CGN Kirov launches a SAM in excercises off the Libyan coast shortly before hostilities began in July 1983
Left to Right: CVN Eisenhower, the victors in the Battle of the Faeroe Islands, the losers in the First Battle of the Central Mediterranean: Krasny, Rubin, Zelonodoisk, FFG Rezvy survived.
‘Decimation of the Black Sea Fleet Escorts (First Battle of the Central Mediterranean) July 13th 1983’
Aiming to close off the straights of Gibraltar before any heavy NATO naval units could pass through from the Atlantic the Black Sea fleet cruiser squadron , escort flotilla and a number of diesel submarines passed through the Dardanelles just as hostilities began on July the 11th 1983. Operations were supposed to be supported by a pair of Tu142M Bear Maritime patrol and a regiment of TU16 Badger strike aircraft flown out of Latakia airbase in Syria.
Whether due to hasty planning or poor communications the escort flotilla (consisting of a mixture of rather dated, small frigates , destroyers as well as recent additions to the Black sea fleet) disastrously placed themselves ahead of the submarine screen. Late on July the 12th the escort flotilla was detected by the 2 modern French destroyers of the D70 class Montcalm D642 and Georges Leygues D640. The French Destroyer squadron shadowed the hapless Soviet fleet, who were also without the benefit of radar cover from the Tu142 aircraft which were grounded in Syria due to engine problems.
With the U.S. Nimitz carrier group still transiting the Atlantic an airstrike was readied using the only U.S. Navy aircraft available in the eastern Mediterranean at this stage of the conflict, a squadron of F4 Phantoms stationed at Souda Bay in Crete. Six F4s provided escort, and six more were loaded with bullpup anti-ship missiles and 750kg freefall bombs.
Flying in low from the east on the afternoon of the 13th of July, none of the six attack Phantoms were detected by any of the escort flotilla other than the frigate Rezvy (Krivak II class) which held anti-submarine station on the northern edge of the soviet formation.
First to be struck was the Kashin class Destroyer Krasny, struck by a bullpup missile amidships, she was ablaze and dead in the water within 2 minutes. Less than a minute later the smallest ship of the group, the Rubin, A Grisha class anti- submarine corvette was struck by a 750kg bomb which hit below the waterline flooding her quickly. The Rubin capsized quickly taking half of her crew of sixty with her.
The only success for the soviet fleet in this crushing engagement was recorded by the Rezvy which having detected one of the attacking Phantoms approaching her at about 20 miles distant , launched a pair of SA N 2 anti-aircraft missiles. Fortunately for the Rezvy, this aircraft was only carrying freefall bombs , the frigate’s missiles winning the race and killing US airmen Captain Cal Jacobs and co-pilot Steve Hollier.
Stationed on the southern perimeter of the formation, the old Skoryy class Destroyer Statny didn’t stand a chance as a bullpup missile slammed into her magazines exploding and breaking her back, only a couple of her crew of 280 were blown clear surviving adrift in the warm Mediterranean Sea.
At the head of the fleet, the modified Kashin class destroyer Slavy escaped the attentions of any of the six attacking Phantoms. Ironically the Slavy was acting as an anti-aircraft picket of sorts, though any attack was expected from the west, not from the east.
The final victim in this comprehensive defeat for the soviets was the Koni class frigate Zelonodoisk. She was also struck by a bull pup hit to the engine compartment and although damage control crews fought valiantly they were not able to save the ship. Most of her crew were taken onboard the Rezvy during the course of the evening. The Zelonodoisk received the attentions of two phantoms , the first, dropping iron bombs which all missed.
Photographs issued by TASS news agency were all taken by the crew of Slavy’s helicopter which was just embarking as the attack played out.
This was the greatest loss of life for soviet military forces in a single day since the great patriotic war, the only positive outcome being that the two most modern vessels of the six survived unscathed.
