In order to protect Operation Hurricane, an elaborate plan of deception was created, and the Prime Minister was made aware of the deception plan on the 9th of April 1952.
It centered around security and a plan to tell 'the enemy' that the actual date of the trial will take place some weeks later. Concerns about the sabotage of fissile material and intelligence gathering, including interference with the scientists, their records and their instruments.
An effort to obtain details of the testing program, including the movement of men and stores would be easily achieved through clandestine efforts. It was suggested that the information they would intercept could be falsified so that they are not aware of the actual plan.
The deception experts felt that they could feed this false information through covert channels then the false information would be available only to the Russians.
Consideration should also be told to the Australian government and the CIA as to the deception plans. It was the view that all possible actions should be taken to safeguard the operation to avoid any sabotage.
It was recommended that a detailed deception plan should be implemented and a detailed plan put in place and the full information given to the Prime Minister if he wished.
The UK Government was completely in agreement to implement the deception plan.
Vice Admiral Evans-Lombe was concerned that the lack of finality among the experts about what exactly they were trying to do and that a smaller circle should be told of the plans.
The Prime Minister had instructed the deception operation to take place. The plan was to inject a story to the effect that the trial will be an air burst organised from Woomera. Some manipulation of the arrangements for the despatch of the plutonium may be necessary to give colour to the story about the air burst.
It was decided to tell Mr Menzies (Australian Prime Minister) of the plans.
Admiral Evans-Lombe agreed with the plans.
It was decided to watch events to ensure that suitable action is taken to prevent the schemes being "blown" by necessary overt activities.
It was proposed to have a single point of contact Lt. Cdr. Matthew.
The MOD sponsoring Lt. Cdr. Matthews passage
Conclusion
The deception plan was instigated to protect the testing details from espionage and to protect the scientists involved in the operation. An elaborate plan of faking the movements of troops, equipment and scientists and faking the date and type of trial.
It was a different world in 1952, with the Russians being the main focus of the deception plan.
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