Military Journal 2016 Issue 01

1 februari 2016 MILITARY FREE ISSUE NR 01 Journal THEME STORY Volume IGeorge EdwardJones: LIFE IN THE 2016RAF SPECIALTY OF THIS MAGAZINE The Cold War Era!MurmanskConvoysINDEPENDENT DIGITAL MAGAZINE OF HISTORICAL & MODERN MILITARY ISSUESPublisher: Magazine ‘T Arsenaal Netherlands BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION

Editor In Chief-Hoofdredacteur Rob Vaneker Associate Editor Robert Wilbrink & Giesbert Oskam Contributing writers Rob Vaneker, Dik Winkelman (Koerier) Jan Grefhorst Associate writers Hans Hollestelle Jim Gaines-Gerrit Jacobs-Jim.E Malbourough-Giesbert Oskam-Maarten Muns-Lorraine Mc Williams Advertisements and Projects Robert Wilbrink Graphic artist Rob Vaneker Circuliation officer Robert Wilbrink Recommended E magazine’s www.loopgraafkoerier.webs.com http://www.army.mod.uk/soldier-magazine/soldier- magazine.aspx2 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

From theEditor Introducing Military Leopard 2A4 tank during exercises Journal email attachments  to our Editorial staff: [email protected] February 2016 marks the launch of our latest venture as E-publishers: Military Journal—a first-of-its-kind bimonthly tablet-PC Edition, arising from our former English pages. Featuring original stories by Journal best writers, it’s free to digital subscribers This months issue features among other things,a gripping tale by WW 2 RAF veteran George Edward Jones. The bimonthly will be a mix of all the things we do in all of various forms of related stories. We’ll tap our best contributors to our Military Journal. Magazine's writers and editors will opine on and celebrate the things we get enthusiastic about.There'll be some serious stuff. And we'll toss a piece of ambitious writing into the mix each issue. Military Journal is a little gift. To you, yes our readers on the iPad/PC. But to ourselves, too. Every time we expand Journal’s purview, each time we find a new way to broaden the topics we cover and morph the ways in which we cover them, it offers us new creative opportunities that always, sooner or later, surprise us by blossoming into something we really like, something really good..This is exciting, isn't it? INVITATION TO WRITERS We also invite all kind of writers to make contributes to our new magazine. Military Journal features articles and columns written by authority in a compelling, accessible style,richly illustrated with Photographs and documents and with information about additional resources- books,recordings and research.We are especially interested in related subjects and writers that fall within Military Journal above-stated purview. Currently, we would like to hear from writers who are knowledgeable about the Cold War Era and First- Second world war. Please send all your documents in MS Word or Apple pages format as3 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

4 • Magazine Military Journal 2016 From the Editor04 Special theme story: George Edward Jones: LIFE IN THE05 RAF: Part four. Author Lorraine Mc09 Williams12 The Murmansk Convoy: Author Jim-14 E.Malbourough1719 Photo Gallery GPS Devices Taken from Captured US Naval Boats Working,:Authors Robert Wilbrink-Rob Vaneker Adver tisments Resources

