United States Coast Guard Cutter Evergreen, Florida Straits
On patrol in the Florida Straits, Captain Bruce Rogers stared out the bridge window of the new, 211-foot, Cutter Evergreen as she motored slowly, rolling gently in the indigo Gulf Stream. Except for frequent flying fish reflected in the morning sun the sea was empty. Occasionally he would glance up at the electronic repeater over his head to check the ship’s course and speed. The usual complement of four sailors stood watch on the bridge: the officer of the deck ―OOD―, the helmsman, the quartermaster and the radar officer.
The Captain thought it was nearly time to go below to the wardroom for lunch when the communications officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Joan Coppola, came on the bridge and handed the Captain a message. “What’s this?” asked the Captain.
“Captain, Fat Albert reports a small sailboat twelve miles north of Havana; position 24-degrees 15.1 minutes north, 83-degrees 10.5 minutes west. The sailboat seems to be making about eight knots on a course for the Keys. I also have a printout of the VHF radio traffic between the sailboat and Marina Hemingway. Our video link with Fat Albert shows the sailboat ten miles north of Havana and a Cuban Defense Force patrol boat leaving the Cuban Navy base,” Coppola reported.
Captain Rogers turned to the radar officer, “Do we have them on radar?”
“Yes, Sir. The sailboat is six miles ahead on a bearing of 120 degrees. The Cuban patrol boat appears to be on a course to intercept them.”
“Is the sailboat still in Cuban waters?” asked the Captain.
“Yes, Sir. It should be in International Waters before the patrol boat reaches them if it continues its present course and speed,” said the radar officer.
“It looks to me as though the Cuban Patrol Boat is trying to reach the sailboat before it leaves Cuban waters,” said Captain Rogers.
“I agree, Sir. The Cubans have been calling the sailboat on VHF and asking them to heave to,” the communications officer reported.
“Do we know anything about the sailboat?” the Captain asked.
“Sir, from what we have received from Fat Albert we believe it is the 34 foot, American- flagged boat, Siren Song, owned by Robert Quimby who is legally in Cuba as a journalist. An encrypted message from the State Department’s man in Havana says it’s possible a Cuban national may also be onboard.”
“Very well. It looks like they’re in trouble. Lieutenant Coppola, try raising the sailboat on VHF. Don‘t ask for details about a second person. Just assume he’s single-handed. If there is a Cuban national aboard, we don’t want to alert the Cubans.”
“Aye, aye, Sir!”
Captain Rogers quickly turned to the OOD and ordered, “All ahead full on a course to intercept the sailboat and sound general quarters. I know the forward 5 inch gun is radar controlled, but I want it manned and ready with the gun crew visible from the Cuban Patrol Boat.”
“Aye, aye, Sir!” the OOD said with relish as he called for all-ahead full and sounded general quarters throughout the ship. The red stripe on the bow lifted out of the water as the white cutter surged ahead and sailors stomped to their battle stations. All sailors loved action, particularly when they knew they totally out-gunned the enemy.
“Sir, we have them on VHF radio. It’s the sailing vessel Siren Song with Robert Quimby as Captain. I didn’t inquire about the number in his crew. Everything checks out. Apparently, he does have a journalist license from Treasury to be in Cuba,” reported the communications officer.
Captain Rogers exclaimed, “I can see the Cuban Patrol Boat. The Cubans have stopped near the sailboat and have put an inflatable in the water. It looks like they are preparing to board.”
Cuban Defense Force Patrol Boat #366
“Velero Americano, velero Americano,” Gomez called on VHF Channel 16. In English he ordered, “This is the Cuban Defense Force, lower your sails and heave-to immediately. We are coming aboard.” He called down to the gunners mate on the foredeck, “when they are within range fire a burst across their bow.”
Closing in, with only one hundred meters separating the boats, the Cuban gunner smiled. He held his fire until he could shoot as close to the sailboat’s bow as possible. They’ll shit their pants!
“Captain, we just crossed into International Waters,” the radar officer said glancing up from the radar screen.
Gomez grunted and called down from the bridge to the gunner on the patrol boat foredeck. “You have your orders. Fire close across his bow.”
Coast Guard Cutter Evergreen
“Captain, the Cubans fired a machine gun burst across the bow of the sailboat. I can see the splashes in the water. It looks like a 50 caliber machine gun. Someone on the sailboat is going forward to lower sails,” The OOD observed lowering his binoculars.
The Captain nodded and turned to the helmsman. “When we get close enough, maneuver the ship between the patrol boat and the sailboat.”
“Aye, aye, Sir,” said the helmsman as he looked over the bow of the Cutter to a space two miles ahead between the Cuban and American boats.
Captain Rogers pushed a button on the microphone hung around his neck and spoke with the forward gun crew. “Slowly rotate and aim the 5 inch gun at the Cubans so they can look right down the barrel, don’t fire unless I give the order. We can’t afford a war with Cuba just now.”
The radar officer looked up from the radarscope. “Captain, the sailboat is easily two miles within International Waters; fourteen miles from the Cuban coast.”
“Very well,” Captain Rogers replied as he turned to the Spanish speaking OOD. “Call the Cubans on Channel 16 and tell them not to board, that the sailboat is 14 miles off-shore; 2 miles into International Waters and under our protection. Make the call in both English and Spanish. They probably won’t answer but I want the record to show we called them. When we get close enough, call the Cuban boat in Spanish on the loudhailer and tell them they are in International Waters and not to harass the American boat.”
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