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The KAL 007 related Soviet/ U.S naval confrontation (view source)
Revision as of 00:44, March 26, 2010
, 00:44, March 26, 2010no edit summary
the U.S. to use force against the Soviets if they did, indeed, attempt salvage operations outside
the U.S. to use force against the Soviets if they did, indeed, attempt salvage operations outside
their own territorial waters—off Sakhalin and around tiny Moneron Island.
their own territorial waters—off Sakhalin and around tiny Moneron Island.
Admiral Piotti thought hard about this matter. Vladimir Pavlov, Soviet Ambassador to
Japan, had come across with the Soviet coordinates for the probable crash site. Task Force 71
Japan, had come across with the Soviet coordinates for the probable crash site. Task Force 71
was now conducting its search within those coordinates—an area comprising 225 square miles
was now conducting its search within those coordinates—an area comprising 225 square miles
concentrating most of their search within their own territorial waters?
concentrating most of their search within their own territorial waters?
There, beyond Commander Piotti’s vision, but in the direction of Moneron, was the main Soviet
There, beyond Admiral Piotti’s vision, but in the direction of Moneron, was the main Soviet
salvage ship, the Mikhail Mirchink. Designated an S.P.D., Self Propelled Drill ship, the Mirchink
salvage ship, the Mikhail Mirchink. Designated an S.P.D., Self Propelled Drill ship, the Mirchink
was a Swedish built vessel having the great advantage of being able, thanks to its gyros, to
was a Swedish built vessel having the great advantage of being able, thanks to its gyros, to
[[File:Ship 1.jpg|The Mikhail Merchink|left|thumb|250px]]
[[File:Ship 1.jpg|The Mikhail Merchink|left|thumb|250px]]
Admiral Piotti knew that the Mirchink was positioned within Soviet waters about eleven
nautical miles north of Moneron and that nineteen underwater operations had been performed
nautical miles north of Moneron and that nineteen underwater operations had been performed
from her decks. He did not know that the divers working off the Mirchink had been flown,
from her decks. He did not know that the divers working off the Mirchink had been flown,
vessels.
vessels.
Admiral Piotti’s assessment of the enormity of this naval undertaking: “Not since the search
for the hydrogen bomb lost off Palmares, Spain has the U.S. Navy undertaken a search effort of
for the hydrogen bomb lost off Palmares, Spain has the U.S. Navy undertaken a search effort of
the magnitude or import of the search for the wreckage of KAL Flight 007.”
the magnitude or import of the search for the wreckage of KAL Flight 007.”
Admiral Piotti would describe the provocative, obstructive and dangerous activities of the
Soviets as follows:
Soviets as follows:
[[File:After Action Report Map.jpg|Search Area|left|thumb|250px]]
[[File:After Action Report Map.jpg|Search Area|left|thumb|250px]]
But, had the commander been able to see deeply through the dark, past the twelve-mile limit of
But, had the Admiral been able to see deeply through the dark, past the twelve-mile limit of
territorial waters claimed by the Soviets, past the Mirchink conducting its phoney salvage
territorial waters claimed by the Soviets, past the Mirchink conducting its phoney salvage
posturing, and to a point not far from the shores of tiny Moneron Island and then down
posturing, and to a point not far from the shores of tiny Moneron Island and then down