Aiming to close off the straights of Gibraltar before any heavy NATO naval units could pass through from the Atlantic the Black Sea fleet cruiser squadron , escort flotilla and a number of diesel submarines passed through the Dardanelles just as hostilities began on July the 11th 1983. Operations were supposed to be supported by a pair of Tu142M Bear Maritime patrol and a regiment of TU16 Badger strike aircraft flown out of Latakia airbase in Syria.
Whether due to hasty planning or poor communications the escort flotilla (consisting of a mixture of rather dated, small frigates , destroyers as well as recent additions to the Black sea fleet) disastrously placed themselves ahead of the submarine screen. Late on July the 12th the escort flotilla was detected by the 2 modern French destroyers of the D70 class Montcalm D642 and Georges Leygues D640. The French Destroyer squadron shadowed the hapless Soviet fleet, who were also without the benefit of radar cover from the Tu142 aircraft which were grounded in Syria due to engine problems.
With the U.S. Nimitz carrier group still transiting the Atlantic an airstrike was readied using the only U.S. Navy aircraft available in the eastern Mediterranean at this stage of the conflict, a squadron of F4 Phantoms stationed at Souda Bay in Crete. Six F4s provided escort, and six more were loaded with bullpup anti-ship missiles and 750kg freefall bombs.
Flying in low from the east on the afternoon of the 13th of July, none of the six attack Phantoms were detected by any of the escort flotilla other than the frigate Rezvy (Krivak II class) which held anti-submarine station on the northern edge of the soviet formation.
First to be struck was the Kashin class Destroyer Krasny, struck by a bullpup missile amidships, she was ablaze and dead in the water within 2 minutes. Less than a minute later the smallest ship of the group, the Rubin, A Grisha class anti- submarine corvette was struck by a 750kg bomb which hit below the waterline flooding her quickly. The Rubin capsized quickly taking half of her crew of sixty with her.
The only success for the soviet fleet in this crushing engagement was recorded by the Rezvy which having detected one of the attacking Phantoms approaching her at about 20 miles distant , launched a pair of SA N 2 anti-aircraft missiles. Fortunately for the Rezvy, this aircraft was only carrying freefall bombs , the frigate’s missiles winning the race and killing US airmen Captain Cal Jacobs and co-pilot Steve Hollier.
Stationed on the southern perimeter of the formation, the old Skoryy class Destroyer Statny didn’t stand a chance as a bullpup missile slammed into her magazines exploding and breaking her back, only a couple of her crew of 280 were blown clear surviving adrift in the warm Mediterranean Sea.
At the head of the fleet, the modified Kashin class destroyer Slavy escaped the attentions of any of the six attacking Phantoms. Ironically the Slavy was acting as an anti-aircraft picket of sorts, though any attack was expected from the west, not from the east.
The final victim in this comprehensive defeat for the soviets was the Koni class frigate Zelonodoisk. She was also struck by a bull pup hit to the engine compartment and although damage control crews fought valiantly they were not able to save the ship. Most of her crew were taken onboard the Rezvy during the course of the evening. The Zelonodoisk received the attentions of two phantoms , the first, dropping iron bombs which all missed.
Photographs issued by TASS news agency were all taken by the crew of Slavy’s helicopter which was just embarking as the attack played out.
This was the greatest loss of life for soviet military forces in a single day since the great patriotic war, the only positive outcome being that the two most modern vessels of the six survived unscathed.
60.6 is no more: The Second Battle of the Central Mediterranean. July 19th, 1983
Last Moments of USS Texas (CGN39) Rear Admiral Perez also died along with all but 5 of Texas' crew of 472 as a result of the massive missile attack from the Kirov flotilla. Texas's LAMP Seasprite crew captured this image of an SS N 19 missile as they were heading back to assist in rescue. The chopper was nearly downed from the shockwave when this weapon struck seconds later. 2nd Battle of the central Mediterranean.
