Naval Facility Bermuda

• Strategic Cold War Outpost: Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Bermuda was established in 1955 as part of the U.S. Navy’s Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) – a top-secret network to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War. • Undersea Ears: The facility’s primary mission was to operate underwater listening arrays that could detect the movement of submarines across the Atlantic using highly sensitive hydrophones. • Highly Classified: The true purpose of NAVFAC Bermuda was classified for decades; the cover story was “oceanographic research,” and many personnel were unaware of the broader scope. • Key Role in Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, NAVFAC Bermuda’s surveillance capabilities were crucial for monitoring Soviet naval activity in the Atlantic. • International Collaboration: NAVFAC Bermuda fostered cooperation between the United States and United Kingdom, given Bermuda’s status as a British Overseas Territory. • Hidden in Plain Sight: The facility was located at Tudor Hill, Somerset, on the west end of Bermuda, and its understated buildings blended inconspicuously into the landscape. • Lasting Legacy: NAVFAC Bermuda was one of several such facilities worldwide, but it stood out due to its location on a strategically vital route for both military and civilian shipping. • Closure and Secrecy: The facility was decommissioned in 1992, after the end of the Cold War, and much of its technology was removed or destroyed to protect ongoing military secrets. • Community Impact: The U.S. Navy’s presence contributed significantly to Bermuda’s economy and local culture for nearly four decades, with many Bermudians recalling friendships and events related to the base. • Post-Military Use: After closure, the site was returned to the Bermudian government, and some remnants can still be seen today, though most buildings have been repurposed or demolished.