In the aftermath of the Second World War, American and British intelligence agencies secretly prepared for the possibility of a Soviet invasion of the British Isles. Fearing that Soviet control of Britain would threaten the security of the United States, military planners devised Operation Sandstone, a comprehensive plan for a potential US-led amphibious assault to recapture the UK. The operation involved extensive surveys of beaches and ports across the UK and Ireland, gathering detailed information on topography, tides, and infrastructure to support a large-scale landing.

Strategic locations such as Blackpool, Liverpool, and major ports in Wales and the south of England were prioritized, with Ireland considered as a staging ground for troops and supplies. The surveys included thousands of photographs and detailed reports, ensuring that US forces would be prepared for the challenges of landing and moving inland. The plan outlined step-by-step procedures for storming beaches, securing bridgeheads, advancing to strategic ports, and linking up with other units to drive out Soviet forces.

Operation Sandstone continued for nearly two decades, with hundreds of miles of coastline surveyed and contingency plans developed for further invasions in Europe and the Middle East. The operation was ultimately abandoned in 1966, but it remains a testament to the depth of Cold War-era planning and the lengths to which the US and UK were prepared to go to counter the Soviet threat.