Tucked into the east passage of Narraganset Bay in Rhode Island is Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Division, the premier submarine research and development center, particularly for the various listening devices that are carried and towed by submarines, either to detect to enemy or to spy from the submarine platform when it is secretly operating close to enemy shores. Almost everything about submarine operations is secret, and almost everything about submarine spying is additionally part of a special access program (SAP), each individually named in the “Cluster” series - Cluster Casanova, Cluster Grunt, and on and on.
I’ve compiled a ridiculous list of 372 Cluster codenames, for which we know practically nothing. Each Cluster codename represents a project, sensor or device ranging from periscopes and optics to SONARs, to signal intelligence collection (SIGINT) equipment, to the most futuristic capabilities undertaken in support of “non-traditional” anti-submarine warfare and other “special projects” (I previously wrote about spying by the USS Annapolis here.) Some of these Cluster projects go back to the 1970s, others are contemporary. Many deal with exploitation of specific Russian and Chinese sensors. Overall, in 2022, Newport Division funded $1.4 billion in research and development, signing about $750 million in contracts. Scratch the surface and one runs into a wall of secrecy.
Newport Division, where many of these Cluster devices are developed, is interesting in itself, being one of the Navy’s oldest facilities, first established in the Civil War era. Officially the research center provides “research, development, testing, evaluation, engineering, and fleet support for submarines and underwater systems.” But to support the development and testing of submarine warfare capabilities, the Division also operates facilities in the Bahamas and in Rota, Spain and as well as submarine research facilities in obscure locations: the Seneca Lake Sonar Test Facility in Dresden, New York; on Fisher’s Island; and on Dodge Pond, Connecticut; the Underwater Sound Reference Division at Bugg Spring in Okahumpka, Florida; and the Acoustic Research Detachment in Bayview, Idaho.
Cluster Adams
Cluster Admiral
Cluster Aerie
Cluster Airborne
Cluster Ale
Cluster Andra
Cluster Angel
Cluster Ares
Cluster Argon
Cluster Argus
Cluster Aslan
Cluster Aspect
Cluster August
Cluster Baboon
Cluster Badger
Cluster Bamboo
Cluster Banjo
Cluster Baritone
Cluster Barrow
Cluster Base
Cluster Beaver
Cluster Beggar
Cluster Bend
Cluster Bight
Cluster Bingo
Cluster Birch
Cluster Blade
Cluster Boa
Cluster Bock
Cluster Bog
Cluster Bone
Cluster Boomerang
Cluster Bourbon
Cluster Brown
Cluster Bubble
Cluster Buster
Cluster Button
Cluster Button II
Cluster Camel
Cluster Cane
Cluster Canine
Cluster Captain
Cluster Carve
Cluster Casanova
Cluster Cascade
Cluster Cedar
Cluster Chalk
Cluster Chamber
Cluster Chase
Cluster Chevron
Cluster Chip
Cluster Clamor
Cluster Clover
Cluster Cobb
Cluster Cobweb
Cluster Coin
Cluster Commander
Cluster Commend
Cluster Concern
Cluster Condo
Cluster Condor
Cluster Constellation
Cluster Copy
Cluster Coral
Cluster Cord
Cluster Cork
Cluster Cosmos
Cluster Cotton
Cluster Cougar
Cluster Cove
Cluster Cream
Cluster Crisp
Cluster Critter
Cluster Cutlass
Cluster Daisy
Cluster Dale
Cluster Demon
Cluster Dig
Cluster Digest
Cluster Disease
Cluster Dog
Cluster Doughnut
Cluster Dove
Cluster Dragnet
Cluster Dragon
Cluster Dragon
Cluster Drain
Cluster Drought
Cluster Duncan
Cluster Duncan II
Cluster Dye
Cluster Dyke
Cluster Easel
Cluster Easy
Cluster Echo
Cluster Eject
Cluster Elm
Cluster Elm II
Cluster Evolve
Cluster Falcon
Cluster Famine
Cluster Farmer
Cluster Fastball
Cluster Fence
Cluster Ferret
Cluster Fillip
Cluster Flag
Cluster Fluid
Cluster Fobia
Cluster Fool