Above: USS Aylwin (FF1081) the 'lucky frigate' and the only surviving vessel from TG 60.6 Captain Aaron Jenkins made best use of his minimal AA systems healing the ship around broadside to the 2 heavy SS N 19 SSMs. CIWS managed to shoot down one SSM and chaff decoyed the second, seen here (left) missing the ship by the narrowest of margins. (right): Aylwin pulls alongside the frigate Stark to pull off survivors . There were 42 deaths aboard Stark. With nearly all of Texas' and Cushing's crews perishing, the 2nd battle of the Central Mediterranean was the worst day for the U.S. navy since the Battle of Savo Island in 1942.
Perez's folly: USS Cushing is seen in the background , as Texas breaks away from T.G. 60.6. Perez believed the contacts relayed from his LAMPs was the far less formidable Moskva CGH led group. Perez' s attempt to shield his escorts and rare cloud cover which hindered satellite imagery proved his undoing this fateful morning.
Ticonderoga Harpoons the old whale. July 20th Gainford's TG60.7 takes revenge by removing CGH Moskva as a threat in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Moskva Group sorties west from Latakia. Despite the best efforts of her AA escorts (DDG Otlichny- foreground and DDG Ognevoy) The old helicopter carrier was hit by 3 Harpoon missiles launched from Rear Admiral Gainford's Taskgroup 60.7 which had been patrolling the Eastern Mediterranean for nearly a week. Moskva's mission was to clear the Eastern Med and Suez canal approaches of Nato submarines. As it happens, HMS Turbulent, the only sub in the area had received orders to transit west just hours before the Moskva group sailed.
The Ognevoy comes alongside Moskva to rescue most of her crew. The Harpoons hit her starboard deck and bridge killing her captain Pieter Lavrov as well as destroying many critical electronic and hydraulic systems. Nearly 700 Moskva sailors were crammed aboard Ognevoy and Otlichny and it was decided to scuttle Moskva rather than attempt a risky tow back to Syria.
Above: DDG Otlichnyy takes up her Anti-Aircraft picket station to the north-east of Admiral Mossiev's Anti Submarine group as it heads North towards Crete and the Aegean sea. Otlichnyy was to single- handedly deal with a Harpoon missile attack launched from U.S frigates Simpson and Thach. Leningrad and Kerch are in the background of this photo.
Above: 26th July. USS Simpson FFG56 is listing heavily to port as Thach draws alongside to pick up survivors. Simpson was struck by a SS N 22 missile fired by Otlichnyy which struck amidships causing massive fractures and destroying her communications room. Damage control managed to stop the fires spreading to her Mark 75 gun magazine, which was the reason most of her crew managed to abandon ship before she slipped beneath the sea. Among the survivors was her captain Paul Logue.
Above: Slavy manoeuvres alongside the drifting Baltimore west of Cyprus
The pendulum of luck in the superpowers battles in the Mediterranean: USS Baltimore (SSN704), having evaded two Soviet subs west of Cyprus intersected the course of Admiral Lazrov's powerful anti submarine group which was west- bound from Syria on a mission to clear the approaches to the Aegean of NATO submarines. Captain Micheal Brady skillfully used the speed of his Los Angeles class sub to get within range to fire a salvo of Harpoon SSMs astern and southeast of Lavrovs fleet . Lavrovs flagship Kirov and CG Azov dealt with that attack, the Black sea fleet having been shocked into stronger air defence protocols after the destruction of the escort flotilla nearly two weeks before.