SPECIAL THEMEGeorge EdwardJones: LIFE IN THERAF: Part fourOctober 1942 out of the hull. Not a nice experience came in at the same time so we six but we eventually made it. The correct Sergeants were taken to spend the night atThe flight to Montreal was very procedure which I was taught later is R.A.F. Station, Prestwick which was theinteresting…up the east coast about 5.5 to ease the control forward very slowly main base for the B.O.A.C. Liberators thathours. The actual starting place was until the hull is riding up on the 'step' were the passenger aircraft across theElizabeth City which was the flying base which is about half the normal depth in Atlantic.next to Norfolk. We had a week in the water. The controls are central andMontreal before leaving on October 9th you can leave the water quite normally After a lazy day we were taken to Glasgowfor Lake Gander in Newfoundland. at the correct speed of 66 knots. for the night train to London (and we had reserved sleepers). At Euston Station inThis was a 1000 mile trip so we were Anyway we landed at Lake Gander just London we were met by a Flight Lieutenantloaded up with fuel and spare parts and near the big airport and next evening who took us by bus to Victoria Railwaythe undercarriage wheels for beaching. I we were airborne for Greenock on the Station where a Squadron Leader tookregret to say that Capt. Parkinson had no Clyde near Glasgow. A nice quiet, flight over and gave us a meal in the Union Jackidea how to get a fully loaded Catalina into apart from a very hairy take-off at Club. On to a reserved compartment onthe air. I didn't know at that stage either - Gander, as we had an even bigger load the train for Bournemouth and as we werebut he certainly scared the hell out of me. of fuel on (maximum 1450 Gallons). sitting there along came a Group CaptainWhen you open up to full power the nose Thirteen hours and twenty minutes who said that he had been sent down byof the aircraft rears up in front of you and later we moored up at R.A.F. Station, the Air Ministry to welcome us home.what you must not do is to push hard Greenock. I had been away from theforward on the controls to get it down. The UK for just under 15 months. We werenose will go down but comes right back up given a large whisky each on comingagain and if you continue to chase this ashore then the customs had a go atmovement the aircraft will finish up doing us. I had sixteen pairs of nylonenormous porpoises across the water until stockings in my flying suit for my sisterit either gets airborne or bashes the rivets but they didn't see them. Three aircraft5 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

HAROGATE AND INVERGORDON training. I started my instruction with Flight Lt. Ryan and P/O Des Mock as the other student. We did an intensive course It must be understood that to fly the Atlantic in those of all types of flying, night, instrument, air firing, bombingdays was still quite a feat. So when we arrived in and stall landings.Bournemouth it should have been at least an Air ViceMarshall to meet us but everything returned to normal, it Stalling in the air for the first time was an experience. Atwas just a Flight Sergeant. about 4,000 to 5,000 ft shut off all power and hold the nose steady as the speed drops to maintain height the nose is The only memory I have of my stay in Bournemouth was pulled back to quite a steep angle and the aircraft tries tothat my wallet was stolen by another airman while playing shake itself to bits also a horn blows if the floats are up. Atsnooker in the local Y.M.C.A. About £3 only was lost but I the point of stall about 70mph the nose drops completelyhad £10 in a money belt which I was wearing. On the 2nd and you follow with the controls and pick up speed.November 1942 I was posted to the GroundReconnaissance School at Harrogate.Of course the first 6TH INSTALMENT BEGINS HEREthing that happened when we arrived in Bournemouth was SHETLAND ISLANDSwe were sent on leave for fourteen days. Great for goingaround showing off my 'Wings'. 23 March 1943. Posted to 190 Squadron at Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands, going by ship overnight from Harrogate was a very pleasant place ... billeted in a Aberdeen, and then 30 miles on very poor road by trucklarge hotel doing lots of navigation, morse code and various transport to the actual camp. The squadron had about 12 tolectures. During this period I was called to the records office 15 Catalinas of the Mark II variety equipped with early typewhen I was informed that my Commission had come radar, one .30 machine gun in the front turret and two .5through and I was now a Pilot Officer. Evidently I handed in machine guns aft in the blisters. In bomb racks under themy papers from Pensacola which contained the Report that wings 6 x 250lb Torpex' depth charges set to explode at arecommended me for a Commission. I should have gone depth of 50ft.ahead and got my uniform but someone had neglected totell me. So my Commission was backdated to the date I left Went on leave with all the crew flying down to GreenockPensacola which was 3 May 1942 so now my six months where another crew would take the aircraft back to Sullomprobation period had expired which now made my rank Voe as we picked up another after two weeks leave. ThisFlying Officer. (R.A.F. VR No: 134502) saved a great deal of time as the boat trip to Aberdeen was 12 hours which would have come out of our leave time. I moved from the hotel to the Officers Mess and orderedmy uniform from Hector Power the famous Military Tailors. As all the crew had no operational experience it wasThe allowance in cash was £56 and that covered two necessary for us to be Captained by a senior pilot for theuniforms, greatcoat, raincoat, shirts, two hats and gloves. first two months of squadron patrols. Local flying alsoNew battledress was supplied free as this was classed flying involved practicing bombing with a 'periscope', which was aor working dress. I was the given six months pay as a pilot special target towed by a power boat. Two smoke bombsofficer, banked in Lloyds Bank at the Cox and Kings Branch were dropped from a special fitting being the first and thein London. The powers that be forgot to deduct my pay last of the six depth charges. At the same time a photographwhich I had received for six months as a Sergeant Pilot and was taken so the accuracy of my bombing which was allof course I did not mention this fact to anyone. I worked done by eye at 50ft could be assessed.hard at the GR Course which was very interesting andreceived 87.1 % for the whole and 'above average' for the April-June 1943: The crew were as follows: myself asassessment. 14 December 1942: I was posted to Captain, Dick Shaw as navigator, Sgt Jack Noble as 2ndInvergordon in Scotland for squadron training on Catalinas. pilot with Keith Fraser and Nic Ball as engineers, LeThe station was called No.4(C) O.T.U. (Coastal Operational Cheminant, Eric Coulson-Smith and Paddy OToole as radioTraining Unit) operators and Len Conway as rigger. The last named six were also trained air gunners. Here we were to be 2nd pilots on crews forming forsquadron operations but it was found that we had more'flying' time on 'Cats' so we were made Captains under6 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

