"The Pueblo Scapegoat" Topic
8 Posts
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Tango01 | 16 Nov 2014 10:17 p.m. PST |
"When Commander Lloyd M. "Pete" Bucher surrendered his ship, the USS Pueblo (AGER-2), to North Korean gunboats in 1968, he became one of the most notorious figures in U.S. Navy history. Bucher gave up his vessel without firing a shot, the first U.S. sea commander to do so since 1807. Many in the Navy's upper echelons regarded him as a coward and a disgrace, shaking their heads in disbelief that he hadn't done more to resist his attackers. "I would have shot the hell out of [the North Koreans]," declared retired Vice Admiral William Raborn, echoing the attitude of many old-line officers. "I would have made [them] pay a high price." A Navy court of inquiry urged that Bucher be court-martialed, faulting him with almost palpable disdain in its report because "he just didn't try." 1 But did Bucher, a tough, experienced ex-submarine officer, really do the wrong thing? An ‘Unlikely' Attack At the time of her seizure, the Pueblo , an electronic surveillance ship, was trying to pinpoint the location of military radar and radio stations along North Korea's rugged east coast. The 176-foot vessel was alone, with no U.S. combat jets or ships to protect her. To defend herself, she had only two jam-prone .50-caliber machine guns. She was crewed by 81 officers and enlisted men plus two civilian oceanographers whose presence was intended to reinforce the ship's cover story that she was engaged in peaceful scientific research. 2 Though packed with advanced eavesdropping gear, code machines, and classified documents, the Pueblo lacked a rapid-destruction system. Instead, her sailors had only fire axes, sledgehammers, two slow paper shredders, and a small incinerator to use in an emergency. As the Pueblo snooped in international waters near the port of Wonsan on 23 January 1968, North Korean combat vessels rushed to the scene. Soon Bucher faced two Soviet-built SO-1–class submarine chasers, armed with 57-mm cannon, and four torpedo boats mounted with machine guns and loaded torpedo tubes. Two MiG fighters zoomed overhead…" Full article here link Amicalement Armand |
Mako11 | 16 Nov 2014 11:07 p.m. PST |
Seems to me he was left out to dry. I believe it is a museum now, if I recall correctly. I'd volunteer for a UDT/SEAL team to go in and scuttle their trophy, if someone would permit that, and if it is still in a river, or harbor. That would really frost the commies. Surprised it hasn't been done already. |
Legion 4 | 17 Nov 2014 7:59 a.m. PST |
Yeah, the Norks still have on display all the guidons, etc. they captured from the US/UN forces during the war too … Maybe we shuold just scuttle the whole country. And you wouldn't need SEALs to sink the Pueblo. A Cruise missile would work fine. Then the Norks would declare war. Attack South, and then there would be no choice other then the US, turns the North into a moonscape …
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HistoryPhD | 17 Nov 2014 12:17 p.m. PST |
Pretty questionable whether the Chinese would save them like they did the last time |
Legion 4 | 17 Nov 2014 3:31 p.m. PST |
It's pretty much a given that won't happen … The Chinamen need US $$$ … not Nork … |
capncarp | 17 Nov 2014 4:16 p.m. PST |
I'm surprised there weren't any scuttling charges or similar devices that would have cut short the Democratic Republic of Korea's fun. |
Legion 4 | 18 Nov 2014 10:27 a.m. PST |
There may have been, but maybe the crew didn't get to them in time … Or really didn't want to die that way … As POWs, they had a chance to survive … |
cwlinsj | 24 Nov 2014 4:08 p.m. PST |
Rather than rattling sabers, let's look at the situation in Korea historically, especially from the eyes of China. Yes, China would very likely intervene, if North Korea looks like it will be over whelmed by combined ROK & US forces (whether or not they fly the flag of the UN). Over the course of 2 thousand years, China has ALWAYS intervened in Korea. China has always committed troops to defend Korea, no matter how costly the sacrifice. It's not that China cares at all for the PRK, or the newest obese leader there, however, China does not want, nor will it allow the presence of US forces next to its own border. They won't help with any invasion of the ROK, but they will put troops into the north to prevent any other country from placing troops next door. There is a new generation of military in China, ones who believe that they can win a conflict with the USA. (I'm not saying this belief is correct.) Comparatively, they also control more technology and manufacturing capabilities than the USA did in WWII. Any Chinese troops encountered the next time wont be light infantry without logistical support, it will be modern armor, air and precision artillery. Look a it another way: would the USA ever allow Iran or Russia to place troops in Mexico? |
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