Cryptonym: DUCK
A cable on December 7, 1963, from JMWAVE, stated that AMYEAST-8 had been added to Operation DUCK as a stand-by swimmer because of apparent head colds of AMONT (possibly mean to be AMOT) team members. AMYEAST-8 had participated in the AMANCHOR (probably an elite CIA team of anti-Castro Cubans involved in Underwater Demolition Team - UDT - or "frogmen" operations) Op CROW.
A cable on December 11, 1963, indicated that the AMANCHOR team would be participating in Operation DUCK, which included AMANCHOR-1 (Alberto Beguiristain) AMANCHOR-2, AMANCHOR-5, AMYEAST-8, and AMYEAST-13. The vessels Leda, Bee, Riptide, and V-20, appeared to have had roles in the anticipated Operation DUCK.
A cable on December 12, 1963, mentioned that Operation DUCK was a UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) sabotage mission.
A cable on December 16, 1963, stated that Operation DUCK had been delayed 24 hours because of "unspecified technical difficulties reported by Leda." DUCK was just one of a number of operations and proposed missions in December of 1963. Other operations included AMBEACH, CLEOPATRA, COBRA XIV, CONTACT, BOLA, and CUSHION.
1993.08.04.17:01:53:840028: DIRECTOR CABLES, DIR 86487 - 87114.
12/04/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: A. A. Maloney, Unit: C/SAS/MOB): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE: "1. Review of Dec. ops plans brings out following points which appropriate action requested: A. Use AR-15 on Op CONTACT not approved. As station aware AR-15 in gray area regarding plausible US Gov denial. Suggest station forward justification for desired ops use in lieu other weapons which will permit final resolution problem. B. Note defensive use small boat mines Op DUCK. Mines must be placed in inner harbor or in entrance channel only. Due sensitivity policy re use mines request any future proposed ops use be subject separate message pointing out all details proposed use and requesting SP Group approval. C. Suggest you schedule AMTRUNK exfil at earlier date so as not to take place same night as Op CUSHION." Releasing Officer: (REDACTION) Desmond FitzGerald, C/SAS. Authenticating Officer: A. A. Maloney, C/SAS/MOB.
104-10076-10085: CABLE RE INFILTREES AND EXFILTREES
12/05/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE COBRA XIV: REF UFGA 12705: "A. AMBANTY. B. Infiltree: AMBANTY-6. Exfiltree: Four. Passenger: AMTICK-1. Cargo: 1,500 pounds of special equipment. C. Parent craft: Leda, 174 foot P.C., green hull, buff superstructure. Bee, 34 foot prowler, dark green hull, light gray superstructure...L. Immediately following COBRA XIV Leda and Bee will proceed on Operations DUCK and CONTACT. Details forwarded separately."
104-10076-10164: JMWAVE CABLE - ADDING AMYEAST/8 TO OPERATION DUCK AS STANDBY SWIMMER
12/07/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline TYPIC RYBAT YOBITE DICK: "Adding AMYEAST/8 to Operation DUCK as stand-by swimmer due presence head colds AMONT (note: Was this intended to be AMOT?) team members. Subject participated AMANCHOR OPN CROW. OA granted 10 Oct 63."
104-10076-10206: JMWAVE CABLE REQUESTING DAILY READOUT INFORMATION
12/09/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline PBRUMEN YOBULK DUCK: "1. Request daily readout as covered from 9 Dec to 16 Dec of any boats located at UTN 950917 AMS 3661 Roman three. 2. Request information be forwarded JMWAVE by daily cable. C/S Comment: *Dissemination applicable to JMPURR cables."
104-10076-10323: JMWAVE CABLE RE OPERATION DUCK COBRA
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline OOLONG ZRPERUSAL PBRUMEN DUCK COBRA BOLA: "FOLL assigned MV/Riptide for operations DUCK COBRA 14 SUPPORT and BOLA 2. A. Signal plan FLOATER/283 (7228) and AJDROP 144. B. Cypto: Base encode K/9725. Decode K/9724. ZIMAHI reporting code (unintelligible)."
