Painting
Presentation -- 22 Jun 05
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Painting
unveiled by the the Wing Commander, Colonel Perry Matte and
Christina Bowers, representing the artist, Captain Rob Arsenault. |
Out
of the Murk...
Photo
run on Moskva-class Soviet helicopter cruiser Leningrad,
1972
The
mission depicted occurred in the eastern North Atlantic, May 21,1972. A
404 MP Squadron staff crew, captained by Maj Ian Patrick, with CO LCol
Alan Pickering and Flight Engineer WO Des Richmond, were NATO-tasked to
find and photograph the Soviet helicopter cruiser Leningrad, in transit to
the Mediterranean with two Kashin guided missile destroyers and a Krivac
frigate, and unlocated for 3 days due to bad weather.
The
Moskva ASW carriers, with their Hormone helicopters, were a class of two,
the Moskva and Leningrad, operating mainly in the Mediterranean, tracking
western submarines and warships. They were the first two Soviet aircraft
carriers, and intelligence on their capabilities and weapons suites needed
constant updating. A photo run by an aircraft flying low and close to the
vessel provided the best information for this purpose.
The
Argus aircraft was positioned behind and 500 feet to the starboard side of
the cruiser at an altitude of 200 feet. Fog hindered the view and the
aircraft descended to 100 feet. With a high sea state, waves were breaking
and producing salt spray. Cameras came on at ½ mile as the Leningrad came
into view out of the murk. Target acquisition radar from Soviet missiles
and guns was reported – literally an act of aggression – and the pilot
dived the aircraft to 50 feet so that the radar would hopefully acquire
the waves and not the aircraft. Filming
continued until the Argus was abeam the ship’s bow, when red flares were
fired at the aircraft. The pilot ordered maximum power, kept the Argus at
50 feet until outside the ship’s acquisition range, had the contact
reported to the NATO command, and then headed for the aircraft’s
overnight destination at Lossiemouth, Scotland. The film was developed and
the results incorporated into the intelligence manuals for future use.
Artist
Capt Rob Arsenault (14 SES) created this original painting and donated it
to the Museum.
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