After conducting a text book sonar-buoy search which turned up a positive fix on Baltimore, one of Kirovs Ka 25 helicopters made a couple of hopeful attacks on Baltimore, its crew attempting to chase the submarine away rather than notch up a kill against such a powerful foe. Baltimore's decoys easily foiled the Kamov's 2 torpedoes and Brady's crew must have thought they could slip away just as they had in many an exercise. Neither side counted on the two direct hits scored by the helo's second world war era depth charges. The explosions twisted the subs rudder and main shaft forcing Brady to surface so as to externally check the damage. Crews attempted to drop an outboard and temporary rudder through the aft auxiliary hatch, but this was also damaged in the attack and would need repair, so Baltimore was surfaced floating, a sitting duck whilst being closely watched by soviet helicopters. Knowing that there were no allied warships within at least two hundred miles, Brady ordered the reactor shut down and the crew to set for flooding and to prepare to abandon the ship. Just as this order was issued a watch from the fin reported a soviet destroyer approaching at flank speed. Brady decided to accept the hospitality of the Black sea fleet and changed his orders to have his crew to set charges , offload documents and generally smash up the control room as there was not enough time to evacuate the whole crew into lifeboats. There was a strong chance the Baltimore would fall into enemy hands, although the Soviets had also to weigh the risks of repairing or attempting to tow the boat in contested waters.
The captain of the Soviet destroyer Slavy behaved in an exemplary manner towards his captives, briefly interrogating Brady who explained his evacuation procedure. Andrei Kornakova sent two engineers onto Baltimore with the American chief engineer . The Russians realised they only had a few minutes aboard their 'prize' grabbed some exotic looking gadgets as well as the portrait of the Governor of Maryland from the wardroom! Even though the Soviet navy didnt thoroughly inspect SSN704 the loss of Baltimore and capture of her entire crew was the greatest propaganda coup at this stage of the war
The pendulum of luck in the superpowers battles in the Mediterranean: USS Baltimore (SSN704), having evaded two Soviet subs west of Cyprus intersected the course of Admiral Lazrov's powerful anti submarine group which was west- bound from Syria on a mission to clear the approaches to the Aegean of NATO submarines. Captain Micheal Brady skillfully used the speed of his Los Angeles class sub to get within range to fire a salvo of Harpoon SSMs astern and southeast of Lavrovs fleet . Lavrovs flagship Kirov and CG Azov dealt with that attack, the Black sea fleet having been shocked into stronger air defence protocols after the destruction of the escort flotilla nearly two weeks before.
After conducting a text book sonar-buoy search which turned up a positive fix on Baltimore, one of Kirovs Ka 25 helicopters made a couple of hopeful attacks on Baltimore, its crew attempting to chase the submarine away rather than notch up a kill against such a powerful foe. Baltimore's decoys easily foiled the Kamov's 2 torpedoes and Brady's crew must have thought they could slip away just as they had in many an exercise. Neither side counted on the two direct hits scored by the helo's second world war era depth charges. The explosions twisted the subs rudder and main shaft forcing Brady to surface so as to externally check the damage. Crews attempted to drop an outboard and temporary rudder through the aft auxiliary hatch, but this was also damaged in the attack and would need repair, so Baltimore was surfaced floating, a sitting duck whilst being closely watched by soviet helicopters. Knowing that there were no allied warships within at least two hundred miles, Brady ordered the reactor shut down and the crew to set for flooding and to prepare to abandon the ship. Just as this order was issued a watch from the fin reported a soviet destroyer approaching at flank speed. Brady decided to accept the hospitality of the Black sea fleet and changed his orders to have his crew to set charges , offload documents and generally smash up the control room as there was not enough time to evacuate the whole crew into lifeboats. There was a strong chance the Baltimore would fall into enemy hands, although the Soviets had also to weigh the risks of repairing or attempting to tow the boat in contested waters.
