Real-Life Spy Gear from the CIAConverted for use with Top Secret/SI

Edited by J.L. Hicks

NOTE: The text and images in this document, with the exception of game stats and editor’s notes, were taken di-rectly from the CIA Website at www.cia.gov. This information has been placed in the public domain by the CentralIntelligence Agency, and the editor wishes to extend his thanks to that organization for giving us a glimpse into apart of the history of our country which is not usually seen.

Item Name Weight CostCaltrop-- Normal .1 $2-- Tire Spike .5 $10Matchbox Camera .1 $1200Mark IV Microdot Camera .2 $1500Minox Camera .1 $1200“Belly Buster” Hand-Crank Audio Drill 2 $750Seismic Intruder Detection Device 1 $1500Dead Drop Spike .1 $75“Silver Dollar” Hollow Container -- $150

CALTROP (TIRE SPIKE)

Caltrops wereused extensivelyfor operationsduring the earlydays of the Of-fice of StrategicServices (OSS),the predecessorof the CIA. Ascaled-downversion of cal-trops used tostop horses during medieval times, this device wasalso effective in harassing modern-day enemies.When scattered on roads and runways, the non-reflective caltrops would always land with one of thefour spikes in an upright position, disrupting vehicularmovement. This particular spike is hollow and canpuncture a self-sealing rubber tire.

MATCHBOX CAMERA

The Eastman Kodak Company developed andmanufactured this camera for use by the Office ofStrategic Services. It was made in the shape of amatchbox and could be camouflaged by adding amatchbox label appropriate for the country in which it

was to be used.The camera,which uses16mm film, wasdesigned to beoperated with aminimum of user-adjustable set-tings. It was de-ployed "behind the lines" by resistance personnel inWorld War II for target recording and propagandaphotography. It featured rugged construction andcontrols which could be operated by "feel." (EDI-TOR'S NOTE: This is a variant of the Mini-camerafrom the Top Secret/S.I. boxed set.)

MARK IV MICRODOT CAMERA

When the BerlinWall was erected,passing docu-ments betweenagents in EasternEurope and theWest becamenearly impossible.The mail becamethe primary meansof communication,

and many agents relied on "microdots" to get mes-sages through. Using a microdot camera -- itselfsmall enough to be used undetected -- an agentcould take photographs that could be reduced to atiny dot. The pinhead-sized piece of film was thenglued somewhere in a typewritten letter and sentthrough the mail undetected . The agent receiving theletter would retrieve the film and put it under a micro-scope to read the message. Microdot cameras wereused primarily during the 1950s and early 1960s.(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a variant of the MicrofilmCamera from the G4 File.)

MINOX CAMERA

This ultra-miniatureprecisioncamera hasbeen a favor-ite of spiesaround theworld formany years. The camera was originally designed in1934 and, by 1939, 17,000 had been manufacturedworldwide. The Minox was reintroduced in 1958 withan ultralight plastic body. Because of its small size, itwas easy to conceal and operate in one hand. Itcould take excellent photographs of documents atclose range and was a natural for clandestine pho-tography. Convicted spy John A. Walker, Jr., used aMinox supplied by the KGB to photograph sensitiveNational Security Agency codes for the Soviets.(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a variant of the Mini-camera from the Top Secret/S.I. boxed set.)

"BELLY BUSTER" HAND-CRANK AUDIO DRILL

The "BellyBuster" drillwas usedduring thelate 1950s /early 1960sto drill holesinto ma-sonry forimplanting audio devices. After assembly, the base ofthe drill was held firmly against the stomach while thehandle was cranked manually. This kit came withseveral drill bits and accessories.

SEISMIC INTRUDER DETECTION DEVICE

This Cold War-era motion de-tector was de-signed to blendin with local ter-rain. It can detectmovement ofpeople, animals,or objects up to300 meters. Thedevice is powered by three mercury cells and has abuilt-in dipole antenna and built-in 150 MHz trans-mitter, which relays the device's findings throughcoded impulses.

DEAD DROP SPIKE

The deaddrop spike isa conceal-ment devicewhich hasbeen used since the late 1960s to hide money, maps,documents, microfilm, and other items. The spike iswaterproof and mildew-proof and can be shoved intothe ground or placed in a shallow stream to be re-trieved at a later time.

"SILVER DOLLAR" HOLLOW CONTAINER

This hol-low con-tainer,fashionedto look likeanEisenhower silverdollar, isstill usedtoday tohide andsend mes-sages orfilm without being detected. Because it resemblesordinary pocket change, it is virtually undetectable asa concealment device.