“The First Operational Tour would call us for messages regarding diversion to another base if the weather was bad at Sullom Voe. There was strict Was on 20 April 1943 with Squadron Leader D King (nice radio silence on our part unless of course we spotted a subchap) as Captain. It lasted for 16 hours and was on anti or else we were in trouble of any sort. We could call for asubmarine patrol in the area between Iceland and the Faroe radio navigation fix on the way home out of the patrol area.Islands. The rest of the crew had gone out to the aircraft and The routine for a patrol was as follows: if at night a checked the fuel, guns and communication and also broughtservice policeman (S.P.) would wake you in the hut and it was along the food for the next eighteen hours which was thenecessary to sign his book to prove that he had called. normal length of the patrol. The aircraft was secured to aDressed in long underpants, sea boot stocking and pullover buoy in the mooring area (called the 'trots') by a steel anchorwith an ermine fur lined leather jacket and Mae West the life cable attached to the mooring line of the buoy. Another ropejacket. There was a good meal provided in the mess with about an inch thick was attached to the wire of the buoyfresh milk. Then the Captain, navigator and senior radio cage on to a metal post on the aircraft, this 'snubbing post’operator reported to the Operations Room about an was retracted when not in use. The aircraft was detachedhourbefore takeoff. Details were given to us of the trip usually from the buoy, stowing the anchor cable in the anchor basean A.S. Patrol (anti sub) or a convoy escort (Russian Convoys on the side of the nose (port side).to Murmansk). The Radio Operator received details of thefrequencies, our call sign and when group headquarters MURMANSK ROUTE7 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

