INTERVIEW WITH FORMER CIA DIRECTOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000100390005-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 17, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 8, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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RADIO N REPORTS, ~N~.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 656-4068
Good Morning America
STATION W J L A- T V
ABC Network
DATF October 8, 1982 7:00 A.M. CITY Washington, D.C.
JOAN LUNDEN: A week ago a submarine periscope was
reportedly sighted 300 yards from one of Sweden's most sensitive
naval bases. The Swedish Navy quickly blocked all exits from the
bay where the sighting happened, and it was soon determined that
if it was really a sub it was probably Russian or from a Soviet
Bloc country. Now, over the past week many depth charges have
been dropped in hopes that the reported sub could be forced to
the surface. But so far, no luck. In fact, yesterday there were
even reports that the suspected sub might have escaped.
Now, Sweden is very sensitive to the problem of Soviet
subs, especially since last October, when a Russian sub ran
aground at another Swedish naval base.
Joining me this morning from Washington to talk about
this subject is retired Admiral Stansfield Turner, former CIA
Director.
Good morning, Admiral.
ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER: Good morning, Joan.
LUNDEN: There have been eight reported submarined
sightings since June. Now, would these be spying missions? and
why would a sub get so close in restricted waters?
ADMIRAL TURNER: Well, Joan, the Soviets are inveterate
spies, and they may be up there just trying to get intelligence.
I think it's more likely they're on a training mission. These
are old submarines. The Soviets have put them way up in the
Baltic where they're bottled up in case of real war.. One of
their missions in war could be to try to blockade the Swedish,
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the Danish, the Norwegian Navies so they couldn't get out of
their ports. If so, the best way to train for that is, in
peacetime, to go right up into those waters and practice, to
learn to navigate, to learn the currents, and so on. And I think
that may be a better explanation, even, than spying.
LUNDEN: Is this a common practice? I mean not just by
the Soviets, but by other countries.
ADMIRAL TURNER: No, I don't think it's that common.
Most other countries have rather small submarine navies. And
most other countries use their submarines for defensive purposes.
The Soviets here are demonstrating that they're on the offense.
They would be out trying to attack other people like Sweden.
LUNDEN: How could a submarine get out of an area like
that when it's blocked up? And if it hasn't, how long can it
stay underwater?
ADMIRAL TURNER: Well, you have to recognize that
finding submarines, or anything else, in water is very difficult.
When you use radio or radar in the air, the signals generally go
pretty straight. When you use sonar to find things in water, it
meets all kinds of physical problems in the water that make the
rays bend. And you can't count on it being accurate.
So, you can miss a submarine. You can fail to find it.
You can let it sneak out. And it's probably due to the bad water
conditions.
Joan, one time in the Korean War I was on a U.S.
destroyer that spent from four o'clock in the morning till four
in the afternoon actually attacking with live ammunition what we
thought was a real submarine. I believe when it was all over we
decided it was a pinnacle, a mount on the bottom of the shallow
sea that we had thought was a submarine.
So, it's a difficult proposition.
LUNDEN: And, of course, that could be the case here.
If it's still under and if it's there, how long can it
stay under?
ADMIRAL TURNER: Well, if it's a diesel submarine, which
the last one was, last October, it has a finite limit. But you
can't put a precise number on it. It's getting sort of to the
long end right now. But if a skipper's really good and he
conserves his battery by going very slowly -- and this place is
only 12 miles long and two miles wide. You can't go very fast --
why, he can stay there quite awhile, as long as every so often he
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pops up what they call a snorkel and takes a quick whiff of air
just to improve the air for the crew so they can live.
LUNDEN: If it's there and they force it up, how do you
think the Swedes will react?
ADMIRAL TURNER: Well, my guess is they will try to hold
the submarine in that narrow water for a reasonable period of
time and put the Soviets in a publicly very embarrassing
position.
LUNDEN: All right, Admiral. Thank you very much.
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