The captain of the Soviet destroyer Slavy behaved in an exemplary manner towards his captives, briefly interrogating Brady who explained his evacuation procedure. Andrei Kornakova sent two engineers onto Baltimore with the American chief engineer . The Russians realised they only had a few minutes aboard their 'prize' grabbed some exotic looking gadgets as well as the portrait of the Governor of Maryland from the wardroom! Even though the Soviet navy didnt thoroughly inspect SSN704 the loss of Baltimore and capture of her entire crew was the greatest propaganda coup at this stage of the war
Above: Rear Admiral Hartle's Eastbound task force takes a hammering. (Oscar class sub proves its worth in the western Med July 25th)
Left USS Merrill (DDG 976) slows to pick up the handful of survivors from the Yorktown ( CG 48) The unfortunate cruiser had sunk a few minutes before this picture was taken , hit by two SS N 19 ASMs Yorktown slipped beneath the seas taking more than a hundred of her crew with her. Right: Hartle's flagship, USS New Jersey was also hit by two missiles from the Oscar class SSGN K206 Murmansk. One failed to explode, causing light damage and the other did explode (caught here by a photographer on board Merrill) against New Jerseys heavily armoured front turret. Mercifully the turret was not occupied at the time and the gigantic emplacement, though destroyed, absorbed most of the warhead's immense power.
Left USS Merrill (DDG 976) slows to pick up the handful of survivors from the Yorktown ( CG 48) The unfortunate cruiser had sunk a few minutes before this picture was taken , hit by two SS N 19 ASMs Yorktown slipped beneath the seas taking more than a hundred of her crew with her. Right: Hartle's flagship, USS New Jersey was also hit by two missiles from the Oscar class SSGN K206 Murmansk. One failed to explode, causing light damage and the other did explode (caught here by a photographer on board Merrill) against New Jerseys heavily armoured front turret. Mercifully the turret was not occupied at the time and the gigantic emplacement, though destroyed, absorbed most of the warhead's immense power.
The fateful day July 27th 1983 The third use of nuclear weapons by the United States of America
Shocked by unexpectedly heavy losses of units of the sixth fleet and the imminent threat to the NATO ally Greece SACEUR recommended to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff a dramatic and rapid concentration of all available forces to the Eastern Mediterranean theatre.
President Reagan convened his National Security Council on the evening of the 26th and released tactical nuclear weapons to be used against the naval forces of the Soviet Union at sea at least 30 nautical miles from any coast friendly or hostile.
In a late night secure call between SACEUR and Sixth Fleet Vice Admiral Alan Martin it was explained that NATO airforces would increase support for the Turks around Anatolia and the Dardanelles and that Martin was to contact Task force 60.2 commander Tony Gilmore and later the commander of the USS Drum (SSN 677) to authorise the use of tactical atomic weapons. The Drum and TF 60.2 lead by the carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) were the only units close enough to the Aegean or the Eastern Mediterranean to threaten powerful soviet naval units.
As the 27th dawned USS Drum was involved in an epic submarine duel with a Tango class diesel sub and a Victor III SSN and was driven away from Admiral Mossievs surface action group centered around the Helicopter carrier Leningrad. At 0615 an E2C Air sentry from TG 60.2 began to shadow Mossievs group as it steamed just southwest of Crete heading towards the Aegean.
As soon as Rear Admiral Gilmore had received authorisation from COMSIXTHFLT he ordered 4 EA6 bombers loaded with two B61 nuclear bombs each below decks ready to be armed and launched in minutes. From recent satellite reports Gilmore knew the general whereabouts of the Leningrad group and was keen to take revenge for the loss of the USS Simpson. At breakfast time on July 27th Tony Gilmore now realised that the coming raid by his air group would be the first, but not necessarily the last instance of nuclear warfare at sea.
Shocked by unexpectedly heavy losses of units of the sixth fleet and the imminent threat to the NATO ally Greece SACEUR recommended to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff a dramatic and rapid concentration of all available forces to the Eastern Mediterranean theatre.
President Reagan convened his National Security Council on the evening of the 26th and released tactical nuclear weapons to be used against the naval forces of the Soviet Union at sea at least 30 nautical miles from any coast friendly or hostile.
