Product Description

Through dramatic incidents tells for the first time the full story of the development of Cold War naval intelligence from the end of WWII to the breakup the Soviet Union in 1991, from both sides, East and West. Unlike other accounts, which focus on submarine confrontations and accidents, the authors cover all types of naval intelligence, human collection (racing with the Soviets to capture Nazi subs, successful and losing spies and defectors), signal intelligence (surface, air, satellite and navy commando teams in balaclavas launched by speed boats from subs), acoustic (passive underwater arrays and tapping phone lines), and the aerial and space reconnaissance. The authors give details of operations in all these areas, some of which were witnessed first hand.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #376126 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

From the Inside Flap

It was the golden age of cloak and dagger. In the years following the allied victory in World War II, a new breed of men and women entered the U.S. intelligence services, joining those experiencedhands who had survived the war to carry on acovert campaign against a new and wily adversary, the Soviet Union. Naval intelligence has always been acknowledged as one of the key arenas in the Cold War intelligence struggle, but the true details and drama of this fiercecompetition have remained obscure—until now.

Hide and Seek offers the first account of Cold War naval espionage, from the final months of World War II to the fall of the Soviet Union in1991. Based on interviews with Soviet and Western naval intelligence officers, newly availableRussian sources, important Western archivalreleases, and the latest historical research,it is packed with stunning revelations from both sides of the Iron Curtain and chilling anecdotes from the many secret battles waged between the world′s two most powerful nations.

This colorful and fast–paced narrative reveals how a German inventor became the father ofthe U.S. Navy′s cruise missile system; how aSoviet naval officer and GRU agent handleda French air force general who provided essentialinformation to the Kremlin before, during, andafter the Cuban missile crisis; the astounding truth about the 1964 Tonkin Gulf affair; the real story of the USS Liberty and Pueblo disasters and the metamorphosis of spy ships in theiraftermath; the latest on underwater incursions in Swedish waters; and much more.

Peopled with a motley array of spies, moles, double agents, defectors, techies, military officers, policy wonks, politicians, and more, this comprehensive account goes beyond previousbooks about submarine confrontations and accidents to explore the entire spectrum of navalintelligence. It covers human collection (racing with the Soviets to capture Nazi subs, unsuccessfulattempts by spies and defectors, and attaché intrigues); ocean surveillance; underwater (from passive acoustic systems to tapping phone lines), surface, aerial, and space reconnaissance; and penetration by commando teams in balaclavas launched by speed boats, subs, and trawlers.

Complete with a collection of rare Cold War–era photos as well as riveting, hair–raising, and sometimes hilarious descriptions of actionsbeneath the sea, in outer space, and at allpoints in between, Hide and Seek is engrossing reading for anyone who loves naval history,international intrigue, and the nonstop action of a Tom Clancy novel.

From the Back Cover

"Much previously unpublished information, sensational revelations, and reassessments that will undoubtedly be of the greatest interest to both specialists in naval warfare and intelligence and to the general public eager to understand the lessons of current history."
—Admiral Pierre Lacoste, chief of French foreign secret service (DGSE), 1982–1985

True stories fromthe war in the shadows.

Were Soviet spies better at their jobs than their Western counterparts? What were Stalin′s intentions and naval strategy? Who was trying to compromise who in the Profumo affair? Did Ronald Reagan go too far in his psychologicalwarfare naval campaign against the Soviet Union? What were the Soviets or others searching for with their submarine incursions into Swedish waters?What are maritime UFOs, and what did the U.S. and Soviet navies discoverabout them?

This is just a small sampling of the many intriguing and disturbing questions answered in Hide and Seek. This comprehensive history of Cold War naval intelligence operations is packed with previously unknown facts, stunning revelations, and riveting accounts of the amazing exploits of cold warriors on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

About the Author

Captain Peter A. Huchthausen, U.S. Navy (Retired), had a distinguished careerserving both at sea and on land as a Soviet naval analyst and a naval attaché in Yugoslavia, Romania, and the Soviet Union. He was the author of three books on the Soviet navy. His works include the bestselling Hostile Waters, October Fury, and Shadow Voyage.

Alexandre Sheldon–Duplaix serves as a researcher in the French Joint HistoricalServices (Service historique de la Défense) inVincennes, France, and as a lecturer on thehistory of the Russian navy at the Defense Staff College in Paris. He worked as a naval analyst for twelve years and has written or cowritten three books published in France on ships, strategy,and politics.

Customer Reviews

Fascinating, mysterious and so real!!
When I started reading the synopsis-before purchasing the book- I didn't realise that there were so many things that were so simple and yet so real in naval espionage. The authors give a pretty good account of what was going on during the Cold War era as far as intelligence and counter-intelligence is concerned.
To be honest, the real interest for me lied at the first chapters (describing Stalin's vision of the post-war Soviet Navy) and at the facts describing the events during the 70s and 80s (actually not the espionage stories).
The part that moved me most was where the autohrs described the loss of the Komsomolets. Even though I'm not a submariner, I could feel the danger and the horror these seamen faced then (about 20 years ago).
Definitely recommended for anyone interested in Cold War era and the potential dangers for mankind in general.
A must buy.