What type of vessels did the U.S. Navy target specifically during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, which occurred in October 1962, the U.S. Navy specifically focused on Soviet-flagged vessels. This was a critical period marked by heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union due to the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. The U.S. implemented a naval blockade, termed a "quarantine," aimed at preventing further shipments of Soviet offensive weapons to Cuba.

The decision to target Soviet-flagged vessels was based on the need to directly impede and monitor the flow of military supplies and armaments that could threaten U.S. national security. This approach allowed the Navy to control the maritime movement of Soviet ships, ensuring that they did not deliver additional military hardware to Cuba, which could escalate the conflict.

In this context, the focus was not on commercial fishing boats, U.S.-flagged vessels, or all foreign naval ships, as those either did not pose imminent threats or were not part of the immediate concern regarding the Soviet military presence in Cuba. Instead, the strategic targeting of Soviet-flagged vessels was central to the U.S. Navy's efforts to de-escalate the situation while ensuring that no further military escalation occurred in the Caribbean.