Sea Spies!

[Timothy]

Some of you might know of my background but this film puts it all out there.  Even though I only did this mission for a few short years, I was damn good at it while I was active.  It's science, nothing more but for the better part of forty years, the Soviets couldn't leave port without the US Navy knowing about it..and yes, there are things that I still cannot discuss after all these years.

The Keflavik, Iceland facility was the hotbed of the entire system and I am honored and privileged to have learned the craft there!

[santahog]

I'd almost bet Ballard knew my step-dad..
That's kinda cool...

[kmitch200]

That they can hear EVERYTHING doesn't surprise me.
The fact that they can sift through all the biologic and seismic noise and follow the ones they want is mind boggling.

[tombogan03884]

Mitch, I was reading an article years ago about how the Navy was identifying individual whales by their "voices".
They also talked about how whales from different oceans had different "songs", but that the whales from one ocean would learn and adopt songs from whales in other oceans .
If you live near the ocean DO NOT FART IN THE WATER .
They WILL hear you.

[Swamp Yankee]

Timothy, I am proud to say that my wife was an OTA and when I first met her she would not tell me what she did. I was able to research it and found out quite easily much to her surprise.
Mike Mc

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

Yankee, I was active in the rate before they made the OTA designation.  We were all just OTs.  I'd guess your wife enlisted after me!    I was active 75-79.  Either way, it's a small world!

[Bic]

John Woods, a close friend of mine, was the sonar guy on the Pintado - I'd guess a little earlier than when you were active. He died last year, only in his early 60's too, very bright and funny guy, I miss him.

[fatbaldguy]

So, I'm guessing the TASS that my ship deployed is no longer in use.   I remember chasing a few Novembers.  Harassment tactics.

[Timothy]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Bic!

The SOSUS system was active in the late 50's and manned by Sonar Techs.  In 1969, a small group of ST's were asked to volunteer for a classified rating, Ocean Systems Tech (OT).  Sonar guys were the foundation but the differences in how the data was collected prompted a new job classification.  Those of us in early to mid 70's went to the same Sonar School facility in Key West.  A pretty nice first duty!  In late 76, they move the school to Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  There were OT's aboard some ships but it was pretty limited to the TASS ships that FBG mentioned.  Most of us, including a old mate of mine from Iceland spent their entire Naval careers and never set foot aboard a "floaty thing"!  My friend has 34 years, retired as a Captain and he has no sea time at all...

[Timothy]

So, I'm guessing the TASS that my ship deployed is no longer in use.   I remember chasing a few Novembers.  Harassment tactics.

Maybe not in the same platform but I wouldn't make that assumption... 

November Class...old boats...harassed a few myself back in the day!  First Soviet nuclear submarine class if I recall!