Uncovered: The top-secret naval base that spied on Soviet subs from Delaware

Naval Facility Lewes’ Secret Soviet Submarine Surveillance Operation

Cape Henlopen hid one of America’s best Cold War secrets for nearly two decades.

After a huge storm wrecked their New Jersey base in 1962, Navy crews hauled top-secret submarine detection gear across Delaware Bay to Fort Miles.

There, they dug out Battery Herring from under ten feet of sand and ran a 104-mile underwater cable into the Atlantic.

For 19 years, 149 personnel worked around the clock tracking Soviet subs while telling locals they just studied ocean science. The program stayed classified until 1991, long after the facility closed.

Today, Cape Henlopen State Park holds the remains of this hidden naval listening post where America spied beneath the waves.

A Massive Storm Wiped Out America’s Submarine Detection System

The Ash Wednesday Storm hit the East Coast in March 1962 with brutal force. This huge storm completely destroyed Naval Facility Cape May across Delaware Bay.

The Navy quickly grabbed all their underwater listening equipment from the ruins. This gear was vital for tracking Soviet submarines during the Cold War.

The loss created a big gap in America’s ability to watch Soviet subs in the Atlantic. Military leaders rushed to find a new home for this important system before the Soviets noticed the gap.

The Navy Found a New Home in an Old WWII Fort

Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen became the perfect spot to rebuild the submarine listening post.

The Navy picked this empty World War II fort because it already had military bunkers and direct access to the Atlantic Ocean.

The fort sat unused since 1944 after helping defend the coast during the war.

Its out-of-the-way spot on the Delaware coast worked great for secret operations. The thick concrete bunkers now protected sensitive electronic equipment while keeping nosy civilians away.

Military Ships Hauled Secret Gear Across Delaware Bay

Navy crews loaded all the listening equipment onto special flat-bottom ships for the short trip across Delaware Bay in May 1962.

These ships could drive right onto the beach to unload the sensitive submarine detection gear. Workers carefully moved the complex equipment to prevent damage.

The Navy opened Naval Facility Lewes on May 1, 1962, just weeks after losing the Cape May location. They worked day and night to set up the equipment and restore America’s submarine watching abilities.

Workers Dug Out Tons of Sand to Create an Underground Listening Post

Navy construction teams removed 10 feet of sand that had buried Battery Herring, one of the old WWII gun spots. They turned this concrete bunker into the main building for the underwater listening system.

The underground spot kept the sensitive equipment secure and at the right temperature. Construction crews connected the building to the existing tunnels beneath Fort Miles.

The bunker’s thick concrete walls kept electronic signals from leaking out.

A Secret Cable Stretched 104 Miles Into the Atlantic Ocean

Workers laid a massive underwater cable that ran 104 miles from Battery Herring straight into the deep Atlantic.

This cable held 40 very sensitive underwater microphones spaced along its length to catch submarine sounds.

The microphone setup sat in a perfect spot to detect Soviet submarines moving along the continental shelf.

The cable connected directly to the equipment inside Battery Herring. From there, workers could hear different submarine sounds and track their movements.

The Secret Base Grew to Nearly 150 Personnel

Naval Facility Lewes soon filled with activity as 149 people worked around the clock. The team included 8 officers who ran operations, 125 sailors who handled the technical work, and 16 civilian experts.

They set up their main office in what people now call the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. The Navy used Battery Smith to store spare parts and supplies.

Battery Herring held the actual listening equipment and backup power generators. The facility ran 24/7, with staff always listening for Soviet submarine sounds.

Everyone Called It an “Ocean Research Center” to Keep the Secret

The Navy told the public that Naval Facility Lewes studied “ocean research” to hide what it really did. The underwater listening program stayed completely secret throughout the facility’s 19-year run.

Sailors and officers signed strict secrecy agreements and faced serious trouble for revealing the truth. Local people saw Navy staff coming and going but never learned about the submarine detection work.

Most folks believed the Navy simply studied ocean currents, sea life, and water temperatures.

A Female Commander Broke Barriers at the Secret Facility

LCDR Margaret Anne Frederick made history in 1977 when she took charge of Naval Facility Lewes, becoming the first woman to lead any underwater listening post.

Her leadership came when women were just starting to take command positions. Her job broke major gender barriers in the male-dominated world of naval intelligence.

Frederick ran the facility during the late Cold War when Soviet submarine activity remained a serious concern.

The Listening Post Won Awards for Tracking Soviet Subs

Naval Facility Lewes earned two Meritorious Unit Commendations during its years of operation.

These awards recognized the team’s outstanding work in tracking Soviet submarines. The facility built a name for accuracy and reliability in underwater watching.

Their work provided key information about Soviet naval movements during important Cold War tensions.

The Navy rarely gave out these awards, which made the recognition even more important. The facility kept an excellent record throughout its 19-year run.

Better Technology Made the Listening Post Obsolete

New computer systems and improved detection methods changed everything by 1981. The Navy combined its underwater listening operations at a single facility in Dam Neck, Virginia.

Advanced computers could now handle data from multiple listening stations in one place. This tech breakthrough meant the Navy no longer needed separate facilities like the one at Cape Henlopen.

Naval Facility Lewes closed its doors on September 30, 1981, after nearly two decades of secret submarine watching.

The Military Finally Gave the Land Back to the Public

The headquarters building served as a Naval Reserve Center from 1981 until 1996.

The Navy kept the underwater listening program classified until 1991, when they finally revealed the true purpose of facilities like Naval Facility Lewes.

After the Cold War ended, the military returned all the land to Cape Henlopen State Park. Today, visitors walk past these former secret buildings without knowing their critical role in Cold War history.

The bunkers and facilities that once housed top-secret submarine detection equipment now blend into the peaceful park landscape, their Cold War secrets finally revealed.

Visiting Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware

Cape Henlopen State Park at 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive in Lewes costs $5 for Delaware residents and $10 for others from March through November.

You can explore Cold War history at the Biden Environmental Center, which houses the former Navy surveillance headquarters.

The Fort Miles Museum in Battery 519 has exhibits about the secret SOSUS submarine detection program.

Climb Fire Control Tower #7 for ocean views, and see Battery Herring’s terminal site where underwater listening cables once operated.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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