During the tense decades of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy maintained a vigilant presence off the coast of Tsingtao (now Qingdao), China, from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. This strategic deployment was part of a broader effort to contain communist expansion in East Asia, protect American allies, gather intelligence, and assert the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters.

Why the U.S. Navy Patrolled Near Tsingtao

Tsingtao, a major port on China’s Shandong Peninsula, had been an important naval base for both the Chinese and Japanese in the early 20th century. After the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949, the city became a key base for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Several factors drove the U.S. Navy’s activities near Tsingtao:

Taiwan Strait Tensions: The First (1954–1955) and Second Taiwan Strait Crises (1958) highlighted the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The U.S. Seventh Fleet was tasked with deterring aggression against Taiwan, and patrolling near Tsingtao helped monitor Chinese naval movements that might support operations against Taiwan.

Intelligence Gathering: The U.S. Navy used patrols to collect electronic (SIGINT) and photographic intelligence on Chinese naval activities, especially those of the PLAN’s North Sea Fleet based in Tsingtao.

Korean Peninsula Security: After the Korean War (1950–1953), the U.S. wanted to closely monitor Chinese military capabilities that could affect Korea’s fragile peace.

Freedom of Navigation: The U.S. Navy sought to assert international maritime rights in the face of China’s expanding territorial claims.

Key Operations and Missions Near Tsingtao

1. DESOTO Patrols (1962 Onward)

The DESOTO patrols—named after the first ship assigned, USS De Haven (DD-727)—began in April 1962. These patrols targeted China’s northern coast, including waters near Tsingtao. These missions aimed to test China’s responses to U.S. naval presence while gathering valuable intelligence on PLAN activities and electronic emissions. Ships on these patrols were equipped with mobile SIGINT vans to collect data, providing a clearer picture of Chinese military capabilities and readiness.

2. USS Henrico (APA-45)

The attack transport USS Henrico played a significant role in Cold War operations in the Western Pacific. After the Korean War, Henrico conducted amphibious exercises and supported regional operations. Notably, during the 1955 Tachen Islands crisis, Henrico evacuated Nationalist Chinese troops to Taiwan, underscoring U.S. commitment to regional stability.

3. USS Rupertus (DD-851)

The destroyer USS Rupertus maintained a consistent presence in the Western Pacific. It had previously been one of the last U.S. ships to leave Tsingtao in 1949 before the city fell to communist forces. In the 1950s, Rupertus alternated between deployments in the Far East and exercises on the U.S. West Coast, participating in patrols aimed at deterring communist aggression.

4. USS James E. Kyes (DD-787)

The USS James E. Kyes conducted patrols and participated in joint exercises in the Western Pacific during the 1950s and 1960s. In the spring of 1964, it took part in Operation “Back Packs,” an amphibious exercise with Nationalist Chinese forces in Taiwan. It also provided humanitarian aid, such as water to Hong Kong during a severe drought, demonstrating the multifaceted role of the U.S. Navy in the region.

Strategic Objectives of U.S. Naval Presence

  • The U.S. Navy’s presence near Tsingtao served multiple strategic objectives:
  • Containment of Communism: Monitoring and deterring Chinese expansionism while protecting Taiwan and South Korea.
  • Intelligence Gathering: Collecting SIGINT and photographic data on Chinese naval activities to inform U.S. strategic planning.
  • Support for Allies: Reinforcing regional alliances through joint exercises, evacuations, and readiness operations.
  • Freedom of Navigation: Asserting international maritime rights in contested waters.

Conclusion

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the waters off Tsingtao were a key theater in the Cold War. U.S. Navy destroyers and amphibious ships—such as USS De Haven, Henrico, Rupertus, and James E. Kyes—patrolled these waters to monitor Chinese naval activity, gather intelligence, and deter aggression. The DESOTO patrols, in particular, symbolized the United States’ commitment to maintaining a balance of power in the Western Pacific while upholding the principles of freedom of navigation and international law.

The story of these patrols is a testament to the importance of naval power in shaping the course of the Cold War in Asia—an enduring legacy of vigilance and strategic deterrence in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions.