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Cryptonym: AMTORRID

Definition:

One of the two CIA assault teams that Bill Harvey sent into Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

Status:

Probable

Discussion:

John Prados, Safe for Democracy (Ivan R. Dee, Chicago: 2006) p. 307: "On March 12, 1962, Team Cobra infiltrated Pinar del Rio province, creating a network active for some time. In June, AMTORRID went into Oriente, but most of it left in a few months. The one remaining agent and a fresh radioman set up in Santiago de Cuba as a spy mission."

Sources:

104-10264-10021: CABLE: SITREP 3 AUG 62. OP CUPID PLANS

8/3/62 memo: Maritime ops AMTRACE, AMTORRID, and COBRA III on schedule. (OP AMTAUP) postponed. (CONTINUING MOUNT LYNX III). These are referred to as CUPID plans.

Bill Simpich, State Secret, Chapter 3, The Cuban Compound in Mexico City was Ground Zero

"Harvey lost his job as head of Cuban operations after a blowout with Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis. Bobby had recently advised the CIA that JFK was unhappy with Mongoose’s progress, and that he wanted to meet with Harvey, Lansdale and company every day at 9:30 am. At roughly the same time, Harvey had secretly inserted commando teams AMTORRID and COBRA into Cuba with orders to blow up key facilities and conduct intelligence. A recall order was issued by the White House during the height of the crisis, but some of Harvey’s men were unreachable."

104-10307-10024: MEMO FOR: OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR CONTINUING OPERATIONS AGAINST CUBA

November 1962: Harvey memo to Helms. "The two successful black infiltrated teams (COBRA and AMTORRID) which have produced substantial intelligence will be continued, resupplied and reinforced."