About this Unit
Naval Facility Cape Hatteras was a United States Navy Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) shore terminal located on Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Commissioned in January 1956, it served as a critical node in the early-warning network designed to detect and track Soviet submarines during the Cold War. The facility processed underwater acoustic data collected by an array of underwater listening devices (hydrophones) positioned offshore. After decades of service contributing to U.S. undersea surveillance, Naval Facility Cape Hatteras was decommissioned in June 1982 as technological advancements rendered some SOSUS stations redundant.
Historical Facts
• Cold War Origins: Naval Facility Cape Hatteras was established in 1956 as part of the U.S. Navy’s Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) network, designed to detect Soviet submarines during the Cold War.
• Strategic Location: The facility was located at Buxton, North Carolina, on Cape Hatteras, the easternmost point of the state, providing a prime vantage point for monitoring Atlantic submarine activity.
• Top Secret Mission: The true purpose of NAVFAC Cape Hatteras—tracking Soviet submarines—was classified for much of its operational life. It was officially described as conducting “oceanographic research.”
• Undersea Listening Cables: The facility was linked to a series of undersea hydrophone arrays placed on the ocean floor, capable of detecting the sounds of submarine propellers over vast distances.
• Operation Ivy Bells Connection: NAVFAC Cape Hatteras played a role in broader U.S. efforts like Operation Ivy Bells, a series of clandestine operations to tap Soviet undersea communications.
• Community Integration: The facility brought military families to the small, remote community of Buxton, impacting local schools and commerce and creating lasting connections between residents and Navy personnel.
• Decommissioning: With the end of the Cold War and advances in submarine detection technology, NAVFAC Cape Hatteras was decommissioned in 1982 after nearly three decades of service.
• Environmental Legacy: After closure, the property was returned to the National Park Service and became part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with some original structures still visible today.
• Secrecy and Deception: For years, even facility staff were often unaware of the broader importance of their work, as information was tightly compartmentalized to prevent leaks.
• Cultural Impact: The presence of the base introduced a unique military-civilian culture to the Outer Banks, and today, former staff and local residents share stories of living and working on the “front lines” of the underwater Cold War.