Catalina of 85,000 GBP Another rope about an inch thick held by the large piece of concrete The Mark II 'Cats' had early radar withwas attached to the wire of the buoy being the buoy anchor. forward aerials and beam aerials so it wascage on to a metal post on the aircraft, necessary to switch from one to the other. Itthis 'snubbing post’ was retracted when At the moment before our line of would pick up on the beacon at Sullom Voenot in use. The aircraft was detached route out of the mooring area came at about 95 miles away when working well.from the buoy, stowing the anchor cable round I would wave both hands to the We also had a box about 9\" x 6\" which wasin the anchor base on the side of the man out front and he would unwind the I.F.F. identification friend or foe and thisnose (port side). The long rope was rope from the metal post and be free to gadget gave a special pulse on our radarbrought into the aircraft through the open move out. It was necessary to have a stations to show it was a friendly aircraft. Tofront turret and a short 'slip' was looped good man then for if he delayed you the best of my knowledge the Germans neveron the metal post through the wire cage could find yourself going in the wrong got this transmitter for there was a built inand then wound around the metal post. direction. The post would then be thermal bomb which was triggered when anWe were held like this by one of the crew pushed into its retract position and the aircraft crashed melting all the contents.as the engines were started. crew man would climb back inside and secure the front hatch ready for takeoff. To be continued in next issue Nr 2 On the way to the aircraft by motor When out in the take-off area the April 2016dingy (boat) I would plan my route out of engines were tested and propellerthe mooring area bearing in mind the controls then away we would go ....strength and direction of the wind. take-off speed of about 80mph.Sometimes it was better to climb on tothe wing and judge it from there. A flying If the conditions were such that theboat always turns and faces directly into sea was a dead flat calm the Catalinathe wind so the only way to go in a would not get airborne with a full loaddirection out of wind was by using one of unless the wing tip floats werethe engines. There are no brakes on a retracted. Sometimes this had to beflying boat so you had to be very aware done. Maximum weight 36,000lbs: 1,450of what you were doing when taxiing in gallons.the mooring area with other expensiveaircraft about. (The purchase price of a As I explained earlier a fully loadedCatalina was around £85,000 ..... a lot of 'Cat' needs careful handling at take-offmoney in 1943). If the wind was above 20 and I soon got the hang of it. Another- 25 knots it was impossible to turn out problem with the aircraft at full load wasof the wind even using full power on one that the centre of gravity tended to goengine. Then you had a motor dingy tow back towards the tail so two or threeyou out to the flying area and then start members of the crew would sit in thethe engines. nose for the first hour or so until some fuel had been burnt up. Normal cruising Anyway normally the engines were speed was 97 knots indicated on thestarted one at a time using power from a airspeed indicator; this was 104 knotssmall generator driven by a four stroke correct for a position error of themotor mower type engine situated mid pitothead so about 119-120mph. Fuelship near the engines position. As the consumption could be reduced to aboutaircraft moved forward by the engines 28 gallons/hour for each engine.1200HP,idling at low revolutions it was held by a 14 cylinder radials ; 28 sparking plugscrew member and the short 'slip' (rope). each engine; two magnetos.This made the aircraft go round in circles8 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

The MurmanskConvoy:Canadians & Polishserved in many areasCanadians served in many areas Germans looked for better ways to that if the Soviet Union fell, Germanyaround the globe during the sink them. This \"Battle of the could then turn its full military might toSecond World War. One of the Atlantic\" was the longest battle of the the West.lesser-known places was on the Second World War, lasting from theMurmansk Run. This dangerous first day of the war in September The Soviets desperately neededconvoy route saw Canadian 1939 until the last day of the war in weapons, fuel and supplies, especiallyMerchant Navy and Royal Europe in May 1945. It was a after their country's most-industrializedCanadian Navy seamen sail into dangerous battleground and one of areas had been captured by thethe Arctic Ocean to deliver war the most perilous areas was the Germans. Getting these supplies tomaterials to the Soviet Union. Arctic supply route to the Soviet them, however, would not be easy. Land Union. transportation routes were cut off andThe Battle of the Atlantic the best sea routes were blocked by the The Sovjet Union enemy. Shipping supplies to the SovietThe war at sea was a critical aspect Union via the Indian or Pacific Oceansof the Second World War. With much Early in the Second World War, was a very long trip. That left the Sovietof Europe occupied by the Germans, Germany invaded and occupied seaports on the Arctic Ocean as themost of the equipment, fuel and food many of its neighbouring countries in fastest way to deliver goods—but it wasdesperately needed for the Allied mainland Europe. Germany and the also the most dangerous.war effort had to come from North Soviet Union had secretly signed aAmerica. This meant it had to be non-aggression pact agreeing thatshipped across the Atlantic Ocean. they would not attack each other, but Germany invaded the vast country inGermany understood the importance June 1941 and soon pushed deepof these supply lines and did its best into Soviet territory. With this turn ofto cut this flow of materials. In a events, the Soviets joined the Alliedgame of cat-and-mouse upon which powers and agreements were quicklythe outcome of the war depended, reached to send supplies in order tothe Allies looked for ways to protect assist them in their fight against thetheir merchant ships while the invaders. The western Allies knew9 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

