Replies

I have already posted this, but it has been pushed to the bottom of the pile.

When I was in AF intelligence I heard a story. I don’t know if it is true or not, but given the circumstances and the people involved, it could have happened.

In the late 60’s and early 70’s, the Soviets had a bunch of tramp ships that went all over the world with miscellaneous cargo. (Did they have a spy function? I don’t know, I leave that thaught up to you, gentle reader.)

Anyway, they had some problems around the Philippines, where pirates would come out, wave guns around, climb on the ships and steal anything of value they could get into their small boats.

Seems that one time a band of these thieves tried it. They were allowed to climb on board and met with a group of Soviet Naval Special Forces. The pirate boats were sunk with heavy machine-gun fire. The few people on the boats went down with the ships.

The Soviets then lined the pirates up against the railing and proceeded to shoot every two men and threw their bodies overboard. The remaining were told that this would happen again any time a Soviet ship was attacked. They were then tossed overboard and told to swim home and tell their buddies what had happened.

Oh, did I mention that this took place 20 miles or so off the coast? In waters that had sharks?

As I said, this could be an urban legend, but I understand the Soviets never had a pirate problem in that general area again.

‘Nuff said.

Sounds like a believable story to me. The Soviets didnt mess around. I like the story where they has a diplomant kidnapped in Lebonon back in the 80's. He was released after the kidnapper ringleader received his son's ear in the mail with a note to release our diplomat or else...

Could be urban legend, but it sounds like what they did in Lebanon when some of their diplomatic personnel were kidnapped. They grabbed the suspected kidnappers' families and left "souvenirs" in various places until their people were returned unharmed.

This is the sorta thing the enemy understands. Always thought we were fighting this war the wrong way. 'Course I'm probably wrong since we're getting pretty remarkable results...