50 Years Ago Today – As Cuban Situation Heats Up, Mullinnix at Punta Arenas, Chile
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
4 October: The SGA meets to discuss the progress of Operation Mongoose. Robert Kennedy states that the president is “concerned about progress on the Mongoose program” and believes that “more priority should be given to trying to mount sabotage operations.” The attorney general also expresses the president’s “concern over the developing situation,” and urges that “massive activity” be undertaken within the Mongoose framework. The group agrees that plans for the mining of Cuban harbors and for capturing Cuban forces for interrogation should be considered.
5 October: Another U2 mission over Cuba reveals the nature and pace of the Soviet military buildup. Following the mission, a policy-level decision limits future US missions because of the administration’s concerns that a SA-2 might shoot down a U2, thereby escalating the crisis.
Dr. No, the first James Bond film, premiers in United Kingdom cinemas. The Beatles released their first single, ‘Love Me Do’.
6 October: CINCLANT directs increased readiness to execute an invasion of Cuba. On 1 October, CINCLANT had ordered military units to increase their readiness posture to execute Oplan 312, the airstrike on Cuba. With the new orders, the prepositioning of troops, aircraft, ships, and other equipment and supplies are directed to increase readiness to follow an airstrike with a full invasion of the island using one of two US invasion plans known as Oplan 314 and Oplan 316.
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At 0801 on 6 October, the ship fired a 21 gun salute followed by a 13 gun salute while standing out in the harbor at Punta Arenas, Chile. After putting the Admirals barge in the water, the ship moored port side of Chilean tanker Montt AO-52 to take on fuel. The Admiral left the ship to call officially on RADM Balaresque, CINC Operations Forces, Chilean Navy and RADM Solar, Commandant Third Naval Zone, Chilean Navy and Intendente of Punta Arenas.
Finished refueling, she moored portside to the pier in Punta Arenas. At 1100 Commander Chilean Fifth Army Division came on board to officially call on COMSOLANT.
From Punta Arenas the combined U.S.-Chilean task force headed north through the Inland Passage and along the Pacific coast toward Talcahuano and Valparaiso. The Chilean Units which joined the force in Punta Arenas included the recently acquired British-built destroyers Williams and Riveros, and the French-built oiler Almirante Montt. Riveros had arrived in Chile from England only a month before the start of Unitas.
On the Pacific side, Mullinnix was making 20 knots through a shining srface which gave seafaring its traditional aspect of a perfect existence. The sea was a mirror. It was brighter than the sky. There was nothing to reflect. The lone exception was dolphins frolicking in the ship’s bow wave.
To be continued... Woody
4 October: The SGA meets to discuss the progress of Operation Mongoose. Robert Kennedy states that the president is “concerned about progress on the Mongoose program” and believes that “more priority should be given to trying to mount sabotage operations.” The attorney general also expresses the president’s “concern over the developing situation,” and urges that “massive activity” be undertaken within the Mongoose framework. The group agrees that plans for the mining of Cuban harbors and for capturing Cuban forces for interrogation should be considered.
5 October: Another U2 mission over Cuba reveals the nature and pace of the Soviet military buildup. Following the mission, a policy-level decision limits future US missions because of the administration’s concerns that a SA-2 might shoot down a U2, thereby escalating the crisis.
Dr. No, the first James Bond film, premiers in United Kingdom cinemas. The Beatles released their first single, ‘Love Me Do’.
6 October: CINCLANT directs increased readiness to execute an invasion of Cuba. On 1 October, CINCLANT had ordered military units to increase their readiness posture to execute Oplan 312, the airstrike on Cuba. With the new orders, the prepositioning of troops, aircraft, ships, and other equipment and supplies are directed to increase readiness to follow an airstrike with a full invasion of the island using one of two US invasion plans known as Oplan 314 and Oplan 316.
---
At 0801 on 6 October, the ship fired a 21 gun salute followed by a 13 gun salute while standing out in the harbor at Punta Arenas, Chile. After putting the Admirals barge in the water, the ship moored port side of Chilean tanker Montt AO-52 to take on fuel. The Admiral left the ship to call officially on RADM Balaresque, CINC Operations Forces, Chilean Navy and RADM Solar, Commandant Third Naval Zone, Chilean Navy and Intendente of Punta Arenas.
Finished refueling, she moored portside to the pier in Punta Arenas. At 1100 Commander Chilean Fifth Army Division came on board to officially call on COMSOLANT.
From Punta Arenas the combined U.S.-Chilean task force headed north through the Inland Passage and along the Pacific coast toward Talcahuano and Valparaiso. The Chilean Units which joined the force in Punta Arenas included the recently acquired British-built destroyers Williams and Riveros, and the French-built oiler Almirante Montt. Riveros had arrived in Chile from England only a month before the start of Unitas.
On the Pacific side, Mullinnix was making 20 knots through a shining srface which gave seafaring its traditional aspect of a perfect existence. The sea was a mirror. It was brighter than the sky. There was nothing to reflect. The lone exception was dolphins frolicking in the ship’s bow wave.
To be continued... Woody
posted by Woody at 10:51
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