Cluster Fortune
Cluster Fungus
Cluster Gadder
Cluster Galaxy
Cluster Gallop
Cluster Gambler
Cluster Garter
Cluster General
Cluster Geode
Cluster Gin
Cluster Ginger
Cluster Ginseng
Cluster Gintrap
Cluster Girl
Cluster Gooney
Cluster Govern
Cluster Grave
Cluster Grease
Cluster Grey
Cluster Grow
Cluster Grunt
Cluster Guess
Cluster Hamlock
Cluster Harmonica
Cluster Hawk
Cluster Helm
Cluster Hemlock
Cluster Heritage
Cluster Hold
CLUSTER HOUND
Cluster Hound
Cluster Hulk
Cluster Hunger
Cluster Idle
Cluster Interest
Cluster Iris
Cluster Ivory
Cluster Ivy
Cluster Jacket
Cluster Jade
Cluster Jam
Cluster Jenifer
Cluster Joust
Cluster Joy
Cluster July
Cluster Kangol
Cluster Kapok
Cluster Kappa
Cluster Kate
Cluster Kayak
Cluster Kestrel
Cluster Kettle
Cluster Kid
Cluster Kiss
Cluster Kiwi
Cluster Kudo
Cluster Lager
Cluster Lake
Cluster Latent
Cluster Laurel
Cluster Layman
Cluster Lemnos
Cluster Lily
Cluster Loco
Cluster Locust
Cluster Luster
Cluster Mackerel
Cluster Maid
Cluster Manger
Cluster Mantle
Cluster Maple
Cluster Marlin
Cluster Marsh
Cluster Mart
Cluster Master
Cluster Meter
Cluster Micron
Cluster Mimic
Cluster Minerva
Cluster Minnow
Cluster Mirage
Cluster Mist
Cluster Miter
Cluster Mobcap Spider
Cluster Modern
Cluster Mongo
Cluster Monkey
Cluster Monster
Cluster Moon
Cluster Moose
Cluster Moss
Cluster Motion
Cluster Mound
Cluster Mouse
Cluster Muff
Cluster Mug
Cluster Mullet
Cluster Mum
Cluster Mum II
Cluster Mushroom
Cluster Music
Cluster Muskie
Cluster Mute
Cluster Needle
Cluster Nemo
Cluster Nessie
Cluster Nightshade
Cluster Noah
Cluster Noble
Cluster Noel
Cluster Nova
Cluster Nova
Cluster Novel
Cluster Nurture
Cluster Olympian
Cluster Ooze
Cluster Opus
Cluster Orbit
Cluster Osprey
Cluster Pain
Cluster Painter
Cluster Palace
Cluster Pallet
Cluster Panther
Cluster Park
Cluster Parlor
Cluster Partner
Cluster Party
Cluster Patience
Cluster Peacock
Cluster Pelt
Cluster Penguin
Cluster Perfect
Cluster Perform
Cluster Petrel
Cluster Phoenix
Cluster Pickle
Cluster Pillar
Cluster Pilot
Cluster Pilsner
Cluster Pita
Cluster Plague
Cluster Polish
Cluster Pollywog
Cluster Port
Cluster Potomac
Cluster Premium
Cluster Present
Cluster Pretzel
Cluster Princess
Cluster Prism
Cluster Profile
Cluster Promise
Cluster Proverb
Cluster Puffin
Cluster Purple
Cluster Puzzle
Cluster Python
Cluster Queen
Cluster Question
Cluster Quiver
Cluster Radius
Cluster Radon
Cluster Ranger/Cast Glance
Cluster Ransom
Cluster Raptor
Cluster Raven
Cluster Rawhide
Cluster Ray
Cluster Relief
Cluster Repeat
Cluster Resolve
Cluster Retriever
Cluster Rider
Cluster Ripple
Cluster Robin
Cluster Rose
Cluster Ruby
Cluster Saber
Cluster Salad
Cluster Scatter
Cluster School
Cluster Scotch
Cluster Seaview
Cluster Senate
Cluster Sever
Cluster Shed
Cluster Silk
Cluster Skate
Cluster Skipole
Cluster Skye
Cluster Skylight
Cluster Sluff
Cluster Slug
Cluster Small
Cluster Smile
Cluster Snoop
Cluster Snuff
Cluster Sol
Cluster Sparrow
Cluster Spear
Cluster Spectator
Cluster Spice
Cluster Spike
Cluster Spike
Cluster Stadium
Cluster Star
Cluster Steeple
Cluster Steeple
Cluster Stevedore
Cluster Stingray
Cluster Storm
Cluster Stout
Cluster Stream
Cluster Summit
Cluster Swan
Cluster Syrup
Cluster Taco
Cluster Tadpole
Cluster Tangent
Cluster Tear
Cluster Theresa
Cluster Thin
Cluster Thorn
Cluster Thunder
Cluster Tige
Cluster Tiki
Cluster Toad
Cluster Topgate
Cluster Trace
Cluster Tree
CLUSTER TROLL
Cluster Undo
Cluster Until
Cluster Urchin
Cluster Valor
Cluster Varmit
Cluster Velvet
Cluster Violet
Cluster Viper
Cluster Virtue
Cluster Visit
Cluster Volley
Cluster Vortex
Cluster Waffle
Cluster Wake
Cluster Walnut
Cluster Watch
Cluster Weasel
Cluster Weevil
Cluster Whisky
Cluster Whisper
Cluster Wisdom
Cluster Wise
Cluster Worry
Cluster Yard
Cluster Yeoman
Cluster Youngster
Cluster Youth
Cluster Zephyr
Cluster Zeus
Cluster Zipper