HISTORY IN MEMORY
MUCH TONY NARRA ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS MULTI-V-Y FINAL
(3-21-11-5:00 PM)
The San Pascual ", also known as" The Pontoon "
1962 September 10 - was machine-gunned by a pirate ship artillery, the Cuban boat" San Pascual "and the English ship" New-Lane, who carried sugar compared to French Cay, in Sancti Spiritus. The Cuban vessel received 18 impacts and English 13. 18/09 On the organization US-based terrorist, Alpha 66, said perpetrators. Participated in this terrorist action Antonio Cuesta Valle, Antonio Perez Quesada, alias Anton the island and Angel Poux, among others. (Partial list of the marine attacks by the Cuban patriots, issued by the Tyranny)
On September 9, 1962, although the weather was not good, at least allow us to reach our goal. A giant can of chile con carne was our main meal. Tucked into the gaping holes that the sea had formed in the rocks, sheltered from the sun, rested two hours. Then came time to test the performance of weapons. FAL rifles machine guns worked perfectly. The M-1 Garand semi-automatic, although it left over from World War II, proved to be unfit to continue defending democracy.
The comic note, which always appears even in the most serious was when Lilo, wanting to make the first shot of his life in the key before facing the enemy, pull the trigger of his M1. The shooting occurred, but the rifle was thwarted in his hands. Only the imagination of each one would be able to play the side you put your partner at the result their first shot. Ramon, who already had become a specialized dealer, found the cause of the accident: the piston Garand gases had not been placed in the correct position. The removal of the piston is what allows to disassemble the gun for easy cleaning and maintenance. That comic experience that meet the enemy had not been so funny, it was determined that we would never launch an attack without first testing the weapons so close to the target ..
exprofeso, I left for last, performing a feat that no one had achieved so far: installation of a 50-caliber machine gun in a boat 20 feet in length. When consulted on this matter to an experienced scorer in the CIA, he assured us that the artillery piece could only be installed on a boat over 40 feet, a smaller one would be shattered by the tremendous pounding of the gun at the back. To prevent this, we altered the conventional mounting.
A steel tube four inches in diameter and six feet long, resting on a trunk set forward in the hallway between the two berths. Removed the top of the cabin skylight and the tube came out through it, leaving its end level with the top of the windshield. Four steel cables held their respective tensioning the tube in vertical position and without it touching the boat's structure. Each of the cables going to stick with equidistant points on the interior structure of the cabin. Resistant coil springs located in the middle of each cable patrte, would be responsible for absorbing the shock of each shot. At the top of the pipe was installed U-shaped part, responsible for receiving the gun. Once installed, cover it with a thick impermeable and tied his head on the railing of the bow. It would take several hours to cross the channel that separated us from the goal and that sea, no one could stand after 50. (left plate San Pascual)
do not know why that facility did not try making some shots, perhaps influenced my decision gave me assurances that Gutierrez, who would serve, that the gun was in good condition. With a little rainy twilight and invitingly waves, definitely the exact time set the course of our goal.
About ten o'clock at night saw the first glimpses of French Cay Lighthouse, which marks the entrance to the port Caibarién City, on the north coast of the central province of Las Villas. Although the crew was well rested and we were approaching the battle area, to my surprise, I found them all asleep. My shock and the argument that we could run into an enemy ship, finally alert.
Contrary to what the enemy might expect, we do not come close to a target using the first channel, coming from the north. Confident in the expertise of Antonica and hablidad to see where anyone could see, giving a detour to French Cay, simulate us closer to the goal from the city of Caibarién, for that would be necessary to go through the long, narrow and dangerous Canyon Las Brujas, which separates southern of French Cayo Cayo Borracho.
Slowly, with the lights off all the instruments and weapons ready to shoot, we went into this winding passageway. The smallest miscalculation and those cliffs would end our expedition. Contrary to what might be expected, Antonico was behind the wheel, so relaxed and confident as if driving a car on Biscayne Boulevard, no traffic and in the light of day.
As soon as we left the Canyon of Las Brujas, we began to see the lights of several merchant vessels and beyond the glow of the city of Caibarién. While those merchants were supplying the enemy and be happy all the hubiéramso sunk, none of them was our objtivo.
Antonico finally stopped the march and said: - "Look Tony, this mole that you see there is the San Pascual." The last rays a moon that sinks into the horizon, I can see where it says your hand. - Take the controls you! If you wait a few minutes of darkness will be complete and we will bring.
While I stand behind the controls, we give final instructions to my teammates: Ramón, give it a Garand to Anton and Lilo helps assemble the anti-tank gun on the port side. Gutierrez, get on the bow and take care of the 50 ... Ramon, after you help Lilo, get me a FAL, and get you another. Now, no one speaks. I'll turn off the engines and let the breeze will bring us a little more.
As we were leaving drag slowly towards our destination, I smiled satisfied, really our action would be a blow to the enemy. (In his story "Guerrillas Marine.")
0 comments:
Post a Comment