On December 29, 1965, a massive iceberg blocking McMurdo Sound was pushed aside by three US Navy icebreakers: USS Burton Island (AGB-1), USS Atka (AGB-3), and USS Glacier (AGB-4). The iconic photo of this operation has become a symbol of the power and precision of US polar operations.
📌 What Happened?
The operation took place as part of Operation Deep Freeze, a key US Antarctic mission series launched in 1955.
On December 29, 1965, the icebreakers executed one of the final missions of the year, clearing a vital channel leading to McMurdo Station, the US Antarctic base.
🚢 The Three Icebreaking Heroes
1. USS Burton Island (AGB-1) – A US Navy icebreaker that regularly participated in polar expeditions under Operation Deep Freeze.
2. USS Atka (AGB-3) – An upgraded Wind-class icebreaker that later served under the Soviet Navy as “Admiral Makarov”.
3. USS Glacier (AGB-4) – The flagship of Deep Freeze, instrumental in establishing Little America V and consistently clearing routes to McMurdo.
🌊 The Operation
Together, the icebreakers moved millions of cubic meters of ice, pushing the iceberg approximately 1 km to clear the supply channel.
The iceberg’s towering mass made it impossible for a single vessel to manage alone, requiring synchronized maneuvering and persistent ramming by all three ships.
The mission was documented by the US National Archives (Catalog USN-827218).
🌐 Why It Mattered
McMurdo Sound is the southernmost navigable waterway, critical for delivering fuel, supplies, and personnel to McMurdo Station, the largest US Antarctic research station.
Without clearing the iceberg, the base would have been cut off from critical resupply.
This photo is not just a historical image; it is a testament to the technical and operational capabilities of the US Navy in tackling extreme logistical challenges under harsh Antarctic conditions.
