A story worth watching for me...

Mysterious undersea device snagged by fishing vessel...

Quote:

The USNS Bruce C. Heezen is an oceanographic survey vessel of the Pathfinder Class. Local media report that it was operating with the permission of the Croatian government. Croatia is a U.S. ally and has been a member of NATO since 2009.

I've written extensively in other media of the oceanographic survey ships, since my Uncle was temporarily assigned to that duty in WWII, and I know of the connection they have to spywork in today's world...I'll be interested to find where this story goes, if anywhere...:wary:...Ben

Yes, assuming we could ever get any real information from somebody about it.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...d-from-the-sea

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacojoe

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...d-from-the-sea

Quite a difference between this and the methods my Uncle and his shipmates used when their ship was assigned to duty assisting USS Oceanographer (AGS-3) in February 1944 in the Florida Island group at the bottom of the Solomons chain...Beacons, markers and weighted, knotted lines were among their equipment...They had to remain alert for the approach of Japanese patrols, but the closest they came to a firefight was when a band of New Zealanders operating a radar station on Ramos Island threatened to shoot them if they tried to erect a beacon on what they considered "their" island...Records are unclear on the fine points of negotiation, but it is thought that an exchange of beer instead of gunfire was agreed upon as an alternative solution...The survey was completed regardless...

As for the Japanese, the local islanders had their own ways of dealing with them...An unknown author of an unread history of the islands found this in his files:

Quote:

The men from the OCEANOGRAPHER found that the natives were always cordial and helped many times with their local knowledge in conducting surveys, setting up camps, providing water, etc., to isolated charting parties. On one occasion, Commander Graybill was talking to a native chief and was informed that the Japanese had brought a woman with them. He questioned the statement and asked for proof. "I ate her," said the chief simply, thus ending the discussion.

:yum:...Ben