Comments on the Cold War

A U.S. Navy Sailor's Perspective

Russell A. Mudgett

I served in the United States Navy from August, 1967 until December, 1974 as an Interior Communications Electrician and Nuclear Electrical Operator. I served on board the U.S.S. Northampton (CC-1), U.S.S. Towers (DDG-9), U.S.S. Bainbridge (DLGN-25), and U.S.S. South Carolina (DLGN-37/CLGN-37). I worked in the Engineering Departments of these ships and my duties took me into various areas of the ships including the engine rooms, boiler rooms, reactor spaces, Combat Information Center, The Bridge, and topside areas. I was able to observe a variety of shipboard activities. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and observed many aspects of service in the Western Pacific from the Sea of Japan to the Sumatra Straits.

I will provide observations related to the Cold War by service on each ship or duty station that I noticed activities directly related to the Cold War. The following will be a combination of actual observations and information gained from shipboard rumor. I assume that none of the following is still considered classified.

U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School:

The Nuclear Power Program of the U.S. Navy was, throughout the time I served in the Navy, classified. The reason, we were told, was because of an alleged tour taken by Admiral Rickover to a Soviet naval facility. During this particular tour, the Admiral noted that Soviet nuclear submarines did not utilize the same level of technology as we did in the construction and radiation shielding of the reactors. The average Soviet sailor was in greater danger from the operation of their reactors than we were in our reactor operations. Upon his return from the tour, Admiral Rickover immediately had the entire nuclear program in the United States classified. We were always being warned to take care not to divulge any information concerning nuclear power.

U.S.S. Bainbridge:

During the first part of our tour in the Western Pacific (known as WestPac), we were outfitted with a "Spook Shack" in Yokosuka, Japan. This shack was a white structure which was shackled to a position amidships. The shack was heavily guarded by a Marine detachment and ship's personnel were kept from the area of the shack while it was on board. We were also kept away from personnel who worked in the shack. I noticed that many of the those individuals wore civilian clothing. We did learn that the equipment and people in the shack were being used to monitor electronic emissions and communications within the Soviet Union and North Korea.

While on duty in the Sea of Japan, we were often flown over by Soviet surveillance aircraft. All aircraft and ships we encountered were photographed by a member of the crew who was given the assignment of Ship's Photographer. He showed me some of the photographs taken on previous cruises of Soviet naval and merchant ships. A lack of maintenance and repair was very evident in the photos of the naval ships. Similar intelligence photos were evidently taken by various sources around the world. At the time, there was speculation that the Soviets had limited resources for their military. This eventually became an indicator that we were "winning the Cold War".

During this cruise, we were sent to intercept a research ship, "Columbia", which was steadily wandering into North Korean waters. We were to give the ship a final warning before the North Koreans could have the opportunity to seize their ship. This incident occurred only three years after the seizure of the U.S.S. Pueblo. It was five years later, that I learned from my parents that we had actually entered North Korean waters.

Showing the flag was a big activity of the U.S. Navy. Our ship was sent from Singapore through the Straits of Sumatra on a high speed run into the Indian Ocean and around the island of Sumatra and returning to the South China Sea. We were told this was to show the world that we capable of placing an American presence in any ocean at any time. Apparently, at the time, the Soviet navy was making great use of the Suez canal during their period of friendly relations with Egypt. The U.S. Navy did not have such access to the canal and there concern over a Soviet presence in the Indian Ocean.

Finally, during operations off Hawaii, we intercepted a Soviet fishing trawler which had wandered within sight of Honolulu. Our actions consisted of making several tight turns around the trawler to dissuade their continued intrusion into U.S. waters. The trawler after some verbal protest, returned to the open seas. Apparently, the trawler had wandered near a dive point of our submarines.