On This Day

5 Israeli gunboats escape from Cherbourg harbor

The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French...

The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French port of Cherbourg (Cherbourg-Octeville since 2000, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin since 2016). The boats had been paid for by the Israeli government but had not been delivered due to the French arms embargo in 1969. The operation was planned by the Israeli Navy, and was codenamed Operation Noa, after the daughter of Captain Binyamin "Bini" Telem.

Historical Significance

The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French port of Cherbourg (Cherbourg-Octeville since 2000, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin since 2016).

Events Before

  1. Cuba Gooding Jr. is born

    Cuba Gooding Jr., American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1968-01-02. Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. is an American actor.

  2. ABC Radio splits into four networks: Info, Entertainment, Contemporary, and FM

    ABC Radio splits into four networks: Info, Entertainment, Contemporary, and FM

  3. Actress Sharon Tate (24) weds actor and director Roman Polanski (34) in Chelsea, London

    Actress Sharon Tate (24) weds actor and director Roman Polanski (34) in Chelsea, London

  4. Battle of Khe Sanh begins at Khe Sanh Combat Base, one of the most publicized and controversial battles of the Vietnam W

    Battle of Khe Sanh begins at Khe Sanh Combat Base, one of the most publicized and controversial battles of the Vietnam War

  5. Aretha Franklin's 14th studio album "Lady Soul" is released (Billboard Album of the Year, 1968)

    Aretha Franklin's 14th studio album "Lady Soul" is released (Billboard Album of the Year, 1968)

Events After

  1. Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League

    Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.

  2. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nig

    Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nigerian Army, effectively ending the Nigerian Civil War

  3. Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

    Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

  4. Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy

    Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy Awards Best Picture 1971)

  5. South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official in

    South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official international cricket Test for 22 years

More from the 1960s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 25, 1969?
The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French port of Cherbourg (Cherbourg-Octeville since 2000, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin since 2016). The boats had been paid for by the Israeli government but had not been delivered due to the French arms embargo in 1969. The operation was planned by the Israeli Navy, and was codenamed Operation Noa, after the daughter of Captain Binyamin "Bini" Telem.
Why is 5 Israeli gunboats escape from Cherbourg harbor significant?
The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French port of Cherbourg (Cherbourg-Octeville since 2000, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin since 2016).

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