Re: Bugatti Patrol, Yellow Sea

[Donald McElfresh <a0019874@airmail.net>]

Keith:

We were part of the group that covered for the retrieval of a MiG-15 at
the mouth of the Yalu (21 July 1951), and then on 29 July we picked up a
sub contact, attacked, and ended up with a "still target" on the bottom
at 240 feet plus a five mile long diesel oil slick.  It was TE-95.11,
with two light carrier (USS SICILY, HMS GLORY), and six DDE/DD/DE types
(USS RENSHAW, USS ULVERT MOORE, HMAS WARRAMUNGA, HMNS VAN GALEN, HMCS
CAYUGA, HMCS HURON).

As I mentioned, at nightfall, one of our DD's would go north in the
Yellow Sea, and then return at dawn.  One night we (RENSHAW) sat in the
mouth of the Yalu, at battle stations, monitoring Communist aircraft
movment.  These night time travels were always referred to as the
"Bugatti Patrol".  The Soviet naval base at Port Arthur at this point in
time had 12 submarines; 3 types, "M", "C" and "Pike" (Shchah).

Thanks,

Don

geminiad@whidbey.com wrote:

> Don,
>
> * Who were the destroyers attached to the TG?
>
> Navy assigned op names sometimes in indirect reference
> to type of mission, sometimes not. Given the nature of a
> night-only patrol into the Bohai Gulf, purpose was probably
> to monitor (EW) PRC responses both at-sea and ashore
> and to pick up PRC & Soviet radar and other electronic signals.
>
> Ship traffic monitoring may have been another objective,
> as well as to deter and PRC efforts to bring guerrillas  behind
> the line of UN forces into South Korea.  PRC Navy had ex-
> Japanese vessels and generally the Fleet knew little of
> what was going on. And, the Soviets had their bases and
> a proposal was out there on the political table (between
> Moscow and Beijing)  for a "Sino-Soviet
> Pacific Fleet", headed up by Russians.
>
>  COMINT and ELINT would have helped
> in also identifying various PLA major units and movements
> of their headquarters, particular concern being northward
> movement (especially after the initial Oct '50-Jan '51 offensives).
>
> NSA would be a good place to start, using a FOIA request.
> Ship names, dates involved (request would probably want to
> include it down to the month, if possible).
>
> Would be interested in other KW-L responses and your
> research outcome.
>
> Keith Jacobs