The Submarine that Secretly Tormented Russia
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- During the Cold War, the US Navy launched the infamous Ivy Bells project to spy on the Soviets. The legendary USS Halibut submarine was chosen for this mission. Yet, not everyone was on board with the idea.
Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, excluded from the intelligence network of the Navy and the CIA, created a spy submarine: the NR-1.
The NR-1, designed to perform deep-sea tasks, had advanced computer and sonar systems and various tools for recovery operations, exploration, and research. Despite being marketed as a rescue submarine, she was primarily used for covert missions.
Nevertheless, the submarine conducted various missions, including search operations, object recovery, and oceanographic research. And she did it all while holding the title of the smallest nuclear submarine in US military history…
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Saw NR-1 in Scotland in 2006-2007 deployment. Dunno why they were there, but remember seeing the bright colored paint on the sail, and remembering how impossibly small it was compared to our fast attack. Never thought I'd be seeing a video about it years after. Good on you DS.
I was on the Dallas in late 09 while the NR1 was in the drydock being decommissioned. It was interesting to see the whole hull out of the water.
@@dv4261"Way to go Dallas!"
You missed the biggest part of the story. The gentleman who came up with the idea of tapping the cables was fishng outside of his harbour with his son his son said daddy what does that sign say? The sign saidmno anchoring due to undergound cables. It was at that moment he thought that the Russians would have the same issues as they do. Thus the idea was born to tap the cables of the Russians from a simple question of a young boy fishing...
A friend, now since passed, was aboard Halibut for "Ivy Bells". When visiting him a few years ago he pulled out a bag that was filled with pebbles. He gave me one. He said that they were from alongside the Russian cable that the listening device was set on the seabed in the Sea of Okhotsks. I have kept that little rock all these years. in memory of him and what he helped do. While stationed in Pearl Harbor Halibut moored opposite us. I walked over and ask if I could see the boat. I got a tour and was blow away by the size of the forward room where the missiles use to be kept. I had no idea what she was about to do later.
The best ideas come out of thin air🤯🤯🤯
That's like some ancient philosophy moment. The realization from an innocent question.
Reminds me of my son when we visited a beach near a nuclear plant after 9/11. He ask what that was. After telling him he added, "Wouldn't terrorists want to hit that?" Makes you think.
Can’t imagine what capabilities exist now
I served on the NR-1 in the second half of the 90s. Interesting boat but antiquated by the time I was aboard.
I had the experience of being on this Little Submarine at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 2017 where it was beginning to be dismantled. It is absolutely incredible how small the tight it was in there
Should be in a museum.
@@briancooper2112I agree, but way too late now.
You are a braver soul than I am. I couldn't do the confines of being a submariner. It takes a special breed of person to take on this task.
Seems like a good way to get around the ocean with a few mods and some upgrades
@joshuaboudreau5258 Thanks, Pal. We Submariners ARE a special group. A kinda weird group lol. The comraderie of the crew, and a relaxed social separation between Officers and Enlisted made it tough, but very rewarding. We're the silent service because we don't talk about our missions, so it is nice when stuff is declassified and the rest of the world can get a glimpse of what we do.
I never served on the NR-1 but I was a pier guard for a week while waiting for my Submarine Class to start.
Also, her depth was 4500 until being lowered to 3000 in the second half of her career. Primary recovery mission was a lifting system for broken arrows at sea
Wow. Goes to show you how many of those damn things we lost all over the place. One or two in Iowa, a bunch in the ocean, one over a farm in Spain (oops), etc.
lol, "lowered to 3000"
I think you meant to say that its maximum depth was “reduced” from 4500 to 3000 feet. 😉
Still 500 fathoms is pretty dang deep....
You likely meant "empty quiver". Broken arrows are damaged, not lost. Empty quiver isn't a great movie name though.
