Not a Periscope Then or Now

How do we know? Seemingly identical mastheads appear in photos of non-military AUVs (robotic submarines) here and above. Photo at right (above) is of Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS) described below.

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More on HUGIN here and the allegedy cancelled ASDS here. On 24 July 2009, the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announced that the ASDS was not going to be repaired[4].

Construction of the first ASDS was started in 1996 at a government estimated cost of US$160 million, to a low bid for the delivery of the first ASDS of $69 million for the first ASDS, and subsequent copies for $25 million each. It was delivered for testing and evaluation in 2000 and cost US$300 million (vendor and program office costs inclusive) to develop. Subsequent submarines are estimated to cost $125 million (based on a 2001 estimate) a copy. Five more were planned, but production of the second system was placed on indefinite hold in December 2005 pending a production and cost review, and the resolution of many reliability problems (primarily wiring grounds). In April 2006, the program for new submarines was canceled and Northrop Grumman notified of termination. The current submarine was still in development and use until damaged in a "serious fire" in November 2008. As of December 2008 the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. [1]

We are saying nothing more than it would be swell to have one or more ASDSs in clandestine use currently.
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Submarines are always silent and strange.