In a late night secure call between SACEUR and Sixth Fleet Vice Admiral Alan Martin it was explained that NATO airforces would increase support for the Turks around Anatolia and the Dardanelles and that Martin was to contact Task force 60.2 commander Tony Gilmore and later the commander of the USS Drum (SSN 677) to authorise the use of tactical atomic weapons. The Drum and TF 60.2 lead by the carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) were the only units close enough to the Aegean or the Eastern Mediterranean to threaten powerful soviet naval units.
As the 27th dawned USS Drum was involved in an epic submarine duel with a Tango class diesel sub and a Victor III SSN and was driven away from Admiral Mossievs surface action group centered around the Helicopter carrier Leningrad. At 0615 an E2C Air sentry from TG 60.2 began to shadow Mossievs group as it steamed just southwest of Crete heading towards the Aegean.
As soon as Rear Admiral Gilmore had received authorisation from COMSIXTHFLT he ordered 4 EA6 bombers loaded with two B61 nuclear bombs each below decks ready to be armed and launched in minutes. From recent satellite reports Gilmore knew the general whereabouts of the Leningrad group and was keen to take revenge for the loss of the USS Simpson. At breakfast time on July 27th Tony Gilmore now realised that the coming raid by his air group would be the first, but not necessarily the last instance of nuclear warfare at sea.
The Plan for the Leningrad attack
As Gilmore met with his Ops team a dark and sombre mood descended over the room as they realised this was very different to the first aerial atomic attack in 1945. Hastily organised, but conforming to exercise doctrine as it related to attacking a Soviet flotilla of this type, Colt Compton, commanding officer of the 'Black Panthers' (VA35) would be the third pilot to (attempt to) drop a nuclear weapon in anger. The attack package would fly at wave top height just over 180 miles to Mossievs fleet. The four A6 Intruders would form a taxi rank around 90 seconds apart like a deadly carousel (all crew wearing flash goggles) each Intruder attempting a 'toss bombing' of a B61 (set at 20 kilotons yield) Gilmore ordered that only one weapon should be detonated over the relatively small flotilla, and that he hoped and prayed that all 4 nuclear armed Intruders would return, three of them with weapons still on their pylons. Six more A6s from VA 35 would follow up with conventional weapons should the nuclear strike fail. The attack would be escorted by three EA6B Electronic warfare aircraft of VAQ 135 'Black Ravens' and 10 F14 Tomcat fighters of the famous VF 84 Jolly Rogers Squadron. An E2C Hawkeye was still on station to direct the attack from a safe distance. The USS Nimitz's chaplain lead the three squadrons in a brief prayer, and they quickly made their way to their aircraft.
As Gilmore met with his Ops team a dark and sombre mood descended over the room as they realised this was very different to the first aerial atomic attack in 1945. Hastily organised, but conforming to exercise doctrine as it related to attacking a Soviet flotilla of this type, Colt Compton, commanding officer of the 'Black Panthers' (VA35) would be the third pilot to (attempt to) drop a nuclear weapon in anger. The attack package would fly at wave top height just over 180 miles to Mossievs fleet. The four A6 Intruders would form a taxi rank around 90 seconds apart like a deadly carousel (all crew wearing flash goggles) each Intruder attempting a 'toss bombing' of a B61 (set at 20 kilotons yield) Gilmore ordered that only one weapon should be detonated over the relatively small flotilla, and that he hoped and prayed that all 4 nuclear armed Intruders would return, three of them with weapons still on their pylons. Six more A6s from VA 35 would follow up with conventional weapons should the nuclear strike fail. The attack would be escorted by three EA6B Electronic warfare aircraft of VAQ 135 'Black Ravens' and 10 F14 Tomcat fighters of the famous VF 84 Jolly Rogers Squadron. An E2C Hawkeye was still on station to direct the attack from a safe distance. The USS Nimitz's chaplain lead the three squadrons in a brief prayer, and they quickly made their way to their aircraft.
Above: Mushroom cloud over the first purely military target of atomic attack. This photo taken by CO Compton's flight officer as their Intruder powers away at maximum speed at around 16,000 feet. just visible is a soviet vessel (probably the frigate Retivy) capsized by the shock wave. To the left CG Kerch is about to be hit by a somewhat dissipated shockwave.
Soviet Recollections: The only surviving captain of this ill-fated flotilla Dmitri Chernenko of the (now battle hardened) Destroyer Ognevoy recalls Admiral Mossiev being extremely pessimistic late in the evening of the 26th as he flew over to the Ognevoy from the Leningrad. Given the clear weather forecast for the next few days the Admiral fully expected air attack and didnt expect any Warsaw Pact air cover until they were almost at the Dardanelles. There were interceptors based at Latakia, but no tankers for them. Mossiev placed Chernenko's ship on air picket duty far to the north east of the main body and bid his farewell as he flew off to visit Petrov's ship (DDG Otlichny)
Chernenkos Ognevoy performed well as air picket in this historic engagement and , had the fleet suffered a conventional attack things could have been less catastrophic . At 0710 Ognevoy's radar showed a high altitude contact at around 120 miles (the E2C Hawkeye) and, based on Mossievs pessimistic forecasts turned on its active air search radar. Just a few minutes later Ognevoys screen showed 5 five contacts on the edge of her radar horizon (around 30nm) but heading from west-nor- west crossing astern of her towards the main body. Chernenko ordered a turn to starboard so there was a chance of him bringing his missiles to bear at somewhere near maximum range. At 0720 one of the EW aircraft with Nimitz's attack force detected two SAMs being launched (probably from the Otlichny) Compton's wingman Flying Officer Micheal Passarella flying an A6 also armed with two atomic bombs was hit crashing instantly into the ocean. The historic strike was still nearly twenty miles from the toss bombing point. A few seconds later another SAM hit one of the escorting Tomcats as it banked away from the attack flight. The Black Ravens had tracked another SAM from the salvo and decoyed it. At 0722 Colt Compton could make out the sleek form of a soviet destroyer beam on just before he began his climb for the toss bombing run. A stream of tracer crept up from the destroyers close in weapons systems , one of which successfully targeted one of the Raven's EW aircraft as it also banked away. Compton thought to himself the Soviet commanders may have guessed their fate in the last few seconds if they recognised his Intruder undertaking an unusual attack profile; or maybe they thought the US Navy had run out of Harpoon stand off missiles. Compton thought he had placed his B61 right in between the Otlichny and the Leningrad which he estimated were sailing only 1000 yards apart.
Twenty kilotons in a low airburst only hundreds of feet from the soviet destroyer and helicopter carrier was almost powerful enough to melt the two vessels superstructures and much of their hulls, there were no survivors. The frigate Retivy on ASW duty about a kilometre from the blast was capsized by the shockwave. It appeared to roll over and sink within minutes. Cruiser Kerch (Kara class) was on ASW duty to the southwest of the main body .Some of the officers of the watch were blinded by the blast Captain Mikhail Sharapova tried in vain to turn away from the approaching shockwave . The blast hit the ship more or less beam on causing moderate damage to the upperdecks, some injuries and taking out most of the ship's upper masts. Sharapova tried to make his best speed to the South East away from any fallout, but tragically, with his masts damaged he couldnt detect the change in weather which meant the fallout in the form of light rain was following his ship. Later he instituted a washdown, but some of the pump machinery had been damaged by the blast and so the washdown was ineffectual. He decided to sail towards Latakia and treat his men as best he could as he expected some radiation sickness to set in. Dmitri Chernenko of the Ognevoy deserves special note as the youngest of the captains in the flotilla, he performed as well as can be expected in the circumstances. Two of his deck officers were temporarily blinded by the blast which occurred 12 miles to the south. Seeing no point in retaining radio silence, Chernenko called on common soviet naval channels, but received no replies. Having no helicopter, Chernenko waited around twenty minutes before steaming south to check the state of the flotilla all the while having his crew don NBC gear and seal up as many vents and gaps as they could. He also tested his wash down system. The ship gingerly made its way south with the wind behind it as the mushroom cloud slowly faded away. Finding only flotsam, diesel oil and some charred bodies Chernenko sent a coded report to Black Sea fleet HQ that he was still searching for the Kerch . HQBSF concurred and ordered him to proceed to Latakia, (if possible with the Kerch whom they had not heard from either).