Submarines still burn those candles for oxygen today
I served on USS Dace SSN607, the Halibut was SSN 587 but we where both Thresher Class boats renamed to Permit Class after Thresher's lost but we always referred to ourselves as Thresher Class to honor its memory. I was "Nuc" Reactor Plant Operator. Admiral Rickover was a God, a genius and Father of the Nuclear Navy. Were it not for Rickover we might be a decade or more behind the Russians. He was revered , feared and loved by both Officers and Enlisted because he was more like George Burns than a Halsey or Nimtz if you think about an Officer, much less Admiral in the US Navy. Nuc Boats are limited by how much food they can store and we stored it everywhere. The decks in the bow compartment had boxes of cans stack 3 or 4 high as if you didnt already bang you head on piping or electrical gear enough everywhere as it was. Cases of food jammed in Diesel compartment, torpedo room, Radio, Sonar, pump bays, everywhere except back aft as only Nucs could go back aft. Yep, no sleep, no washing yourself or your TP2190 hydraulic oil, grease, dirt & sweat infused clothes which also got all over our hot bunk (shared) racks. We slept in our filthy stinky clothes on our filthy stinky sheets with out filthy stench ridden bodies. If you didnt like being a soiled greasy mess in an Engine Room that was at best 80% humidity at 100 degrees at a 1/3 bell and way hotter than hell at Flank, then this was not the place for you. No one ever bitched, not a single complaint. We were there to do what no one else would want to and we loved it!
Wow. Thank you for your service...is not enuf! 😮😢❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉 I'm shocked & nearly speechless. Reminds me of my Dad who would work as a car mechanic and told me once: "Don't be afraid of getting dirty." He'd eat a sandwich while greasy.
Grandpa was a Nuclear Sub engineer. Thank you for this. He never told me what it was like. I think my vision was like the movies. No grease on clothes looking all in dress khaki and whites. Lol yeah right. They were in nasty jumpsuits right? Or dungaree?
The Halibut was absolutely not a Permit class boat. She was a unique boat with an SSGN designation, built with the original purpose of launching Regulus missiles.
@@BlizzardZHusky USS Halibut who I had friends who served on her as SSN-587, she was converted in late '65 to SSN-587 at Pearl Harbor as the Washington Class Polaris boats made her way outdated as an SSGN when originally built. Spent as much or more of her life as an SSN as did she an SSGN but she is listed in the Naval Registry as SSN-587. Halibut was there to evaluate performance of and later sail as a pseudo member of the Sub Squadrons with Skipjacks & Permit/Thresher Class boats so you are right on that,not originally either of those classes but it was a lifetime ago and she was always thought as and treated as a sister ship deploying with us as an SSN.
Your story sounds like life on the USS Catfish back in the late 50"s but we had more space and the patrols were stacked with food. We at least had a small basin of water to do the submarine bath. Never did like storing all those potatoes in the shower. We got 2 showers on our patrols, one the night before you left and one the night we got back to Yokosuka. The hot bath house in Yokosuka smelled of diesel that night.
If you want to read about the cable tapping, get a book called, "Blind Man's Bluff". This book is required reading if you are interested in what US Submarines were doing in the 60's and 70's. It is very detailed, you will not be disappointed reading it.
It is a fascinating read!!!
Had no idea that this boat existed........ but it doesn't surprise me. Cool!
Just imagine what they have now.
How frustrating to be one of the men who did these amazing things and never be able to talk about it.
Those kinds of noodles would never make it on a sub. Especially one like this. If you need to tell people things to validate yourself then you'd be put somewhere where it doesn't matter if who you tell 😂. No room for pathetic people with tiny egos on these things. Their balls barely fit as it is.
@@mulletoutdooradventures6286 Validating oneself is hardly the only reason to relay one's experiences, there's no cause for such a shallow interpretation.
@@mulletoutdooradventures6286ain't that truth ... Esp abt the part that their balls barely fit as it is 😅😅😅😅
@@brianwelch1579 like your shallow interpretation of what I said 😂. My uncle was on the 1st nuke boats and they don't just put anyone on those boats. They're all vetted extensively. Back then, and still today, they were terrified of our secrets getting out. These men didn't need to talk about it. Even in casual conversations. Plus there no need to talk to anyone. It is what they do
When the book "Blind Man's Bluff" came out it took some weight off of a lot of submarine sailor's backs. Not that disclosing classified missions was good, but the way the book only disclosed information that was known by many in foreign intelligence agencies already while keeping current ops undiscussed let many people know what kind of work the submarines and their crews still do today. Operation Ivy Bells was a jewel in the crown for US intelligence until the Walkers disclosed it to the Soviets.
