Do you think it is cool to see these ex-soviet era ships operating with our front line destroyers?

2015-06-03T11:43:26-04:00

As a veteran of the cold war I think this photo is cool.

http://news.usni.org/2015/06/03/uss-ross-leaves-black-sea

The guided missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG- 71) departed the Black Sea on Wednesday after an 11-day cruise of the region, according to a statement from U.S. 6th Fleet. Ross — one of four U.S. destroyers forward deployed to Rota, Spain — spent the majority of its time in the region exercising with the Romanian …

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 3 at 2015 11:48 AM

2015-06-03T11:48:36-04:00

Why not. Isn't that what joint exercises are about? It shouldn't matter where the ships were made but to increase relationships with those countries now operating them.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jun 3 at 2015 11:55 AM

2015-06-03T11:55:26-04:00

I understand this: In 2002 I went to Kiev, Ukraine and gave courses to the Ministry of Defense General Staff. After the first day I remember thinking to myself - Hey, I'm giving courses to the former enemy!! Times change.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jun 3 at 2015 1:27 PM

2015-06-03T13:27:17-04:00

Imagine my Twilight Zone moment when I, a Cold War vet, get off a plane at a former Soviet airfield in 2003 to see all of these INOP Soviet Cold War era aircraft...both cool and spooky.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jun 3 at 2015 1:34 PM

2015-06-03T13:34:01-04:00

It's interesting. I'd love to go back to sea long enough to see their ships in action.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-06-03T14:56:18-04:00

Meh...

I've sailed alongside them in formation when they were brand-spanking-new. Brand new, with top-notch maintenance, I worried about their abilities. Without maintenance - they tend to explode on launch.

Just sayin.....

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Jun 3 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-06-03T15:40:11-04:00

I remember coming out of the Suez Canal on the USS Coral Sea in 1983 and these guys waiting on us with there fire radar up and going.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 3 at 2015 3:57 PM

2015-06-03T15:57:15-04:00

I have done BSO but never with any FRS ships. It's important to remember that Ukraine is more European than Russian. Despite the fact that all her weapons and military are FRS provided, she has proven to be very independent of the Red Bear.

That being said, I would be far less comfortable with anything other than basic seamanship, and perhaps joint anti-piracy ops with Russia, China, Iran, etc. Operating with them gives them too much information about how we do things and what our capabilities are...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 3 at 2015 4:38 PM

2015-06-03T16:38:04-04:00

I remember being in the President's Flag Ship USS Arkansas (Lead) for a Pass and Review of Winners of WWII in front of Waikiki on the 50th Anniversary of VJ Day with 2 Russian Warships.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Jun 3 at 2015 10:39 PM

2015-06-03T22:39:51-04:00

In the late 60's we operated in the North Pacific sailing parallel to Soviet
missile range ships. We were so close we could watch the movies on the
screen they rigged on their fantail at night. Unfortunately, they were films
of fat broads on tractors - extolling the virtues of soviet collective farms.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 3 at 2015 10:54 PM

2015-06-03T22:54:36-04:00

As a child growing up in the Cold War era, I admit I am still a bit uneasy when I was working alongside former Soviet Union Naval forces, but I got to know them as people. I realized they weren't all that different from us, just men and women doing their duty for their country.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Jun 3 at 2015 10:58 PM

2015-06-03T22:58:58-04:00

Interesting. On my boat, we'd man battle stations, station the fire control tracking party, and .... well, pretend, at least!

Response by PO1 Kerry French made Jun 4 at 2015 2:59 AM

2015-06-04T02:59:12-04:00

NO. I do not trust the Russian government, nor the Chinese government nor any Islamic government.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 5 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-06-05T09:13:42-04:00

Kind of cool. Better than the days of UNREP emergency breakaways because a Soviet commander thought it'd be funny to shoot the gap between the two (yep, saw it happen), or the days of seeing bear bombers over flying us, escorted by tomcats. Saw that, too.

Response by PO2 Roger Wheeler made Jun 13 at 2015 8:58 PM

2015-06-13T20:58:22-04:00

I remember when the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 ran over a Russian sub. So I have mixed feelings about this topic.