The USS Oxford (AG 159) was originally commissioned a Miscellaneous Auxiliary ship in July 1961 in New York. She was immediately outfitted to participate in the National Security Agency’s Technical Research Ship (TRS) program — though she would not be redesignated an Auxiliary Technical Research Ship (AGTR-1) until years later in 1964.
The Center for Cryptologic History’s Almanac 50th Anniversary Series article, “The TRS Program Part I: The Beginning,” describes perfectly the Oxford’s significant contribution to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Oxford was officially known as a Technical Research Ship. Its initial mission was a training cruise. This gave the crew a chance to familiarize themselves with equipment on board and to identify any problems with the newly refurbished, redesigned ship before traveling to the Middle East. Although several features were identified that required change or improvement, overall the test proved to be a great success. For example, the Oxford recorded frequencies and collected a large number of other transmissions. As the capabilities of the Oxford became clear, the list of potential targets for these ships quickly expanded to include countries all over the globe.
In August 1962, as relations between the United States and the Soviet Union over Cuba grew increasingly tense, the Oxford was diverted to the Caribbean. Its mission was to collect the communications coming out of Cuba, used by both Soviet and Cuban entities. The Oxford proved to be the largest producer of SIGINT during the Cuban Missile Crisis [emphasis added]. The communications it collected provided a great quantity of information which, when combined with the photographs from the U2 overflights, provided a very good picture of what was happening in Cuba.
USS Oxford’s success in the Cuban Missile Crisis “demonstrated the value of the TRS program” and paved the way for naval cryptology aboard future Technical Research Ships: Georgetown, Jamestown, Muller, Belmont, and Liberty.
V/r
David
Sources:
https://www.nsa.gov/public_info/declass/cuban_missile_crisis/1962.shtml
https://www.nsa.gov/public_info/_files/crypto_almanac_50th/The_TRS_Program_Part_I.pdf
25 November 2015 at 13:25
A fantastic look at how critical maritime collection was during this crisis. Does our afloat capacity still fill a relevant role today? If no, why not?
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25 November 2015 at 22:33
I served from May 1963 – Nov 1964 on the USNS Muller off the coast of Havana and I never saw the USS Oxford. So I'm having a hard time understanding how it was the largest producer of SIGINT in the Cuban missile crisis. The Muller roamed those waters for at least 4 years.
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25 November 2015 at 23:55
Mr. Patterson — first, let me thank you for your service as well as for your readership. The specific time period discussed above is prior to USNS Muller beginning her operations off Havana. The quote “the largest producer of SIGINT during the Cuban Missile Crisis” is a direct quote from one of NSA's declassified reports referenced above under sources. Such statement refers to Oxford's contributions between approximately Jul – Dec 1962. Additionally, the declassified message above reflects a desire for a more permanent presence off of Cuba to be filled by an MSTS ship. USS Oxford's presence was temporary pending the arrival of a more permanent solution. From what I gather, USNS Muller was that very solution. Thank you again for reading. V/r David
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