Deep Six

Deep Six refers to a group of six U.S. Navy ships used during the Vietnam War to secretly transport and dispose of toxic andchemical waste, including Agent Orange. The term originally indicated the top secret nature of the operation, with “Deep” highlighting covert activities and “Six” denoting the number of ships involved. These ships offloaded hazardous materials into international waters, often away from public scrutiny, which has led to environmental and health concerns. Today, “Deep Six” is also used more broadly to describe covert or hidden operations involving sensitive or secret activities.