Aircraft Carriers II (Closed to posting)

official intelligence reports.

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During the cold war, the sailors from the Russian merchant navy weren't allowed to get off the boat in a port. My grandfather and other sailors were always buying things for them (food, clothes, mags, alcohol,...).

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True! back in '72 the JFK was in Barcelona. We saw two Soviet ships. A trawler and an DD or FF. We went down to gawk at the ships and see if we could have a tour like US ships do in port. No luck. Those Russians cannot get off the ships or have any visitors. Russian sailors were making gestures to us that they wanted some booze. I was not involved but I'm sure some US Sailor got those sailors some booze.

As c62 stated guys a sailor is a sailor no matter what flag their ship flies. I guarantee you if there had ever been a confrontation between the USN and USSR at sea and one or the other nation lost the ship and sailors were in the water the victor would rescue those sailors. Period.

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The one thing Soviets always did was to collect our trash. They would send a whaleboat picking up garbage for any valuable information. Since we burned our memos, there was nothing left. One day the skipper kinda felt sorry for the KGB sailors. An order went down to the chain of command to collect any discarded "Adult" magazine and take to the fantail.

At the fantail there were a couple of NIS and Intel folks flipping through the magazine for any compromising material. The Boastwain mates would put the porn magazines in a heavy plastic bag and filled it with air. The signalmen sent a message to the trawler to pick up the package. Sure enough the KGB sailors were very grateful and waving their arms from the whaleboat.

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True. Them Russian fellas got no liberty back in those days.. The Russian trawler that was following the America in '81 picked up the discarded dungarees after the "Shellback" Initiation on CV-66 that cruise.

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Kinda sorta. Those trawlers and Soviet DDs would follow you around for months. USN sailors would be partying our arse off in say Barcelona.. Them poor Russian fellas would be anchored way out with no liberty and doing the five knuckle shuffle. I kinda sorta felt sorry for them. They were just doing there job..and we were doing ours. Simple.

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asif iqbal said:

man nice storys bd popeye!!!

but why were the Soviets not allowed off thier ships, thats just sick!! imagine being in port and watching from the deck of the ship and not being allowed off

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but why were the Soviets not allowed off their ships, thats just sick!! imagine being in port and watching from the deck of the ship and not being allowed off

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Obi Wan Russell said:

Probably the Soviets were afraid their crewmen would attempt to defect at the first opportunity! Can't really blame them in the circumstances.

In 1970 HMS Ark Royal had a Russian 'Kotlin' class DDG as her 'shadow' but the captain of the Soviet ship had an arrogant streak and kept closing on the carrier during flying ops trying to make the Ark change course... which is against international law BTW. During one such manouever, the Ark was in the middle of launching some Phantoms when the Soviet ship went under her bows, despite Ark going full astern. Several Russian sailors were lost overboard in the collision and severe damage was caused to the upperworks of the Destroyer. Ark's SAR helo picked up one of the sailors in the water and he recieved medical attention in Ark's sick bay, mainly for exposure. He was returned to his ship a few hours later after having been given some new clothes (including jeans and trainers) and a few presents. When he arrived back on the destoyer, Ark's crew observed him being ordered to strip on deck and hand over his western jeans and T shirt to the Captain and then made to walk to his bunk in his shorts (in the North Atlantic!). Officially the Soviets denied the accident was their fault, but a while later Ark's captain was at a diplomatic reception in the presence of the Soviet ambassador, who let slip that the captain of the destroyer had been very foolish and had effectively ended his own sea going career as a result.

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bd popeye said:

When I served with the USN these are some of the things were were told about Soviet sailors.

1) They do not get any liberty unless escorted by a political officer. Then only to sight see and perhaps eat a quick meal.
2) Soviet ships do not make fresh water and have to unrep water regularly.
2a) Soviet sailors have to take salt water showers.
3) The life span of a Soviet nuclear power tech is 5-7 years from the day they report aboard a Soviet sub.
4) Soviet Sailors have a high desertion rate.
5) Most Soviet ships do not have galleys..They eat a lot of cold canned food and sea ration type meals.

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