"COLD WAR"
CAT AND MOUSE GAME IN THE BALTIC
JULY 1955

Our carefree mood turned serious as we entered the Baltic Sea. The Free World, was in the midst of an undeclared “COLD WAR” with the USSR. This was the purpose for the Special Photography Team being on board, to take close up photos of any Russian ships or planes we might see. The Russian Intelligence Agency, knew the moment we entered the Baltic Sea. We had not been in the Baltic more than a few hours, before we were under surveillance by Russian Military Patrol Aircraft.

I had just reached the starboard side of the ship, just forward of the Quarter Deck area on my way up to the bridge. To stand my 1200 to 1600 Helm Watch, when I heard the drone of multiple engines of a low flying aircraft. I looked up just in time to see it pass directly over us (heading from stern to stem) at such a low altitude that I caught a glimpse of the nose gunner face looking down at us as they flew by, a big red star on the planes fuselage and wings. I would say that they passed only about 150- 200 feet above the two ship formation, the Smalley was following the DALY about 500 yards astern. They were taking pictures of us and the Special Photography Team we had picked up in Scotland was busy taking photo’s of the Russian aircraft. They made several more low level passes on our formation, before they climbed up sharply to a much higher altitude, where they continued to fly around in circles above the two US Destroyers. After about a half hour or so, they turned away and disappeared over the horizon to the East.

The sea conditions were calm and the weather was clear and sunny. I had relived the Watch and assumed my Underway Watch Station as Helmsman. CIC (Combat Information Center) was active, tracking all of the Bogies (aircraft) and Skunks (surface craft). The Officer of the Deck (OD) received a report on what appeared to be two Soviet Patrol Torpedo Boats that were headed toward us. The two Bridge Look Outs, Also reported sighting the two craft heading in our direction. I could also see them in the distance. I was left in the Pilot House all by my self, as every one went out onto the Starboard (Right) Flying Bridge (open Bridge), to view the two Russian Patrol Boats as they approached. They appeared to be about the size of our PT (PATROL TORPEDO) BOATS. I could tell that we were going to cross at a distance of about 200 yards.

I don’t recall why I did it, perhaps because I wanted to get a closer look at the first Russian Naval craft, whatever the reason, I took it upon myself to eased the rudder ever so slightly to starboard so that no one could tell I was changing course by looking at our wake, because it was so gradual. By the time we were passing each other, we were less than 100 yards apart and the Special Photography Team was able to get some real close up pictures of the two patrol craft, thanks to yours truly.

At the time we were going by each other, I stepped out onto the Flying Bridge to get a quick glimpse of the two MTBs, then I scampered back into the Pilot House and eased the wheel back to our original course. There was a high state of excitement on both ships as the Patrol Boats turned andfollowed us at a distance of about 600 yards off our starboard quarter (right side and astern).

Prior to entering the Baltic Sea we had taken part in some joint gunnery exercises and we had not had time to properly stow the empty brass (5” Shell Casings). The Russians were keeping a close watch on us and when they saw our crew handling 5”shell casings (expanded /empty, but of course they did not know It was empty brass) they decided they were too close for comfort, and opened their distance to us.

Our “Main Battery Director” also locked in on the Soviet Patrol Boats. They followed us until night fall, when they disappeared into the darkness. The following day, when I awoke and went topside on my way to breakfast at about 0630, it was a bright, sunny clear morning with calm sea conditions.

I always made it a habit to be aware of my surroundings ( perhaps due to my Indian background ), and I was surprised to see what appeared to be a Russian Heavy Cruiser following our two ship formation off our starboard quarter, at a distance of about 1000 yards. The Russian Cruiser had taken up the surveillance of the two American Destroyers during the night.

The Skipper wanted to see if they ( Russian Cruiser ) just happen to be steaming in the same direction as the Daly and Smalley, so he made several unnecessary course changes in our Cat and Mouse game, and guess what ? They dogged our every course change, and stayed within 1000 yards from us.

We were indeed the Mouse and the big Russian Cat matched our every course change, just like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse. The Captain, even gave the order to “STOP ALL ENGINES,” and the Daly and Smalley lost headway and just drifted on a calm sea for about 45 minutes and our adversary did likewise.

So we knew without a doubt, that the two American Destroyers were the reason for them being there and they did not bother to hide that fact. We had dared to intrude into what they felt was their domain, to venture where no other American Naval ships had gone. Not since the start of the COLD WAR, after the end of WWII in 1945. The Soviet Union wanted to make their presence felt and it was clear that we were not welcomed there.

All hands onboard both Tin Cans were in a high state of alert and excitement ran high, as the two adversaries watched each other, much as two boxers study each other in the ring, trying to size each other up.

During the following night, the Soviet Cruiser disappeared, only to be replaced by a Russian Attack Submarine, which followed us (submerged, at periscope depth). Our ships “LOOK OUTS “and Sonar crew kept tabs on his whereabouts, as his periscope wake was visible off our starboard quarter (off our right side and behind us).

It too vanished from view and sonar contact, as we steamed into the Gulf of Finland. Our journey through the Baltic Sea had been a tense one and all hands breathe a sigh of relief as we saw our destination appear on the horizon in the distance. “THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.”

Go back to to Chapter 11: LIBERTY CALL, LONDON, ENGLAND JULY 1955

Continue to Chapter 13: "THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN," THE MOST NORTHERN PORT OF CALL