USS Leary (DD-879) - Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuban Missile Crisis

On 22 October 1962, the crew of the Leary listened to President John F. Kennedy declare a quarantine of the island of Cuba in what became known as the Cuban Missile crisis. She was immediately paired with the US flagship for the quarantine, the heavy cruiser Newport News. Leary's orders were to enforce the quarantine and assist the Newport News in the missile count. From 22 October to 24 November 1962, Leary was continuously active in the US Navy blockade.

Tensions were running high when on Friday, 9 November, the Leary and the Newport News were operating in the waters northeast of Cuba. Suddenly, one of the first Soviet vessels, the Labinsk, was detected by the Leary's advanced radar as it approached the Navy blockade. Three minutes later, the Leary, along with the Newport News, surprised the Labinsk and quickly intercepted it. While the Leary trained her heavy guns on the Soviet ship, the USS Newport News went alongside and ordered the Soviet vessel to halt. Two Soviet ICBM missiles, without any payloads, were discovered on the deck of the Labinsk.

After the missiles were inspected and photographed, the Soviet ship was permitted to turn around and steam away due east from Cuba, with the Leary trailing close behind. 21 minutes later when the Labinsk was safely away from Cuba, the Leary radioed a warning to the Labinsk not to return to Cuban waters. Leary then discontinued the trail and returned to the waters around Cuba to resume her patrol line in the picket.

Individual details on the Leary's intercept from the US Navy, times are Romeo (UTC -5 hours):

090300R Leary and Newport News assigned to intercept the Soviet ship Labinsk 090615R Intercept made. 090730R Outer covers on missiles removed. 090748R Request to remove inner cover ignored. 090854R Deck cargo reported by Newport News as 2 missiles without nose cones. Outer cover removed for 1/3 of length from after end. 091100R 090836 posit 22-55N, 72-31W reported by CTG 136.2 Photos obtained 091113R Leary trailing. 091134R Leary discontinued trail. Labinsk proceeding

On 24 November President Kennedy declared the Quarantine successful, and ordered the Quarantine line disbanded after the Soviet MRBM's were dismantled and removed from Cuba. Leary and the Newport News arrived in Norfolk the day before Thanksgiving, having successfully completed their mission.