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Cryptonym: CHALICE

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Definition:
CHALICE was a series of JMWAVE operations from the middle of 1963. CHALICE-3 (or III) was due to be carried out around the same time as Operation TILT and AMSPRAG in June, 1963.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
A cable from JMWAVE on December 4, 1963, mentioned CHALICE as one of the operations discussed in a telecon between Stanley R. Zamka (David Morales and Clayton A. Naback (possibly Theodore Shackley). CHALICE V. operation was to the use the vessel "Twilight. Rex will support from Marquesas Keys area in same manner as COBRA XI."

A cable on December 7, 1963, stated that on December 13th the CHALICE-V cache operation was due to take place on north coast of Pinar del Rio Province by an 11-man AMTABBY (a major paramilitary operation consisting of numerous sabotage operations against on-island targets) team."

A cable on December 11, 1963, mentioned that the cache team for the CHALICE-V operation included AMTABBY-7, AMJOKE-4, AMTABBY-43, AMJOKE-2, AMTABBY-54, AMSCRUB-1, AMTYKE-2, AMTYKE-4, AMTABBY-61, AMJILT-1 and AMEAT-1 (a small scale farmer from Havana Province). In regards to AMJOKE-2 and -4, AMJOKE-1 was Felix Rodriguez Mendigutia. Were AMJOKE-2 and -4 followers of Felix Rodriguez?

A cable on December 12, 1963, from the Director was originated by G. Roberts, SAS/MOB/PM. Was this a real name or a pseudonym or alias? It could have been used by Calvin Hicks, as he was a SAS/MOB/PM in December of 1963 (for an example see 104-10077-10439). The Authenticating Officer was Arthur A. Maloney, C/SAS/MOB. This cable gave the approval for the maritime operation CHALICE-V.

A cable on December 14, 1963, stated that AMTABBYs were proceeding with this operation.

Two cables on December 15, 1963, stated that "operation CHALICE delayed due heavy seas. Will advise new date" and "13 Dec: CHALICE-V cache attempt unsuccessful due engine trouble intermediate craft..15 Dec: Rerun CHALICE-V cache" respectively.
Sources:

104-10312-10366: CABLE: FOLL ASSIGNED MV/LEDA FOR OPERATIONS TILT, AMSPRAG, AND CHALICE-3

06/05/63: Cable from JMWAVE to KOLA (Orig: M. Tarters): Slugline OOLONG ZRPERUSAL PBRUMEN TILT AMSPRAG CHALICE-3: "FOLL assigned MV/Leda for Operations TILT, AMSPRAG, and CHALICE-3: A. Signal plans FLOATER/199 (5101) and AJIROP-75. B. Crypto: Base Encode K/8398. Decode K/8397. ZIMAHI edition No. 60. C. AMHINT/49, radop for AMSPRAG team, issued BYKUXE sigplan TETNIT." Authenticating Officer: Norman L. Melnecke. Releasing Officer: John F. Sunderland.

104-10076-10016: JMWAVE CABLE RE WAVE VESSELS SCHEDULED TO RUN IN DECEMBER

12/04/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE: "1. Per telecon Zamka/Naback (David Morales/possibly Theodore Shackley) following are WAVE vessels scheduled to run ref ops in December. A. COBRA XI. Twilight. Rex will support from Marquesas Keys...This approx 75 miles from Cuban coast and in U.S. waters. Rex necessary for refueling twilight due distances involved and fact twilight will be used on other ops without returning to port. Rex cover will be oceangraphic survey Marquesas-Dry Tortugas area. B. CLEOPATRA. Neptune. C. AMSAKI-1. Twilight. Rex will support from Marquesas Keys and in same manner as COBRA XI. D. AMBEACH. Bee. Leda will support by towing Bee to point sixty miles from Cuban coast and refuelling Bee as necessary. Leda will not go closer than sixty miles from coast. E. AMTRUNK VI. Neptune. F. COBRA XIV. Bee. Leda will support by towing Bee to point forty miles from coast and refueling as necessary. Leda will go closer than forty miles from coast. G. CHALICE V. Twilight. Rex will support from Marquesas Keys area in same manner as COBRA XI. H. AMHICK V. Neptune. I. DUCK. Bee. Leda will support by towing Bee to point forty miles from Cuban coast. Leda will not go closer than forty miles from coast. J. JEANINE. Twilight. Rex will support from Marquesas Keys area in same manner as COBRA XI. K. Contact. Bee. Leda will support by towing Bee to point forty miles from Cuban coast and refueling Bee as necessary. Leda will not go closer than forty miles from coast. L. BOLA II. Riptide. K. (Unintelligible) Twilight. Rex will support from Marquesas Keys area in same manner as COBRA XI. 2. Please advise if additional info needed."

