Posted on 02/18/2005 5:00:53 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Experts: New Sub Can Tap Undersea Cables
* USS Jimmy Carter Will Be Based In Washington State
Feb 18, 2005 4:55 pm US/Eastern WASHINGTON (AP) The USS Jimmy Carter, set to join the nation’s submarine fleet on Saturday, will have some special capabilities, intelligence experts say: It will be able to tap undersea cables and eavesdrop on the communications passing through them.
The Navy does not acknowledge the $3.2 billion submarine, the third and last of the Seawolf class of attack subs, has this capability.
“That’s going to be classified in nature,” said Kevin Sykes, a Navy spokesman. “You’re not going to get anybody to talk to you about that.”
But intelligence community watchdogs have little doubt: The previous submarine that performed the mission, the USS Parche, was retired last fall. That would only happen if a new one was on the way.
Like the Parche, the Carter was extensively modified from its basic design, given a $923 million hull extension that allows it to house technicians and gear to perform the cable-tapping and other secret missions, experts say. The Carter’s hull, at 453 feet, is 100 feet longer than the other two subs in the Seawolf class.
“The submarine is basically going to have as its major function intelligence gathering,” said James Bamford, author of two books on the National Security Agency.
Navy public information touts some of the Carter’s special abilities: In the extended hull section, the boat can provide berths for up to 50 special operations troops, like Navy SEALs. It has an “ocean interface” that serves as a sort of hangar bay for smaller vehicles and drones to launch and return.
(Excerpt) Read more at wcbs880.com ...
Well now the world knows...........
yea.....but it was leaked a long time ago...
Tapping of undersea cables was never that big of a secret....
Speaking from the pervue of a 30+ year Telecom Engineer....
NeverGore :^)
Read Blind Man's Bluff and read all about the cable tapping by the US Subs. One sub would actually leave California, go around Tierra Del Fuego (the extreme tip of South America for you readers from Rio Lindo)and go north around Scandinavia to Murmansk to do their thing.
It is sad. We need the secrecy like in the cold war. Where everything but sub's existance was top secret.
And Carter, lest we forget, was a naval officer and a submariner who served honorably. Say what one may about his disastrous presidency, this honor cannot be taken away from him.
An intelligence gathering submarine named after the the dumbest SOB to ever occupy the Oval Office.
And before the Carter-apologists start talking about how 'smart 'Carter was, that alleged 'smart' guy managed to lose Iran, Afghanistan and Panama on his watch, nearly abandoned U.S. military superiority to the Soviets, and presided over the biggest economic disaster since the Great Depression.
And WHO THE F*** would name a ship after one of the WORST presidents in history!?
This is nothing new. Might be a new ship doing it, but the capability's been around a long time and books have been written about it.
The navy said nothing. From the article:
“That’s going to be classified in nature,” said Kevin Sykes, a Navy spokesman. “You’re not going to get anybody to talk to you about that.”
It was a writer who disclosed these items of interest:
He may be correct, he may be full of it.
I take offense mainly at making dispairrging remarks about the ship itself. Us sailors tend to take these attacks personally. Many of us who have served on a navy vessel keep that boat in a special place in our hearts.
Maybe it should be renamed the USS JC. Then one could attach whatever secular or religious connotation is desired.
Talking about leaks in a discussion of submarines could be considered in poor taste.
Yeah! I serve on the USS José Cuervo! We know how to party on liberty in Australia!
I knew Carter was tapping someone's phone........
I am surprised this isn't ZOTTED already!
All reporters should be briefed and debriefed on the policy. This is not a game, folks! We have a lot of enemies in the World!
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