAC Ford Island, HI disestablished.
• NAVFAC Bermuda acoustic data secured at NOPF Dam Neck.

1995

PD 80 becomes PD 18 and designated ISR

• 19 April - Advanced Deployable System officially becomes the newest member of Integrated Undersea Surveillance System - designated a major program.
• NAVFAC Brawdy, Wales, UK ceased operations for equipment transition to JMF St Mawgan, UK.
• Joint Maritime Facility, St Mawgan, UK commissioned.

1996

• NAVFAC Keflavik Iceland ceases operations after 30 years.
• September- Fixed Distributed System Initial Operational Capability

1997

• NAVFAC Adak AK plug pulled; Reverts to "Wet Storage."
• Following the words of Horace Greeley Brac "Go West SPAWAR" SPAWAR moves to San Diego.
• OT Rating disestablished after 27 years; IUSS Watch in the Sea resumed by ST Rating.
• ATARFs and RAINFORMs are replaced by SITREPs and GOLDs.

1998

• COMUNDEREASURV administrative control realigned under Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

1999

• CFIC Trinity mission responsibilities transferred to Commander, Maritime Forces Atlantic and
  Canadian Forces Ocean Operations personnel collocated at NOPF Whidbey Island.
• ADS Fleet Evaluation Test successful

2000

• Military Detachment (MILDET) stands up at NOPF Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA.
• USNS Impeccable commissioned. First purpose-built SURTASS LFA SWATH vessel.

2001

• In an unprecedented first for both the IUSS Community and the Navy, CDR Katherine M. Donovan, USN
  assumed command at NOPF Dam Neck, relieving her husband, CDR Jim Donovan, USN.

2002

• SOSUS Work Station (SWS) removed from operations (1991-2002)

2003

• USNS IMPECCABLE and USNS LOYAL transferred to Pacific Fleet. No permanent SURTASS capability
  in the Atlantic or Mediterranean.
• R/V CORY CHOUEST becomes LFA operational asset.
• PMW 181 and PMW 182 combined into PMS 181, CAPT Pat Seidel is the new PMS 181 (PEO/LMW)
• Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Atlantic (MIFCLANT) commissioned at NOPF Dam Neck, VA. IUSS
  and the United States Coast Guard are co-located and work side-by-side.
• Advanced Deployable System (ADS) successfully completes dual array testing.
• Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics officially begin working on the new IUSS Integrated Common Processor (ICP).

2004

• NAVSEA's PEO LMW combines all IUSS programs into one program office, PMS 485, Maritime Surveillance
  Systems, under CAPT Pat Seidel.
• IOSC Little Creek is decommissioned.
• On 18 September, IUSS celebrates its Golden Anniversary.

2005

• First delivery of the Integrated Common Processor (ICP) is installed.
• First delivery of the new SURTASS towed array, TL-29A, is installed.
• ADS system reaches milestone B ststus.

2006

• The final Reduced Diameter Array (RDA) on SURTASS is retired from service.
• Realizing a need to restore acoustic analysis skills to peak levels, the Lead Analyst course of instruction is
  created along with a commensurate watch position.

2007

• USNS ABLE brought out of Mobility B status and begins reactivation phase.
• ICP installed at NOPF Whidbey Island, WA.
• CUS administrative control realigned under Commander, Naval Meterology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC).
• ADS System Integration Test successfully completed.

2008

• USNS ABLE transfers to the Pacific theater of operations.
• R/V CORY CHOUEST is deactivated.
• ICP begins installation on operational SURTASS platforms replacing ARCI-I.
• Professional Development Detachment (PDD) Dam Neck begins basic sensor operator courses at COMUNDERSEASURV.

2009

• CUS administrative control realigned under Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
• ICP installed at NOPF Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA. replacing SSIPS SDS and on USNS IMPECCABLE
  replacing SURTASS TX-NX0.
• JMF St. Mawgan remoted to NOPF Dam Neck and decommissioned after nearly fourteen years of operation.
  British and US Forces begin joint, combined operations at NOPF Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA.
• USNS IMPECCABLE makes the news when aggressively shadowed by Chinese vessels.

And "The Hunt" continues…