The Cold War was a contest not only of military might but of intelligence. While spy planes and satellites often steal the spotlight in histories of espionage, some of the most effective intelligence-gathering platforms were far less conspicuous. Among these unsung platforms was the USS Atakapa (ATF-149) — a fleet ocean tug that, for a brief but critical period, played a key role in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) collection for the U.S. Navy. Though designed for towing and salvage, Atakapa’s quiet deployment into the world of covert surveillance reveals a hidden dimension of naval operations during the height of U.S.-Soviet tensions.
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Picking the right weapon to match the threat as the US Navy battled the Houthis in the Red Sea came with a “learning curve” for the service, President Donald Trump’s choice for top admiral said Thursday.
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The AN/USQ-124 Tactical Intelligence (TACINTEL) System was a computerized message processing system that made it possible to transmit and receive special intelligence (SI) message traffic via satellite in a controlled environment while simultaneously screening two predetermined subchannels of the Fleet Broadcast transmissions.
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The Pentagon lacks “strategic clarity” when it comes to conducting the cognitive warfare that analysts see as necessary for confronting China, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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Mrs. Agnes Driscoll
July 24, 1889 – September 16, 1971
In the months leading up to the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, few voices within the U.S. Navy spoke out with the clarity and conviction of Admiral James O. Richardson. As Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from January 1940 to February 1941, Richardson was uniquely positioned to assess the strategic posture of the Pacific Fleet. Yet despite his experience and reasoned objections, his warnings about relocating the fleet to Hawaii were ultimately disregarded—decisions that would have profound consequences for the United States and the course of World War II.
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Station HYPO 