The NR-1 was dismantled at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The US Naval Undersea Museum at Keyport has the main control equipment.
One of my instructors in Nuclear Power School was a former NR-1 crewman. After his stories, I stuck to normal nuclear powered submarines.
9:40 Groton, Connecticut is pronounced like the word rotten with a G on the front. In fact when we were kids we’d call it “Rotten Groton”. It’s not “Grouton” like you pronounce it in many of your videos.
This was a very brave , incredible mission and a great success.
While stationed at EB in new construction I saw some of the hull plates being rolled for the NR-1. Pretty impressive in thickness. By the way it pronounced Grawton Not Growton. (Groton, CT) The wheels used on the NR-1 were tested on the USS Mackerel (T-1). I got to tour the T-1 dockside at EB while she was there to be fitted with the wheels to be used on NR-1.
That pronunciation made me shudder. All I could think about was how it rhymed with Rotten Groton, and Grotonpotamuses. Fun times
About or around how thick?
@@rtz549extra thicc
Groton like grotto or yacht
@@jacobdionne4334 I spend 18 months at EB in Rotten Groton (it rhymes) new construction. We were the very first SUBSAFE certified sub.
Makes you wonder what they built to replace NR-1? No way they would just walk away from having that kind of capability. It's needed now more than ever.
Not quite a replacement, but as NR1 was winding down (07 or so) my class was going through the nuclear pipeline and the Jimmy Carter was the carrot on a stick for top performers. Student had to have the academics, pass an interview, and obtain TS clearance (most bubbleheads just get Secret).
Drones. Drones will make Bubbleheads life difficult as well…. Mainly due to the advantage of not having a people tank.
Yeah they debuted a pretty slick drone from Boeing, i believe
There was an NR-2 project, but it was killed by bloat and bureaucracy.
I useda rattle the chain link around the NR-1 berth in NLON while walking between my boat and the parking lot. I never heard anything about setting off the sensors. Now I live on a rural road with about 12 houses total And down the road from me is a former NR-1 guy…
Carolyn Chouest (pronounced Shwest). I worked onboard her for a couple years after her NR1 days.
If the people at soviet navy headquarters were secretly tormented, how could they know of the torment? Is they were unaware of being tormented, how could the torment have any effect at all?
FYI, and future videos, Groton is pronounced "GRAH ton", not "GROW ton".
Other than that, an excellent video.
I saw it in Groton sub base in1976, just before the Tomcat retrieval. A Chief pointed out his vessel, and told us the "search, rescue, and research" cover. I knew enough to see about five things that didn't fit ( like armed guards, for starters). I was also smart enough to say nothing to my friend, and it was dim enough that he couldn't see my expression.
Locally there are so many subs ( the shipyard and the station, too) that watching them is a local pasttime.
Early 80s on lower base a DSRV was parked between the fence and our pier. It had Marines guarding it with a sandbagged M-60 position and 2 or 3 rovers. Also concertina wire around it.
As many pictures there was of the 2 in and out and on the back of a 637 boat I wondered what that was about? Maybe the Marines were asked to guard it. The Navy meant 1 Marine and they went all in. 😂
In 1975 or 6 I was a CPO on HMS Bacchante. We escorted NR1 down the Irish Sea. We were also prohibited from taking photos....yeah, right!
In the mid 70's HMS Bacchante escorted her down the Irish sea. We were prohibited from taking photos....yeah, right!
I worked on NR-1 and had a friend on board. We used to call it the world's only nuclear powered mobile home. That's about how big it was.
Nice video. I didn’t know much about about the NR1 until I came into possession of a brass plaque for the “rescue” submarine.This piqued my curiosity and exposed me to the fascinating adventures of this unique vessel.
So how did it torment Russia? Never got to that bit
..
Just have to assume it is classified.
Clickbait title...
his always are.
Not sure if I would say it packed a “punch”, more of a sniffer.
