Russians Watch Poseidon Fired

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32367, 5 August 1970, Page 13

Russians Watch Poseidon Fired

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter —Copyright)

CAPE KENNEDY, August 4.

A Russian spy ship and an American destroyer escort manoeuvred close to each other today as the United States fired her first multi-warhead Poseidon missile from a submarine off Cape Kennedy.

The Poseidon is designed to hit 10 different cities with its 10 warheads. The escort vessel Calcaterra and the spy-trawler Laptev manoeuvred round each other as the Russians tried to obtain a clear view of the launching and the Americans tried to block it

The spy trawler appeared over the horizon about 90 minutes before the submarine U.S.S. James Madison launched the Poseidon, and the Calcaterra moved to within 200 yards of the trawler to intercept The crew of the Calcaterra, in full dress, lined the forward deck to help to block the Russians’ view.

Then, in front of a naval vessel, aboard which were many journalists, the two vessels played cat-and-mouse while the count-down continued.

At one time the Laptev appeared to be on a collision course with the Calcaterra, but swerved and took up a new position. To distract the Russians, a United States Air Force helicopter swooped low again and again over the twin masts of the Laptev. The two vessels sent Aldislamp messages to each other, but what was said has not been disclosed. When the new missile burst from the submarine the spy ship was about 3000 yards north, and the destroyer escort about 2000 yards west of the launch site.

The Russian ship raced to the launching site afterwards

in an attempt to pick up pieces of plastic from the protective membrane that surrounded the missile in its launch tube, but American sailors in lifeboats beat them to the spot. The Laptev crew then gave the “thumbs up” signal to the American ship, and sailed from the area.