Commander Undersea Surveillance

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About Commander Undersea Surveillance

Commander Undersea Surveillance (CUS), originally established as Commander, Oceanographic System Atlantic (COSL) in 1954, was a key U.S. Navy command responsible for managing the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS). Its mission focused on the operation, maintenance, and coordination of undersea listening arrays used to detect and track foreign submarines, particularly during the Cold War. Renamed Commander Undersea Surveillance in 1985, the unit’s oversight expanded to include all U.S. Navy fixed undersea surveillance systems worldwide. CUS played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare until its functions were merged into other naval commands during the post-Cold War restructuring of the 1990s.

Unit Members

Anthony Grant

U.S. Navy

Commander Undersea SurveillanceView Profile

John Dunn

U.S. Navy

Commander Undersea SurveillanceView Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About Commander Undersea Surveillance

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Origins in the Cold War: Commander Undersea Surveillance (CUS) traces its roots to the Cold War era, when the U.S. Navy established extensive undersea surveillance networks to track Soviet submarines. • SOSUS Network: CUS is most famous for operating the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), a network of undersea hydrophone arrays that spanned the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. • “IUSS” Heritage: CUS evolved from the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), which coordinated various fixed and mobile surveillance assets. • Guantanamo Bay’s Secret Role: One of the first operational SOSUS sites was at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which played a crucial role in monitoring submarine activity. • Unmasking Soviet Submarines: SOSUS, under CUS control, was instrumental in tracking Soviet nuclear and diesel submarines, including the detection of the first Soviet Yankee-class ballistic missile submarine deployment. • “The Bloop” Mystery: In 1997, CUS systems detected the mysterious underwater sound known as “The Bloop,” later determined to be natural in origin, but for years sparked speculation about unknown sea creatures. • Transition to Multi-Mission: After the Cold War, CUS transitioned from focusing solely on anti-submarine warfare to supporting scientific research, counter-narcotics, and disaster response. • Global Coverage: CUS units operate globally, with sites in the U.S., United Kingdom, Iceland, and other strategic locations. • Silent Service Partnership: CUS works closely with the U.S. Navy’s submarine force, providing crucial intelligence for submarine operations and strategic deterrence. • Innovative Technology: CUS has continually upgraded its systems, incorporating digital signal processing, automated detection, and even environmental monitoring capabilities.