Chernenkos Ognevoy performed well as air picket in this historic engagement and , had the fleet suffered a conventional attack things could have been less catastrophic . At 0710 Ognevoy's radar showed a high altitude contact at around 120 miles (the E2C Hawkeye) and, based on Mossievs pessimistic forecasts turned on its active air search radar. Just a few minutes later Ognevoys screen showed 5 five contacts on the edge of her radar horizon (around 30nm) but heading from west-nor- west crossing astern of her towards the main body. Chernenko ordered a turn to starboard so there was a chance of him bringing his missiles to bear at somewhere near maximum range. At 0720 one of the EW aircraft with Nimitz's attack force detected two SAMs being launched (probably from the Otlichny) Compton's wingman Flying Officer Micheal Passarella flying an A6 also armed with two atomic bombs was hit crashing instantly into the ocean. The historic strike was still nearly twenty miles from the toss bombing point. A few seconds later another SAM hit one of the escorting Tomcats as it banked away from the attack flight. The Black Ravens had tracked another SAM from the salvo and decoyed it. At 0722 Colt Compton could make out the sleek form of a soviet destroyer beam on just before he began his climb for the toss bombing run. A stream of tracer crept up from the destroyers close in weapons systems , one of which successfully targeted one of the Raven's EW aircraft as it also banked away. Compton thought to himself the Soviet commanders may have guessed their fate in the last few seconds if they recognised his Intruder undertaking an unusual attack profile; or maybe they thought the US Navy had run out of Harpoon stand off missiles. Compton thought he had placed his B61 right in between the Otlichny and the Leningrad which he estimated were sailing only 1000 yards apart.
Twenty kilotons in a low airburst only hundreds of feet from the soviet destroyer and helicopter carrier was almost powerful enough to melt the two vessels superstructures and much of their hulls, there were no survivors. The frigate Retivy on ASW duty about a kilometre from the blast was capsized by the shockwave. It appeared to roll over and sink within minutes. Cruiser Kerch (Kara class) was on ASW duty to the southwest of the main body .Some of the officers of the watch were blinded by the blast Captain Mikhail Sharapova tried in vain to turn away from the approaching shockwave . The blast hit the ship more or less beam on causing moderate damage to the upperdecks, some injuries and taking out most of the ship's upper masts. Sharapova tried to make his best speed to the South East away from any fallout, but tragically, with his masts damaged he couldnt detect the change in weather which meant the fallout in the form of light rain was following his ship. Later he instituted a washdown, but some of the pump machinery had been damaged by the blast and so the washdown was ineffectual. He decided to sail towards Latakia and treat his men as best he could as he expected some radiation sickness to set in. Dmitri Chernenko of the Ognevoy deserves special note as the youngest of the captains in the flotilla, he performed as well as can be expected in the circumstances. Two of his deck officers were temporarily blinded by the blast which occurred 12 miles to the south. Seeing no point in retaining radio silence, Chernenko called on common soviet naval channels, but received no replies. Having no helicopter, Chernenko waited around twenty minutes before steaming south to check the state of the flotilla all the while having his crew don NBC gear and seal up as many vents and gaps as they could. He also tested his wash down system. The ship gingerly made its way south with the wind behind it as the mushroom cloud slowly faded away. Finding only flotsam, diesel oil and some charred bodies Chernenko sent a coded report to Black Sea fleet HQ that he was still searching for the Kerch . HQBSF concurred and ordered him to proceed to Latakia, (if possible with the Kerch whom they had not heard from either).