Thanks for telling our story! You got a few of the logistical facts wrong but that’s ok, still a great video!
Yeah. What he can't prove; he fills in with imagination. 🙄
It's worse than that. The whole text is read straight out of H.I. Sutton's web site "Covert Shores" but this is not acknowledged. Google "Sutton Covert Shores NR-1" and see for yourself.
Imagine rolling up to a giant hole in the ocean floor and being like well lets go down there. Craziness
world class content
Tell me again how this sub tormented russia?
I remember NR1 in Groton, Conn sitting out of the water in the Lower Base Dry Dock.
Sounds like the Nautilus! And Rickover as Admiral Nelson!
"Voyage to the bottom of the sea"
As usual, both imaging and narration are full of errors. Why use the USS Greyback SSG-574 as click bait? The 'legendary' submarine was SS-232 which created major havoc amongst the IJN. The nuke Halibut had no public record so couldn't be legendary. Kindly check your terminology for what you're writing about. NR1 deserved the term more than Halibut.
You couldn't pay me enough to get into a sub and go down into the ocean. Nope Nope Nope
I did, for over 8 years. Seen a lot, did a lot. Fun times.
i would love a story on the russian alfa class which was just as crazy as the NR-1 in terms of technology and ability.
The USA didn't invent dirty tricks but they certainly perfected them.
0:48 ...the smallest nuclear submarine in the US military history - In the world!
It's pronounced "Groton" as in "rotten" 🤓
AI don't care.
Hopefully the 'unique and captivating nature' of NR-1's missions will someday be declassified.
Fantastic well done Sir
The only reason the Government retires a craft like this, is that they have something newer and better.
I grew up living in Navy housing in Groton, Connecticut. The correct way to say Groton is "Grotten"...
NR1 stands for nuclear research vessel number one it was the only submarine of its type made, and my father was stationed on it to lay transcontinental communication cable. He designed the hook on the front of it.
Great. Thank you, Dark XXX. I'm damn sure that a couple of Chinese "submarine research vessels" have the mission of NR-1.
The Chesapeake bay is their hunting grounds
the operation to tap sov underwater cable comms is worth a stand alone story,,IVY BELLS
this cble was laid 400 ft below in the sea of oxhotsk the eavesdropping mechanism wrapped around 20 ft lgth of cable,made to automtically break away from the cable whould it be raised up US got private comm data from this operation until ronald pelton gave the device details to the russians 1980=83,he did this for some money ,,not a lot of money
enough that he thought it worthwhile
Agreed, that's what I thought this was when I clicked it. My uncle used to just tell us what he did in the Navy was classified. Then one day it was declassified, and he told the story at Thanksgiving.
Ok,
You did not have to be a Nuke only to be on the NR1, you could be assigned if you were a sonar operator and/or a radio operator with a TS/Si clearance, which I had.
I had the opportunity in ‘85 to be assigned to NR1 if I were to reenlist. Things in life you look back on and say “If only I did…”😂
Groton is pronounced ( Grah-ton ). We Submariners call it "Rottin Groton"
somewhat surprised that she was not replaced
Who says she wasn't replaced? 😊
Robert Ballard is among those who used the NR1 for research purposes. Impressive bit of engineering.
3:41… “due to her deep diving capabilities” video shows it submerging from the surface, but it’s actually surfacing played in reverse. My OCD kicks in and I wonder how the hell someone misses that in editing.
possibly not very knowledgeable of the actual functioning machinations of the subject matter being discussed?
@@poppys3728 are you saying you think the video shows the sub diving at that point? You should have another look at the video before you pull out your dictionary to formulate an incorrect conclusion.
@@devenstoyles5415 Not saying that. The quality of this content providers material leaves a lot to be desired. I've made hundreds of dives / surfaces. I know what a fake one looks like.
@@poppys3728 crap, sorry poppy. I owe you an apology. I took your reply as being towards my comment… in rereading it, I see your point now. Again, my bad…looks like I’m the one who needs to read more carefully, apologies.
@@devenstoyles5415 No worries.
