Russian 'killed UK diver' in 1956

A former Russian frogman has claimed that he killed British diver Cdr Lionel "Buster" Crabb, who disappeared while spying on a Soviet warship in 1956

LINK

 

I can't see him fitting a mine in pompey harbour. Having a recce yes.

 

Why would a Royal Navy diver be planting a mine on a soviet warship in 1956?

Sounds like someone wanting to clear their conscience but very aware of their governments view on people who tell all even nowadays.

RIP Buster

 

I agree mate. A CTR of the underside of the ship makes sense, but attaching a mine? In enemy territory maybe, but not in Portsmouith Harbour.

Also see: THIS

AND THIS

Edited to add: The documents all talk about an Intelligence operation and spying - not a sabotage mission, which contradicts he story of him attaching a mine.

 

A naval version of the General Sikorsky assasination perhaps?

 

I've got the Crabbe files on the RNA 10 Area website.

Careful, it's a 81Mb .pdf.

Runs to 93 pages.

Download link.

Other documents available on the (under construction) downloads page.

More to follow.

James

 

More likely removing one.
Sounds a bit James Bondish to me.

 

Well mate, it was an operation being run by MI6 :thumright:

 

I remember reading about this in a book about the SBS, apparently all that was found of Mr Crabbe was an arm which was washed ashore a few days later.

~Vesper

 

The head that was washed up in Chichester harbour years ago and thought to be Crabbs......... was it ever DNA'd?

 

BTW, I went aboard that cruiser in '56 when they had an 'open day'

 

It's a fascinating story, the old Buster one, without a doubt very "Boy's Own" stuff- divers, espionage, WWII links, propulsion & propellors, headless torsos, you name it.

I remember reading about it before I joined in 1981 & making a mental note not to become a Diver of the sub-aqua variety.

 

Any diver doing a ships bottom search /survey on a vessel that hasn't been tagged out for divers needs to be very acquanted with hull fittings especially the sea water circ inlets.

Brave man anyway --another story of derring -do .

:nemo: :nemo:

 

There is an excellent film about his WW2 exploits in Gib. I can't remember its name but has an excellent under-water knife fighting scene versus the Italians and a great performance by Sid James as a CPO.

Well worth watching.

 

On PM (Radio 4) today, Eddie Mair interviewed one of Cdr Crabbe's comrades, Sidney Knowles. He dismissed the Ruskie claim out of hand and had his own theories. An interesting man and starts at 1738 on http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/pm_fri

 

From what I remember, this was an MI 6 operation called on the spur of the movement, because they was wanted a look at the hull fittings of a SVERDLOV. (The only previous visit of the type to UK was at the 1953 Fleet Review, whereas this time, ORDZHONIKIDZE was alongside.) Rumour has it that he was captured by Ivan divers, taken aboard and waltzed back to Russia. There are stories that he stayed and trained Spetsnatz swimmers, and several books have shown photos alleging that this was "Crabski", but nobody on either side in the know would pass comment. Doubt if we'll ever know the truthon this one.

 

http://arts.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article299765.ece
See above for a review of Tim Binding's fictionalisation of the Lionel Crabbe story.

 

The Film in question is The Silent Enemy
cheers

G

 

He was played (very well) by Lawrence Harvey. Sid James as the Chief was typical Sid James without the dirty laugh. It's shown on Film 4 or the History Channel on SKY quite regularly.

 

The more interesting guy to have been interviewed would have been Cdr J Brooks, RN DSO* (deceased), who was Crabb's attendant diver on the Ordzhonokidze recce. MI6 were certainly up to some very strange things at that period and the events surrounding Brooks later on are almost as intreaguing as those of Crabb.