104-10076-10176: JMWAVE CABLE - SITREP 7 DEC 63

12/07/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Page 4: ..."(5) 13 Dec: CHALICE-V cache op north coast Pinar del Rio by 11-man AMTABBY (a major paramilitary operation consisting of numerous sabotage operations against on-island targets) team..."

104-10076-10270: JMWAVE CABLE REQUESTING COMPARATIVE STUDY

12/10/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline PBRUMEN YOBULK CHALICE-V: "1. Request comparative study with latest available photography and M-3569 within 5 mm radius of UTM 253233 AMS 3484 Roman Two for any new military or construction activity and changes in vegetation. 2. Request cable reply by 1200 hrs 13 Dec 63."

104-10076-10302: JMWAVE CABLE REPORTING PAULINO SIERRA ARRIVED IN MIAMI FROM CHICAGO WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIS PATRIOTS TO COORDINATE PLANS FOR WAR AGAINST CASTRO.

12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Page 3: ..."4. Caching material for op CHALICE-V checked and packed for transport to Veliot Keys where it will be transhipped to parent craft night 12 Dec...E. IS: Presented intel briefing op CHALICE-V on 10 Dec..."

104-10076-10291: JMWAVE CABLE - AMTABBY AND CACHE TEAM

12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE CHALICE V: "A. AMTABBY (a major paramilitary operation consisting of numerous sabotage operations against on-island targets). B. Cache Team: AMTABBY-7, AMJOKE-4, AMTABBY-43, AMJOKE-2, AMTABBY-54, AMSCRUB-1, AMTYKE-2, AMTYKE-4, AMTABBY-61, AMJILT-1, AMEAT-1."

104-10076-10377: JMWAVE CABLE RE OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENT.

12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director (Priority KOLA): Slugline OOLONG ZRPERUSAL PBRUMEN AMCHALICE: "FOLL assigned MV/Twilight for operation AMCHALICE-5: A. Signal plan FLOATER/286 and AJIROP 145. B. Crypto: Base Encode K/9769. Decode K/9726. ZIMAHI Edition 86."

104-10077-10406: DIRECTOR CABLE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF MARITIME OP CHALICE V

12/12/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: G. Roberts, SAS/MOB/PM): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE CHALICE V: REF: WAVE 8821 (IN 77845)* "Ref op approved. SAS Comment: *Request for approval of maritime op CHALICE V." Releasing Officer: Desmond FitzGerald, C/SAS. Coordinating Officer: (Signature), SAS/INTEL. Authenticating Officer: Arthur A. Maloney, C/SAS/MOB.

104-10077-10018: JMWAVE CABLE RE INTELLIGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

12/14/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Page 4: ..."6. AMTABBYs proceeding on op CHALICE-V..."

1993.08.04.16:51:38:340028: JMWAVE CABLES, WAVE 9101 - 9148.

12/15/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: ACTION: C/SAS (Col. Maloney, SAS, notified and copy slotted at 1605, 15 Dec 63): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE CHALICE-V: REF: WAVE 9069 (IN 80853) "Operation CHALICE delayed due heavy seas. Will advise new date." - - - 12/15/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Page 3: ..."(G) 13 Dec: CHALICE-V cache attempt unsuccessful due engine trouble intermediate craft...2. Forecast 15-21 Dec...(C) 15 Dec: Rerun CHALICE-V cache..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=53259#relPageId=102&search=

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald

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