1969. Hijacking missile ships from Cherbourg Bashny.Net

In 1969, 45 years ago, the French imposed sanctions against the Jewish state on the supply of arms. And Israeli commandos under cover of night stole five built and paid for rocket ships from the shipyard in Cherbourg.

Special operation maritime sabotage unit hijacking five warships from France joined the Israeli military manuals, brief mention of it in history books Russian special services, but our general reader it is almost unknown because of the scarcity of publications on this topic. Meanwhile, then, 45 years ago, was created by an unusual precedent

A couple of years ago at the International Film Festival "The sea is calling!" This writer asked about the historic, unique hijacking Rear Admiral, former commander of one of the first nuclear submarines of France Jean-Marie Mate, as they say, it was something, maybe some personal memories there (at the time he was a lieutenant of the fleet)? But he only laughed in response, saying that whether past stir ...

True, some picturesque details of the incident was able to lead a Russian journalist, naval historian, an expert on international law of the sea captain I rank Sergei April. The Ministry of Defence of France after this theft several generals and admirals have lost their jobs, and the protection of military shipyards and naval bases in the country was raised on a hitherto unattainable heights.

So, how it was. Israel, which has sea borders and coastline of 273 kilometers, in the 60s repeatedly subjected to raids from the sea. And the country ordered to Cherbourg shipyard Construction Mecaniques de Normandie series of French artillery and missile boats. At that moment, by the way, France generally provide up to three-quarters of the supply of arms to the Jewish state. But the French began to restore the traditionally close ties with the Arab world - with thereby, which for various reasons incessantly fought Israel enough to remember a few bloody Arab-Israeli wars.

In 1967, France refused to supply offensive weapons to Israel, and in September 1969 - generally imposed a total embargo on trade in arms. And built in Cherbourg Israeli boats and "stuck." Approximately as now "hangs" first "Mistral", built for the Russian ...

Interestingly, the French are the same boat, how to build a time for Israel to actively supply and in the Maghreb. And missile boats were urgently needed to counter Israel in exactly the same boat, appeared armed with Arab countries. Boats were needed just to Israel - he endured a rather shameful defeats at sea. Pushed to take decisive action, and such a fact.

During the two years before the events described hijacking, October 21, 1967, two Soviet-built missile boats 183R project with Egyptian crew (if there were Soviet instructors keep silent), classified as NATO Komar and equipped with two P-15 missiles each, and found attacked the Israeli destroyer "Eilat". Four rockets - and four exact hits. The result - the death of a destroyer, 47 of the 197 crew members and 41 wounded. And this is from some "mosquito", the total displacement of which was ten times less than that of a destroyer.

In only a few minutes of October 21, 1967 Navy Command Israel realized its unwillingness to conduct naval operations. How can you fight the sea, if you are powerless against a sort of "mosquito", but rocket-toothed katernogo fleet? In shock were Israelis and Egyptians: one - from a monstrous tragedy, others - by surprise.

As a result, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir gave instructions - urgently take action! Is to pay tribute - the Israeli leadership while not standing on his hind legs and did not spare the Western world, including to France. Israeli command does not weigh the admissibility of each shot at any enemy with an eye on the UN Security Council (and still do not really listen to it, and the West did not fawn like, excuse me, some ...).

Israelis chose France, which has been such projects. Urgently ordered 12 units with full arms. Some boats managed to pick up the embargo. And here's a bummer - sanctions! Do not have time to take the Israelites built in Cherbourg remaining seven boats. Two boats managed to withdraw in early January 1969 at the time of testing. But to get from France, the remaining five did not succeed.

And at the beginning of October 1969 personally Golda Meir gave secret orders to conduct a special operation "Cherbourg", directed essentially against France. Already paid by Israel, but "hung" missile boats repurchased certain Panamanian company - at present speaking, one-day firms created to divert suspicion possible. The plot of the detective, adventure and exciting - it is strange that some of the series on this subject has not yet appeared. Anyway, in the Russian-language version of itself that I do not remember ...

As part of the plan of operation "Cherbourg" in France were sent to more than 70 officers and sailors for training management and maintenance of new warships. But the plan of stealing, of course, kept a profound secret, even from the participants in the transaction. They were told that they were allegedly taught to serve the seven boats that Israel managed to get from France before the sanctions.

Israeli sailors once a week under the guise of exercises on boats out to sea and returned late at night. None of the leadership shipyard in Cherbourg, and had no idea that lies behind this elaborate plan. In addition, during the three weeks prior to the surgery every night boat engines were run at full speed, to Cherbourg residents are accustomed to the noise and did not pay attention to him.

In the last days before the operation were rushed to finish all the necessary arrangements. Of the operation itself was scheduled on the night of Christmas December 25, 1969. Besides it has been done yet another cunning trick. Israelis have managed to create the appearance that Tel Aviv allegedly allegedly accepted the loss of boats and wants to summon from Paris 'good' compensation - well, or, at worst, to sell to someone, I do not suffer the same losses in the end. It is difficult to say whether the participants had those talks theater education, but their role they played great!

And Israel, as it were "sold" boat Norwegian company "Startbott & Vail" for the discovery of oil in the Middle East - an absolutely phony office, which was never in nature. Indeed, international law on the "no war" Israel is using the ships had - after all, I am sorry for them paid for what I want, I turn back.

On the night of December 25, 1969 aboard five boats went "representatives of the Norwegian company" as two peas similar to the same Israeli sailors who have studied more than a month materiel. On Christmas Eve, almost all the locals were already sitting at the festive tables and indulge in the fun. And at two o'clock, when the French raised Christmas toast, all five missile boats without lights and flags marking left the port of Cherbourg and went into the stormy stormy sea. Their disappearance found only a day later! Along with combat boats naturally disappeared and those same 72 Israeli sailor.

During the whole week before the arrival of boats to the Israeli port of Haifa on December 31, the operation was in the media spotlight. All were amazed unprecedented audacity Israelis. The scandal was unprecedented ... The audience openly disapproved of fun and gradually Israelis, but the government of the republic was in a rage. French sources claim that the then defense minister even ordered the Chief of Staff to lift into the air planes, catch the fugitives, and to strike the boat. He flatly refused to do so, saying that rather resign.

In general, "Operation of Cherbourg", of course, led to some time to acute crisis in France-Israel relations. But, in the end, the French decided it was too late to swing his fists, and when Israel finally once again dashing razdolbal valiant forces of the Arabs, again reconciled with him.

Andrei Mikhailov

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