The two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, have competed for many years in various industries, including the creation of super-powerful nuclear weapons. When it came to nuclear missile carriers, they began to work on the creation of fundamentally new systems designed for orientation. They were based on the planet's magnetic field, which can be compared to the most accurate compasses. This is what caused the appearance of the Soviet base, classified at the highest level.
For the functioning of these electronic most accurate compasses, other data were required, namely reliable maps of magnetic anomalies, super-accurate information about the location of the magnetic poles. As for their coincidence with the geographic ones, they are absent, moreover, these poles move regularly. In the fifties of the last century, the North Pole (we are talking about the geomagnetic pole) was in Canada. Naturally, the USSR did not have access to it. But this did not stop the specialists, because there was a second pole, only in the south.
It was scientists from the Soviet Union who were the first to understand the benefits of magnetic navigation. During the rivalry between the two states, the Soviet Union and the United States, for the right to establish bases near the South Pole, the latter won. But the first ones slowly took possession of the geomagnetic one.
In 1957 g. in this place was built "Vostok" - the Antarctic station, which is now one of the most difficult to access on this continent. It was even a feat to be in such a harsh climate, where temperature indicators are reduced to minimum levels. For example, in the early 80s of the last century outside the station, the temperature dropped to 89 degrees below zero. But it worked. Submariners now have the most accurate coordinates of the geomagnetic South Pole.
The Americans understood everything, but with a delay. No one was allowed to the "Vostok". The closest to him was McMurdo, the American station. It was located on the edge of the Ross Sea, the main for the Antarctic ecosystem. Over the years, attempts have been made to declare the area a marine protected area. But China and the Soviet Union have always opposed this, since here both countries caught a very valuable and rare Antarctic toothfish ("oil fish"). It was even suspected that the USSR and China had deployed their reconnaissance ships in this sea, disguised as fishing vessels in order to be able to monitor the US base.
1. Unusual base
Soviet analysts did not ignore the increased transport activity. The reconnaissance data showed that preparations were under way for an expedition, the purpose of which was to oust the USSR from the geomagnetic South Pole. If its coordinates were lost, the Soviet nuclear submarines, quietly located off the coast of America, would be forced to go to other safe waters.
This operation could upset the global strategic balance. The Soviet Union in the Ross Sea could not openly send its fleet, since NATO, and the United States in particular, had a significant advantage in the form of aircraft carrier groups. But a way out was found - a bold and non-standard plan appeared.
As a result, a special ship headed by diesel-electric ships called "Estonia" and "Ob" went to the "Mirny" (coastal station). The ships were loaded with a special cargo - secret equipment. Preparations were under way for the construction of a unique military base located inside the coastal ice. In this artificially created iceberg, it was planned to locate special forces barracks, ammunition and fuel, a submarine base, and its own engines for ships.
2. Features of creating a unique database
In the Moscow region at the Research Institute of Technical and Computer Technologies, together with NIIOSP, they developed a technology for accelerated construction precisely inside the ice. Corridors and various rooms were made by melting ice using superheated air currents with a narrow direction. The resulting melted water was simply poured into the ocean. The space of the room was separated from the walls made of ice by heat-insulated walls made of wood. Very hard ice and an immense iceberg gave reason to believe that the station would be completely protected from all means, except, perhaps, super-powerful nuclear weapons.
After in 1963 near Mirny, cracks formed on the ice, glaciologists chose from all the icebergs that were to break away in the near future, one giant. Due to its huge underwater part and the presence of a flat surface on top, suitable for creating a runway, it was ideally suited for the construction of a secret station. Special navigation devices and aviation fuel were secretly loaded onto it. Flights were made almost regularly from Mirny.
We worked at an accelerated pace, as there was a threat that the Cuban missile crisis would turn into a full-fledged conflict. The USSR could not leave the submariners without navigation, so all work was carried out under the cover of the Armed Forces.
3. Cold world
It was not possible to hide such activity from the Americans, no matter how hard they tried. Due to the lack of appropriate satellite equipment, they did not have one hundred percent confirmation of their suspicions. Whatever it was, but the completion of the issue of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and successful, also lowered the level of intensity of the existing confrontation. The construction of the station was still in full swing, when both sides began difficult and lengthy negotiations.
The special commission dealt with this issue. 05.11.1964 g. a plane with an American delegation headed by D. Reedy. As a result, a document was signed on the refusal of all attempts by the parties to seize territories and stations in Antarctica and the withdrawal of all military equipment from the region.
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4. How did it end
In the media, the Americans explained the visit to the Mirny station by the conduct of international scientific research, and this satisfied everyone. As for the unfinished station, everything valuable, in particular special equipment, was quickly removed from it. The iceberg itself was pulled into the ocean, accompanied by warships that guarded it until it melted to to such an extent that no specialist on the opposing side could recreate at least some secret element.
Continuing the topic read, why in the USSR they built demagnetization ships, what did they do.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/110321/58151/
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