Beginning in the late summer of 1941, a total of 41 Allied convoys sailed to the Soviet ports of Murmanskand Archangel during the war.The Murmansk Run Indeed, more than 20 percent of all away. Using onboard equipment and cargo on the Murmansk Run was lost even walking on deck in such conditionsThe Arctic convoys delivered millions and one convoy lost 24 of 33 ships at was a great challenge.of tons of supplies from the United a cost of 153 lives. It was soStates, Great Britain and Canada, dangerous that strict orders were Beginning in October 1943, Royalincluding aircraft, tanks, jeeps, given that no merchant ship was Canadian Navy destroyers and frigateslocomotives, flatcars, rifles and allowed to stop, even to rescue also became involved in the Murmanskmachine guns, ammunition, fuel and sailors who fell overboard. These Run as convoy escorts. They participatedeven boots. From the beginning, unfortunate men had to be left in about 75 percent of the subsequentCanadian merchant sailors served on behind. convoys until the end of the war a yearAllied ships making the runs. These and a half later. Remarkably, no Royalships departed North American ports Harsh weather and the Arctic ice Canadian Navy ships were lost.such as Halifax or New York and sailed pack took a toll as well. Many of theto the northern Soviet Union, usually runs took place in the winter to takevia Iceland or Great Britain. This route advantage of the almost constantbecame known as the Murmansk Run. darkness in the northern seas. TheThe Germans threw the full weight of temperatures were frigid, the windstheir air force and navy against the strong and the waves sometimes 25convoys as they neared the coast of metres high. Sea spray would oftenoccupied Norway. Attacks by more freeze immediately on the ships'than a dozen enemy submarines upper surfaces, creating a heavy(known as U-boats) and hundreds of coating of ice which could cause aplanes simultaneously were common. ship to capsize if not quickly chippedThis map shows the Arctic Ocean where the various convoys sailed during WW2. Just round from the northern tip of Norway it is possible to see the two Soviet ports, Archangel and Murmansk10 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

