THE 3-DAY ENCOUNTER BETWEEN
THE RUSSIAN BALZAM CLASS
INTELLIGENCE GATHERING VESSEL
AGI "AZIYA" CCB-493 (SSV-493)
AND THE USS LEAHY 4-6 MAY 1984
| Introduction: This page was generated as a result of a request by LCDR. Oleg Rykov, Russian
Navy, (Retired 1992), who was a crewmember aboard CCB-493 "AZIYA (ASIA)" from 1983 - 1990, homeported
in Vladivostok with the Pacific Fleet. Oleg--"I was on one of my longest deployments, lasting 198 days, with
no port calls - this particular cruise originated in Jerrybostok (Vladivostok)". The CCB-493 (AZIYA)
was decommissioned in 1996. |
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Date: 2003-01-07 14:04:03
Oleg Rykov (RykovO@mail.ru) |
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Jolly good start of a long time expected site of the USS Leahy! Sending my
hello from "over the hill" officers and sailors of a de-commisioned Soviet Navy unit "CCB -493"
which had an encounter with your cruiser at Point Mugu back in 1984 cruising 3 days in an"honorary escort"
of the "admiral" and her company and in your cruiser's effort to return a Navy drone picked up by our
ship. If anyone has any recollection of that or pictures of the "Charlie Charlie Bravo" taken by your
crew? If any, I would appreciate receiving one.
Have a smooth sailing,
Sincerely,
Oleg Rykov
LCDR Russian Navy Retired |
Narratives:
(click on the flag icons for info)
The Narrative Of LCDR. Oleg Rykov, Russian Navy, Ret.
Brian Ackerman's Narrative (with updated info)
Jamie Kohn's Narrative
Patrick
Shima's Photos (below)
Matt Risi's Group Narrative
USS Leahy Command History Report 1984 Page Excerpt
If you have further info to share regarding this event - click on envelope
--> 
Info-Photos:
(click on any photo to enlarge)
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L-R: Jane's Fighting Ships 1983 - (2) Overhead Views Of The Balzam Class - CCB-493 Near "Papa
Hotel" Buoy At The Entrance To Pearl Harbor
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L-R: CCB-493 Lowers Motor-Whaleboat - USS Leahy At The Moment Of Pickup Of The "Missing"
Drone - News Article
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L-R - Upper-Lower: Jamie Kohn's photos of the recovered drone on Leahy's deck
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L-R: Patrick Shima's photos - Captain Bailey - towing of the recovered drone and a CCB-493
photo taken from the deck of the Leahy
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L-R: Robert Roggendorf Clipping --- 1985 USNIP Article --- LCDR. Oleg Rykov-WestPac 1985,
With The Japanese Medium Patrol Vessel "Bihoro"(PM-73) In The Backround
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A sequence of photos from Kevin Bruce Sweet --- Posted on Facebook (USS Leahy (DLG/CG-16)
October 19 at 11:12am)
"Found these pictures in a box in my basement. This is from the incident when the
Russian Spy ship Balzan stole the American drone and we had to follow them for a week before they gave it back."
(click on the images below to enlarge)
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A sequence of photos taken by STG1 Dominick DeFlorio (USS Leahy 1981-1985)
(click on the images below to enlarge)
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L-R: USS Leahy April 1985 - CCB-493 Photo 1982
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L-R: CCB-493 JMSDF 1992 Photo - CCB-493 Photo
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