Spy Web
A season summary is not currently available.
26 episodes · First aired 1999-01-01
Page 2 of 2
Showing 6 at a time
From its early beginnings with General John J Pershing and his Mexican expedition of 1916, the US Air Intelligence arm has a fascinating history, spanning both World Wars. It is now the world leader in the collection and analysis of all forms of photographic and electronic data, and deploys a bewildering array of ultra-high speed aircraft, satellites and unmanned drones.
Sometimes referred to as the 'Fourth Department, Russian military intelligence', it was created in 1918 and produced a network of spies which operated worldwide through the Stalinist era, World War II and still employs 100,000. The GRU also controls Russia's Special Warfare Services known as the Spetsnaz.
Throughout the Twentieth Century, in all the major conflicts, both sides have operated intelligence collection ships. In World War II, the warships of many navies began carrying high-frequency, direction-finding equipment and subsequently electronic intelligence collection equipment. But there have also been a fascinating array of non-naval vessels. Some of them, like the USS Pueblo, have been involved in major international incidents. Others have mysteriously disappeared.
Japan's traditional fascination with the West led at the beginning of the 20th century to the foundation of an elaborate spying network based on the need for military intelligence. Historically, its enemies were China and Russia, but by the 1920s and 30s, its main focus became the USA. The programme looks at the story of the Japanese intelligence network in the build-up to Pearl Harbor and beyond.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the French had a sophisticated intelligence network active during World War I, which went on to confront the Bolsheviks during the interwar years. It continued during World War II and has since been involved in post-war intelligence and various colonial conflicts.
The US's longest surviving intelligence service was created in 1882. One of its most prominent divisions was the American Photographic Interpretation Centre created in 1941 to train and support fleet photographers. It played an active role in the Cold War era particularly in electronic monitoring. By 1970 a vast expansion in Russian Naval operations on a worldwide scale created the necessity to keep track of all Soviet naval-related activities.