The danger of the Murmansk Run was great and many Allied seamen lost their lives in the effort tohelp supply the Soviet UnionThe Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance in the Peace ORP Garland in Arctic Convoy PQ16Tower on Parliament Hill records the names of theCanadians who died on the Murmansk Run, among the The story of convoy PQ16 to northern Russia has been themore than 1,600 Canadian Merchant Navy men and subject of numerous books, and this time it was the Polishwomen who lost their lives during the Second World War. destroyer Garland which won unstinted admiration from the Senior Service. On May 16th 1942 ORP Garland sailedThe Legacy from Greenock escorting a large transport vessel to Iceland. On board was a Polish war correspondent andIn the end, the courage of the Canadian and other Allied photographer. After refuelling Garland joined with convoysailors—along with advances in tactics and technology— escorts mustering at Seydisfjord. On May 21st, in nearhelped the Allies triumph in the battle at sea. But it would perpetual daylight, the escort vessels for convoy PQ16 leftbe far from easy. The sailors of the Canadian Merchant Iceland bound for Murmansk. This was to be the largestNavy and Royal Canadian Navy helped keep the convoys sailing to northern Russia at that time.running so the war could eventually be won. These bravemen and women were some of the more than one million During the 25th May 5 corvettes, 3 trawlers and 2Canadians who served in the cause of peace and submarines further reinforced the escort and met with thefreedom during the Second World War. 35 merchant vessels being protected. All this time German long range Focke-Wulf Condor aircraft shadowed theCanada’s role in the Second World War Allied ships. On the evening of the 25th the first three attacks by torpedo and dive-bombers took place. Early onCanada’s great efforts in the Second World War involved the morning of the 26th U-boat 703 penetrated the escortvirtually the whole country whether by serving in the screen and sank the first merchantman.military or by serving on the home front in industry oragriculture. More than one million Canadians and On the 27th, south of Bear Island, a mere 45 minutes flyingNewfoundlanders served in the military — more than time from German air bases in northern Norway, the45,000 gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded. weather improved, and 13 air attacks were launchedWhile the great powers made more significant against the convoy. Six merchantmen were sunk. ORPcontributions to the war effort; for a country of only 11 Garland drove off a German submarine, but was thenmillion people Canada's contribution was remarkable. At herself attacked by seven Ju 88s. Four very near misseswar's end, Canada had become a significant military caused six fires on board and the central fire control andpower with the world's third largest navy, the fourth gun turret number 2 were put out of action. Pawlowicz, thelargest air force and an army of six divisions. Canada had war correspondent, wrote:grown significantly through the ordeal of war andassumed new responsibilities as a leading member of the “ Then I heard a long, shrill and, and as it seemed to me,world community. everlasting whistle of falling bombs. Against the background of previous explosions I saw, as in aCanada Remembers Program nightmare, the dark spear-like shapes of four bombs. I instinctively huddled against the wall of the range-finder.The Canada Remembers Program of Veterans Affairs My eyes seemed filled with dust, my open mouth had anCanada encourages all Canadians to learn about the unpleasant metallic taste. A huge pall of smoke coveredsacrifices and achievements made by those who have the ship, the convoy and the whole world…. I heard theserved—and continue to serve—during times of war and moans of wounded men and I rank round the range-finderpeace. As well, it invites Canadians to become involved in to the battle deck. The officers and signallers, shocked byremembrance activities that will help preserve their the explosion, had momentarily been brought to alegacy for future generations. standstill. Blood was streaming from every face, not one of which had escaped some scratch or another from flying splinters of bombs and particles of broken glass”.11 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

! Victory cargo ships are lined up at a U.S. west coast shipyard for final outfitting before they are loaded with supplies for Navy depots and advance bases in the Pacific.\" Ca. 1944. 208-YE-2B-7. National Archives 12 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

!CONVOYPQ16To Murmansk, 25-28 MayJohn Czesław Forbes remembered his decks had to be hosed down to on the wardroom table. Garlandfather, Czesław Sopyła also recalling remove volumes of blood and pieces suffered 8 more attacks, and thethis attack on Garland during convoy of flesh. He was not comfortable remaining crew were only stood downPQ16 to Murmansk:“the crew had to relating this story”. at 23.00 hours, nine hours after theremove accumulating ice, using first attack that day. The surgeon fromhammer and chisels, from the top Garland was riddled stem to stern HMS Achates arrived to assist Zabrondecks; the build up of ice was so with splinter holes and the number and Garland was given permission togreat as to become a danger to one boiler room had been put out of proceed to Murmansk, which shemaking the vessel top heavy and action. There were 25 killed and 43 reached on the 29th. Lt Cdr Tadeusztherefore unstable. He told us about wounded, many seriously. It was later Kaminski lost a leg on a mission toone particularly horrific incident when thought that the first near miss had assist his enemy; he had only recentlyGarland was under attack from exploded upon contact with the sea been released from a Soviet Gulag.German fighter bombers. A bomb and had caused three other bombs toexploded on deck and one of the crew explode in the air just above themembers was thrown into the sky and destroyer. The ship’s surgeon, Lt Wcame back down inside the funnel Zabron, worked for over 30 hourswith no possible way of rescue. The operating non-stop on wounded men13 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

