Pedantic Point - British Leyland hadn't been formed at that time - the buses were made by Leyland Motors.

Imagine we're told bullying is wrong but if you are acting as a country....thanks for this interesting story

I'm surprised the USA's retaliation for British bus exports was way worse than Argentina's export of brand new locally-made American cars in 1974 to Cuba (including the current Nova and F600 trucks at the time, made under license there), ignoring the sanctions Argentina had previously agreed to

Canada, which has diplomatic relations with Cuba, exports many used Canadian buses to Cuba.

The American Aversion towards Public Transport got a bit out of Hand😂

Sadly to this day, the USA treats Cuba with extensive trade and diplomatic sanctions. Sadly it is in part to pander to a small group of Cuban expats and descendants in Florida for enough votes there. Pres. Obama took actions to back off those sanctions but as soon as Trump took office, they were reversed. We took Cuba after the Spanish-American War of 1899, (along with Puerto Rico, the Philippines) from Spain. In 1926, we gave up our hold, allowing for political independence but keeping a lot of economic and political control, supporting corrupt leaders who did horrible acts to keep control and continued American's exploitation. That abuse led to the uprising led by Fidel Castro, seizing the government and putting in a Communist style one, something that was terrifying to Americas in the dark heart of the 'Cold War', the seizing of American personal and corporate properties. Cuba turned for support from the then USSR, who wanted a big foothold in the Americas, especially one so close, as little as 90 miles (150 Kms) from the USA. We wanted to starve Cuba of any support that could be seen as supporting the 'commies' and USSR and against capitalism. Attempts were done by the USA to destroy Cuba, Fidel Castro, we reacted to the USSR placing missiles in Cuba including destroying the buses.

In 66 Britain supplied Cuba with 20 locomotives based on the brush type 4. As brush was a subsidiary of hawker sidley the locos were constructed by clayton equipment and had their makers plates but were pure brush At the time hawker sidley were trying to sell the harrier to the USAF

In 1975 Montreal Locomotive Works built 50 locomotives for Cuba's railroad system over much criticism from the US. Note in the UK they drive on the left but Leyland built these buses for right hand traffic in Cuba.

Jamaica's Omnibus Service (J.O.S) also imported large quantities of the Leyland Olympics from the U.K.

2002 I’m vacationing in Varadero Cuba at a resort. Walk out front to take a bus and do some site seeing. To my amazement the bus pulls up ands it’s an old bus from my hometown of Orillia Ontario Canada. Small world sometimes

I’m pretty sure that there would have been an official enquiry even if its report wasn’t made public. 35 years after this event the Spanish city of Malaga sent many of its old buses to Cuba. I remember seeing them lined up in the dock compound with labels in the windscreens showing ‘Cuba’ as their destination - an extreme extension of linea 10 which their headcodes were showing.

All over a bus

I loled at the suggestion that an aircraft carrier be used to carry buses. It would be harder to intercept though.

Shows the USA doesn't have allies, it has subordinates. Remember this when the US talks about "allies" with regards to Ukraine, Middle East, China etc etc. The UK, France etc are dictated to by the US on policy regarding Ukraine.

Another twist? Some of the chassis and a fully built up bus ended up in Australia having full service lives.

Funnily enough, the Gulf of Tonkin Incident was just a few months earlier- must just be a coincidence. I imagine that Donald Stokes regretted allowing himself to be persuaded to merge Leyland Motors with what had become British Motor Holdings to form British Leyland. This marriage was the handiwork of Tony Benn who also got Rolls-Royce into trouble with the jet engine deal with Lockheed. Anyway, Leyland Motors was a successful organisation while BMH- usually know by its pre-Jaguar addition as BMC was a disaster waiting to happen- and it did.

Fantastic installment! This would make a really interesting movie for sure!

A thrill a minute !!!

I'm gobsmacked. What a waste of these reputedly excellent machines. The U.S pushing their weight around surprise surprise. I know what I suspect based on what I gathered here.

I have never heard of this before, and can see both sides of the issue. I really enjoy driving "my" MC-12, but all that over a BUS!

This was good...I subscribed...surprised Castro didn't raise "cain" about it

Fun fact, those Leyland busses went to Israel. And they had no AC, and then Israel sold them to Bucharest, Romania, right after diplomatic relationships were established.

It's crazy that not only was the US embroiled in a transit situation with Cuba, it was also in a political situation with Cuba, because Russia (Then the Soviet Union) had placed missiles there, and Cuba refused to take them. This probably made tensions worse, but I do not know that for sure.

If my personal experience of public transportation in/around and under the influence of the United States is anything to go on, the national administration there has a *very clear* prejudice against all forms of transportation that don't involve (mostly) single-person metal boxes or whacking great hairdriers strapped underneath wings. 🚘✈🤔 In all likelihood this wasn't an action against _Cuba_ specifically...Simply an action against the use of well constructed, sturdy and reliable vehicles in an environment which believes that ownership of a car and ongoing „tax“ payments to petrochemical companies should *not* be a requirement for people to get to work! 🚌💨😉

"International incident involving political intrigue and skullduggery; conspiracy loons posit that Central Intelligence Agency 'Had nothing to do with it...' "

What ever happened to Gillig Phantom/Christina busses?

I don't get it, all over a bus. Interesting article and knowledge. Anyway, the buses can always be replaced and no one was killed so I don't care about the buses really.

I'm calling BS on this. Its a fun tale, but to arrange a collision between two ships, with pilots, in the Thames, a lot of things (that can't be prearranged) have to line up.

I think those buses ended up at the bottom of the sea, Cuba also does not usually pay for what it buys.

As per usual the yanks taking the huff.