(Diagram courtesy Wikipedia) of USS Jimmy Carter indicating some additions to aid a cable listening mission (click on image to expand).
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Vigilis at Molten Eagle wrote
the following excellent post on July 3, 2013, see http://aquilinefocus.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/article-ties-uss-jimmy-carter-ssn-23-to.html
:
"Article ties USS Jimmy Carter (SSN
23) to 'Sensitive' NSA Listening
Background
Tamedia Publications romandes http://www.linkedin.com/company/tamedia-publications-romandes
* SA is a Swiss media group headquartered in Zurich. With daily and weekly
newspapers, magazines, and newspaper
printing part sof Tamedia media companies. The company was founded in 1893 and
is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange since 2000.
*Suisse romande or
Romandie refers to French-speaking districts of western Switzerland.
"Suisse romand" describes the French dialect spoken in
Switzerland. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 7, 2013 Tribune de Genève L'USS Jimmy Carter, les oreilles de
la NSA au fond des mers - By Pascal Schmuck.
Translated excerpts in italics [emphasis mine]: The USS Jimmy Carter, the ears of the NSA on
the seabedThe particular American nuclear sub is capable of monitoring submarine optical fiber cables. No communication seems immune to the ears of the National Security Agency (NSA). Satellite comms are routinely monitored by the Echelon program, but the fiber optic submarine cables have not escapes their monitoring.
Of course, transatlantic comms are already monitored on both sides of the ocean, by the Americans and the British. But the United States has also developed a special nuclear submarine capable of intercepting more sensitive communications. The USS Jimmy Carter was built in the early 2000s to operate wiretaps.
Since we know that
almost 90% of Internet traffic is carried by submarine cable versus 10% by
satellite. Submarine cables give rise to many fantasies, as we hear whenever
one of them is cut. USS Jimmy Carter seems to represent a capability of
strategic significance.
********
NOTES (Wikipedia)
1- As of 2006, overseas satellite links accounted for only 1
percent of international traffic, while the remainder was carried by undersea cable
.
2- [USS Jimmy] Carter has additional maneuvering devices fitted fore
and aft that will allow her to keep station over selected targets in odd
currents. Past submarines outfitted this way were used to tap undersea cables, to intercept
communications of foreign countries. Intelligence experts speculate that the
MMP may find use in similar missions as an underwater splicing
chamber for fiber optic cables.[4][5][6][7]
Submarines are always silent and strange.Vigilis”
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Subsequently an excellent article from The National Interest, August 5, 2017 reveals:
"The extreme quietness of the Seawolf class gave the Navy
the idea of modifying the last submarine, USS Jimmy Carter, to support
clandestine operations. An extra one hundred feet was added to the hull, a
section known as the Multi-Mission Platform (MMP). The MMP gives Carter the
ability to send and recover Remotely Operated Vehicles/Unmanned Underwater
Vehicles and SEALs and diving teams while submerged. It includes
berthing for up to fifty SEALs or other attached personnel. Carter also
features auxiliary maneuvering devices fore and aft for precise maneuvering in
situations such as undersea cable tapping and other acts of espionage."
Pete
This is cool!
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