!GPS Devices Taken fromCaptured US Naval BoatsWorking, Iran SaysThe US Navy said that the 10 American There was also a \"mechanical issue\" aboard one of thesailors aboard two patrol craft seized at boats but \"it's not clear the crew was aware of their exactgunpoint by Iran last week had location\" when two small Iranian craft approached with\"deviated\" from their assigned route Iranian Revolutionary Guards aboard brandishing weapons,although Iran claimed that the sailors' U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement:GPS devices were in working order.Atimeline on the international incident Statements issued by Iran's legislature added to the mysterythat threatened to unravel the nuclear of how the sailors came to be stopped in the water threedeal with Iran and the swap of miles inside Iran's territorial waters off Farsi island in theprisoners left unclear how the patrol middle of the Persian Gulf. Defense Secretary Ashton Cartercraft became lost in the Persian Gulf on and other high-ranking officials said last week that aa routine daylight move between \"navigational error\" appeared to be the cause and suggestedKuwait and Bahrain. that an equipment malfunction may have sent the boats off course. However, a statement from Iran's parliament cited Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officials as saying that the U.S. sailors should have been aware of their location.\"The coordinates recorded on the GPS devices taken from the 10 U.S. marines (sic) confirmed their trespassing\" into waters off heavily-guarded Farsi island, the semi-official Fars news agency reported of the parlimentary statement. The statement from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said, \"A post-recovery inventory of the boats found that all weapons, ammunition and communication gear are accounted for minus two SIM cards that appear to have been removed from two hand-held satellite phones.Photos and video of the incident released by Iranian media had shown numerous automatic weapons and belts of ammunition being confiscated by the Iranians and lined up as a display on the deck of one of the captured boats.In giving the timeline, the command said it was only preliminary and a full account would come from an investigation that began on Jan. 14, the day after the two boats and the 10 sailors, including nine males and one female, were returned and were picked up by the U.S. guided-missile cruiser Anzio.14 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

! It was unclear whether the 10 sailors, \"The planned transit path communications with the RCBs,\" who were all reported in good health for the mission was down indicating they were in Iranian and undergoing debriefings, would the middle of the Gulf custody.The command said \"initial face any disciplinary action.The and not through the operational reports showed that while in timeline made no mention of the territorial waters of any transit from Kuwait to Bahrain the RCBs sailors being forced to kneel, hands country other than deviated from their planned course on clasped behind their heads, or the Kuwait and Bahrain,\" the their way to the refueling. The command apparent apology for the \"mistake\" in command said investigation will determine what caused straying into Iranian waters made by the change in course and why the RCBs one of the sailors and shown on A refueling rendezvous with the entered into Iranian territorial waters in Iranian media.The two 49-foot Coast Guard Cutter Monomoy was the vicinity of Farsi Island.\"Once contact Riverine Command Boats left Kuwait planned for 5 p.m. local time.Ten was lost, the Navy began a \"massive\" en route to the Navy's Fifth Fleet minutes after the scheduled refueling search and rescue operation. At the time headquarters in Bahrain, a trip of was supposed to have taken place, of the incident, two aircraft carrier strike about 290 miles, at 12:53 a.m. Iran the command \"received a report that groups were within 45 miles of three- time, the command said the RCBs were being queried by square mile Farsi island, which is about Iranians.\"At approximately 5:29 p.m., 135 miles from Bahrain.15 • Magazine Military Journal 2016 the command \"was advised of degraded communications with the RCBs.\" At 5:45 p.m., the command \"was notified of a total loss of

