Souda Bay Crete Encounter

A personal rememberance of Russian warship tweaking by USS Leahy......

by William (Bill) Crowe

Where:

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Who:

Kashin Class Destroyer

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The Tale:

I have a Leahy story I am surprised hasn't been told yet:  I believe it was the same cruise where Leahy, Belknap and Kennedy did our surprise sortie to the Med. Capt. Hoffman decided that he was going to tick off the Russians and circle their deep water anchorage near Souda Bay, Crete - well he did with blue missles on the rail and the National Anthem blaring from the topside speakers.  Man did we have some fire control radars pointed our way, we left at flank speed and one of their new gas turbine missle destroyers (Kashin class?) got underway and chased us.  We went to GQ - I was the port battle lookout, and that sucker passed us and left us in the dust.  When they passed they were close enough to see their bridge crew on their starboard bridge wing, no one was waving on either side. I can also say he (Capt. Hoffman) wasn't a happy camper when that gas turbine destroyer passed us..... 

NCC(AW) William (Bill) Crowe, USN, Retired

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Russian Ship Links:

Kashin Class   and