About this Unit
NavFac Eleuthera, located on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, was a United States Navy facility established in 1957 as part of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) network during the Cold War. Its primary mission was to detect and track Soviet submarines operating in the Atlantic Ocean using advanced underwater listening technology. The base played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare, contributing valuable intelligence to U.S. and allied naval operations. NavFac Eleuthera remained operational until its closure in 1980, after which the facility was decommissioned and returned to the Bahamian government.
Historical Facts
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Strategic Location: NavFac Eleuthera was a U.S. Navy facility located on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, chosen for its proximity to the Atlantic and its strategic value in monitoring Soviet submarine activity during the Cold War.
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SOSUS Network: The facility was part of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), a network of underwater listening posts designed to detect and track submarines using arrays of hydrophones on the ocean floor.
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Operational Years: NavFac Eleuthera operated from 1957 until its closure in 1980, playing a continuous role in U.S. anti-submarine warfare efforts for over two decades.
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Cover Story: To maintain secrecy, the facility was publicly described as an "oceanographic research station," with its true mission classified for many years.
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International Cooperation: The base was established with the agreement of the Bahamian government, and it provided economic benefits and employment opportunities for local residents.
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Advanced Technology: NavFac Eleuthera operated some of the most advanced underwater listening equipment of its time, crucial for tracking the increasingly stealthy Soviet submarine fleet.
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Life at the Facility: The base supported a small American community, including Navy personnel and their families, with its own housing, commissary, and recreational facilities.
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Notable Events: During the Cuban Missile Crisis and other Cold War flashpoints, NavFac Eleuthera’s hydrophones provided vital intelligence to U.S. commanders.
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Closure and Legacy: The facility was closed as newer technology and satellite surveillance reduced the need for manned SOSUS stations. Today, remnants of the base remain on Eleuthera as a reminder of its Cold War past.
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Declassified Mission: The true nature of NavFac Eleuthera’s anti-submarine mission was not publicly acknowledged until the late 1990s, when SOSUS operations were declassified, highlighting the base’s crucial role in undersea surveillance history.