!Once contact was lost, the Navy began a \"massive\" search and rescue operation. At the time of theincident, two aircraft carrier strike groups were within 45 miles of three-square mile Farsi island,which is about 135 miles from Bahrain.The carrier USS Harry S. Truman was about 45 miles Republican presidential contenders lined up to criticizesoutheast of Farsi island and the French carrier Charles President Obama for the incident in the Gulf. The reactionDe Gaulle was about 40 miles north of Farsi, the of Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, wascommand said.Iran was notified of the search and rescue representative.operation, and then at 9:15 p.m., the cruiser Anzio\"received a communication from Iran saying that the RCB \"Any nation that captured our military officers, capturessailors were in Iranian custody and were 'safe and our soldiers, should face serious repercussions,\" Cruz saidhealthy,'\" the command said. on \"Fox News Sunday.\" \"The only reason they were seized is because of the weakness of Barack Obama.\"In aThe timeline also noted that \"at some point\" during the background briefing at the White House, seniortransit from Kuwait to Bahrain \"one RCB had indications administration officials rejected the Republican criticism.\"Ifof a mechanical issue in a diesel engine which caused the we did not have these diplomatic channels with thecrews to stop the RCBs and begin troubleshooting.\"\"This Iranians that have been established over the last two orstop occurred in Iranian territorial waters, although it's three years, it is very likely that our sailors who had gonenot clear the crew was aware of their exact location. into Iranian waters would still be detained there today,\" aWhile the RCBs were stopped and the crew was senior administration official said.attempting to evaluate the mechanical issue, Iranianboats approached the vessels. \"Initial operational reports \"If we did not have this diplomatic channel with Iran, weindicate there was a verbal exchange between the sailors certainly would not have our Americans coming home,\"and the Iranians but no exchange of gunfire,\" the the official said.command said. More Iranian boats arrived and \"Atgunpoint, the RCBs were escorted to a small port facilityon Farsi Island where the U.S. Sailorsdisembarked and were detained forapproximately 15 hours,\" it said.Rear Adm. Ali Fadavi, commander ofthe naval branch of the RevolutionaryGuards, was quoted as saying byofficial Iranian media,\"We haveconcluded that passage of Americansin our territorial waters was not ahostile passage or for espionage orsimilar acts. They were positioned inthat area due to the failure of theirnavigation systems and they were notaware of being close to FarsiIsland.\"The seizure of the two U.S.boats came hours before PresidentBarack Obama was to make his Stateof the Union address and set off aflurry of diplomatic activity bySecretary of State John Kerry to gain their release.The brief capture also came as the U.S. and allies wereabout to reach a milestone in the Joint ComprehensivePlan of Action in which Iran agreed to rein in its nuclearprograms in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. A sideagreement with the U.S. included an exchange ofprisoners.16 • Magazine Military Journal 2016

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19 1909. Kemp, Paul (1993). Convoy: Drama in 14. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Arctic waters. Arms and Armour. news/worldnews/middleeast/ ISBN 1-85409-130-1. iran/12096275/Iran-holds-two- Sebag-Montefiore, Hugh (2001). US-Navy-boats-in-Persian- Enigma: The Battle for the Code  . Gulf.html Phoenix. ISBN 0-7538-1130-8.Vail Motter, T.H. (1952). The Persian Corridor and Aid to http://www.navytimes.com/Russia. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. story/military/2016/01/12/pentagon-2-us-navy-boats- held-iran-but-returned/78698018/Woodman, Richard (2004). Arctic Convoys 1941-1945. JohnMurray. ISBN 0-7195-6617-7.https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/ https://theintercept.com/2016/01/15/the-u-s- radically-changes-its-story-of-the-boats-in-iranian-https://www.google.nl waters-to-an-even-more-suspicious-version/ http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/01/12/two-us- navy-boats-in-iranian-custody-pentagon/04. http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/ en/rheinmetall_defence/ public_relations/informationsmaterial_3/ pressebilder/index.php05. Private Archives and story notes by George Edward Jones.Author: Mrs.Lorraine Mc.Williams-Dublin