Small subs like this are a horror to live in. You feel everything poor dudes would get ungodly sea sickness for hours/days. Lots of guys ended up with middle ear problems which is hell, it fucks with your balanace. Imagine your eyes banging side to side 6 times a second for 30-180 seconds. Falling down with no control puking on yourself vertigo is terrifying its hell. These guys had balls of steel to live in this literal tincan, normally life on a sub is rather good. what with you know hundred plus dudes with no space to move around dont want guys going insane&violent undersea on a sub with nukes on a stealth mission.
Middle ear problems and burst eardrums were a problem on diesel submarines caused by sharp pressure changes when snorting the diesels. This is a nuclear powered boat.
Seasickness traditionally occurs at the surface down to periscope depth. This boat was towed on the surface by a support vessel which housed most of the crew until it was time to dive.
Heaven in 200feet down in a hurricane.
Love your vids. Always been fascinated with naval warfare and specifically submarines. One of the coolest things in my life was meeting one of my Dad's co workers who served on the Dallas. The Sub from the movie The Hunt For Red October. He even let me wear his Jacket with DALLAS on the back. My pops was a crypto tech on the USS Spear 1970-1980, a sub tender ship.
We finally got it!
The NR-1 video!
NR1 was THE elite sub duty for a NUC. A friend of mine in MDIV received a transfer to it after meeting with Rickover. (74 or75)
Ok,
You did not have to be a Nuke only to be on the NR1, you could be assigned if you were a sonar operator and/or a radio operator with a TS/Si clearance, which I had.
I had the opportunity in ‘85 to be assigned to NR1 if I were to reenlist. Things in life you look back on and say “If only I did…”😂
Have you forgotten about Gudgeon?
Interesting story. More interesting the comments below. But, clickbait on how it tormented the Soviets. That's classified. I'd add Soviets were already good at tormenting their own citizens.
There is little doubt she has a replacement. Somewhere.
Titan should have taken a few lessons from the NR1 40+ years prior to killing people for no reason.
Great stuff as always
Here Is my fun... having walked the Waterfront in Groton for almost 18 years. Was our little sister. She had a purpose that we never knew, fully. But we knew. NR-1 was powered by a nuclear reactor. Her big brothers have Reactors capable of powering small towns. Happened when Hurricane Andrew hit Florida back in the '80s/90s. WTF with Green Energy?
You should do a video on the sea monsters that the NR1 and other submarines have encountered
Perfect for laying underwater explosives etc
Maybe I blinked, but it seems that I missed the part where NR-1 "tormented" the Russians.
Spent ~37 years in the business. TS-SCI Deep Submergence, Submarine Special Projects, Electronics, Navy Diver, Etc... We were instructed, when asked about the Novel "Blind Mans Bluff?"
I can neither confirm or deny.
Oh, the stories I could tell. You have no idea...
Where's the part about it tormenting Russia?
That was "Ivy Bells." They tried to stop us every way possible.... *_failed._*
Traitor John Walker sold us out along with numerous others to USSR. They still didn't stop us. I rode the boat that replaced the USS Halibut in the 80s.
Love the content!
Used to walk by it everyday 77, 78, 79 subbase Groton
rassian do same with america but western media always do hail hail america
4:26 i’m from this town and it’s called Groton like rotten not grow-tonn
Retired in 2008. Same year the communist and terrorist sympathizers moved into the White House.
Fascinating! Imagine being a Russian sub and coming across tire tracks in the ocean floor lmao
Saw her in Holy loch several times
How often were crews exposed to radiation while in the sail replaced ?
Not sure what you are trying to say here, but radiation levels on US nuclear subs are lower than being outside.
How exactly did it “torment Russia”?
you have many submarines like these spying everywhere
Non like that one, the only nuclear powered mini sub ever. Several attack subs and a few missile boats have been modified for "special projects" the first was Halibut, which was originally a regulus missile carrier. When sub launched ballistic missiles entered service halibut was suddenly not needed, John Craven took her, thened her hanger into an operations center for cable operated robots with installed moon pool. Halibut had a long, successful career as a special project boat.