1993.08.04.16:47:30:710028: 1993.08.04.16:47:30:710028
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMBEACH: "1. Following received from Bee and AMBEACH team...3. Leda and Bee will be given orders for DUCK Op when rendezvous with Riptide at point Z after COBRA XIV. If contact op not approved will instruct Leda and Bee to rerun AMBEACH providing all equipment can be made operational. If contact op approved will cancel AMBEACH for December. C/S Comment: Operation postponed."
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE DUCK: "A. AMANCHOR. B. Infiltration/Exfiltration AMANCHOR Team. AMANCHOR-1 (Alberto Beguiristain) AMANCHOR-2 AMANCHOR-5 AMYEAST-8 AMYEAST-13. C. Support craft: Riptide, 159 foot LCI, dark blue hull, light blue superstructure. Parent Craft: Leda, 174 foot PC, green hull, buff superstructure. Intermediate Craft: Bee, 34 foot prowler, dark green hull, light gray superstructure. V-20, gray hull, powered by twin 140 mercruiser outboard/inboard motors ...L. Immediately following Operation DUCK, Leda and Bee will rendezvous with Riptide at point T and proceed on operation contact. Details in separate message. M. DUCK team will transfer from Riptide to Leda at point Z, 141700Z. AMBEACH passenger and COBRA XIV exfiltrees will be transferred to Riptide."
1993.08.04.16:47:30:710028: JMWAVE CABLES, WAVE 8900 - 8997.
12/11/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE DICK/COBRA XIV/CONTACT SUPPORT: REF: WAVE 8916 (IN 78698): "A. AMANCHOR/AMBANTY/AMLILAC. B. Passengers: Infils/exfils: AMANCHOR team consisting of 5 men. AMLILAC team consisting of 14 men. Exfils: COBRA XIV-four men. C. Support craft: Riptide, 159 foot LCI, dark blue hull, light blue superstructure. Intermediate craft: V-20, gray hull, powered by twin 140 MP outboard/inboard motors...With Leda. Pass UDT (DUCK) team to Leda. Take aboard COBRA XIV exfils..."
1993.08.04.17:08:22:120028: DIRECTOR CABLES, DIR 88465 - 89028.
12/12/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Hicks (?), Unit: SAS/MOB): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE DUCK: REF: WAVE 8919 (IN 78710)* "Ref op approved subject following consideration Bee route parallel coast too close for safety between points P and Q para J ref 9. Unless WAVE has overriding reasons, suggest approach point Q more directly from out at sea rather than parallel coast. Advise. SAS Comment: *Plan for maritime Operation DUCK. UDT sab mission." Releasing Officer: Desmond FitzGerald, C/SAS. SAS/INTEL: (Initials). Authenticating Officer: Arthur A. Maloney, C/SAS/MOB.
1993.08.04.16:50:14:750028: JMWAVE CABLES, WAVE 9000 - 9096.
12/13/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE DUCK: REF DIR 88744: "Approach to point Q determined for following reasons: 1. Minimize Bee silhouette for possible radar detection from reported cruise site until close to coast. 2. Course parallel and close to coast may afford possible cover of radar shadow from land (unintelligible). 3. Light of Puenta Frances extinguished during hurricane. Due erratic track (?) caused by Bee towing V-20 advisable confirm position..."
104-10077-10436: DIRECTOR CABLE RE OPERATIONS.
12/13/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Robert C. Tarr, SAS/Intel): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE DUCK JMPURR: REF WAVE 8919: "In event adoption or time change ref operation please notify ZUSAIL OPIM."
1993.08.04.16:51:38:340028: JMWAVE CABLES, WAVE 9101 - 9148.
12/16/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director (ACTION: C/SAS 3 (Mr. Halpern, SAS & Col. Maloney, SAS, notified and copy slotted at 2240, 15 Dec): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE DUCK: "Operation DUCK delayed 24 hours due unspecified technical difficulties reported by Leda."