About this Unit
**SISS ZULU** was a US Navy Shore Intercept Site located at Zeto Point on Adak Island, Alaska, established during the Cold War. The site was part of the larger Adak Naval Complex and operated under the Naval Security Group, with the mission of signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection and monitoring Soviet military activity in the North Pacific region. Known as “ZULU Site,” the facility played a crucial role in electronic surveillance, support of fleet operations, and early warning during periods of heightened tension with the Soviet Union. SISS ZULU was decommissioned in the 1990s as geopolitical circumstances changed and technology advanced, but it remains a testament to the strategic importance of Adak in US military history.
Historical Facts
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Origins During the Cold War: SISS ZULU Zeto Point was established on Adak Island, Alaska, during the height of the Cold War as part of the U.S. Navy's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) network, aimed at detecting Soviet submarines in the North Pacific.
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Strategic Location: Its position on Adak, one of the Aleutian Islands, provided a critical listening post between the United States and Soviet Far East naval bases, making it a vital node in early submarine detection.
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Meaning of "SISS ZULU": The acronym stands for "Shore Intermediate Support System," with "Zulu" denoting a specific site designation within the broader chain of SOSUS stations.
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Highly Classified Mission: For decades, the true purpose of the facility was a closely guarded secret, with personnel sworn to secrecy and the site officially described as an oceanographic research station.
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Underwater Listening Arrays: SISS ZULU operated hydrophone arrays on the ocean floor, which could pick up the unique acoustic signatures of Soviet submarines as they attempted to traverse the North Pacific undetected.
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Support to Fleet Operations: Intelligence gathered at Zeto Point was relayed to major commands, directly supporting anti-submarine warfare operations and allowing the U.S. Navy to track adversary movements.
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Remote and Harsh Conditions: Personnel stationed at the site endured challenging weather, isolation, and rugged conditions, with Adak being known for its persistent winds, rain, and volcanic landscape.
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Role in the Aleutian Campaign Legacy: The choice of Adak for such a sensitive installation was in part due to WWII legacy, as the island had already hosted significant military infrastructure during the Aleutian Campaign.
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Decommissioning and Legacy: As technology advanced and the Soviet threat diminished, SISS ZULU was eventually decommissioned in the 1990s, but its contributions to the Cold War undersea surveillance remain a testament to the era's technological and intelligence efforts.
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Artifacts and Remnants: Today, remnants of the SISS ZULU site at Zeto Point can still be found, with abandoned buildings and cable conduits serving as silent witnesses to one of the most secretive chapters in U.S. military history.