Your saying Groton wrong, it sounds more like "graw ton".
i came across an interesting story from the norwegians who had been plagued by submarines in their waters, so one admiral set a trap, and it worked a submarine ran into it and became damaged. As the navy was going to investigate they were suddenly told to back off. though through their underwater mic's they could hear sounds of repairs being conducted, then hours later the target vanished. one very upset naval crew. They think an american or UK submarine on patrol ran into the trap, then called the norwegian high command explaining what happened and asking them not to investigate, which they complied with but it cause a real storm politically. i think because they thought it was a russian sub. so big oops they got an ally instead.
Not sure this would bother most, bur Groton is not pronounced with a long O, it sounds like “rotten”.
@techdavis. THANK YOU…..NOTHING is more irritating than videos with Narrators that don’t bother to check pronunciations of what they’re talking about; except maybe bad spelling and grammar.
semper fi,,semper fortis
The Britannic sunk in 400 feet of water, so why did they use this sub? It seems like overkill[
Every time I think about the sinking of Britannic, I think of how the bow hit the sea floor while the stern was still above water. It just seems eery to me.
Sub mariners, not sub marinas that under where boats are parked...
Actually we call ourselves SubMaReeners, we sail submarines not sub marins. If it was good enough for the WW II guys it was good enough for me. Subs 1964 to 1970.
@@webbtrekker534we were excellent mariners, not sub-mariners lol. Submarines once! Submarines twice!
That's a massive pipe that guys smoking 😢
Funny how he says 2300 something feet but shows a depth gauge going to 20,000 feet lol.
well they technically doesn't lie tho...
NR-1 do
Search for Soviet Communication Cabel
and
Rescue the US from the Soviet
Why wasn't it named something other than Halibut. We eat halibut.
Halibut settle in the bottom….
WW2 subs were named after fish. As nuclear power turned our subs into capital ships, we gave them better names.
@@Bob-qk2zg Or as one General Dynamics VP explained about getting funding for the subs, "fish don't vote."
How about the USS Seabass, or USS Whitefish?@@Bob-qk2zg
@@frosty3693 Actually that was Rickover that said that at a Senate hearing.
Just think what we would say if this was a Soviet or Russian operation?
🇺🇸
Nice video. Groton is pronounced with soft o's. Grawt-tun
4:00 "... And cleverly marketed as a recovery vehicle" And ppl wonder why I'm skeptical of the X-37B. I know to much history to know this is just a OTV.
And spoiler alert the space fleet is run from a sub Navy branch because they are ships.
@@aurorajones8481Most spy satellites are under the aegis of the Air Force ( just as the SR-71 and U2 were ) and the Space Force was split off from Air Force personnel. Spacecraft are not ‘ships’ they are considered aerospace.
Hi its been 7 years you still sound like John Cusack
I gotta say, your videos are always very well done. The voice over guy rules! Well done.
✌️
WOW!
The locals pronounce "Groton" with a short "O", as in hot. (Not as in grow.)
3:35 sounds familiar
Great story, thanks for posting.
Groton, Connecticut is pronounced "grah-ton," not "grow-ton."
In the pahk in the dahk in the cah
Pahk ya cah in Havad Yahd
Like "rotten".
@@BELCAN57 "Rotten Groton"
Located on the Thames River, which is pronounced "Thaymes" (not "Tems") in Connecticut. Weird, huh?
The toilets capacity to store crap being a limited factor how long it can dive seems a bit stupid... The toilet in my sailboat do not even have a tank, it all goes directly into the sea and that is how you normally emptied the toilet on boats out at sea...
Your sailboat is not a pressure vessel holding back hundreds of tons of deep diving water pressure..
The fewer hull penetrations the better. Plus the smell. Wouldn't want to blow sanitaries on boat that small.
@@webbtrekker534 Oh dear Gawd. Can you imagine the inboard vent to relieve san tank pressure at 3,000 feet. It would take hours and the aroma would be disgusting even by our standards.
Submarines have been lost due to pumping crap overboard.
It's not Grooton, CT it's pronouned with a short "o" like got, rot, tot, lot: Grot-ton, CT. Navy crewmen that suffer being stationed there call that place Rotten Groton.
Rotten Groton 🤣
That’s what we called it in sub school.