The Cola Fleet: How Pepsi once controlled the world's sixth-largest navy

The Cola Fleet: How Pepsi once controlled the world’s sixth-largest navy

https://warisboring.com/the-cola-fleet-how-pepsi-once-controlled-the-worlds-sixth-largest-navy/

July 15, 2020

Andy Wolf

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By 1972, Pepsi brokered a deal with the USSR and became the first “capitalistic” product to be sold there, locking Coca-Cola out until the mid-1980s. Sending syrup to the USSR, Pepsi would then allow the Soviets to enjoy the sweet, sugary taste of freedom and diabetes.

Initially, Pepsi and the USSR traded alcohol due to Soviet rubles being worthless on the international market, but eventually the Soviets’ thirst for Pepsi was so great that it wasn’t enough- and an American boycott during the time of the Soviet-Afghan War meant Pepsi had to up the ante.

As 1989 rolled around, The USSR officially made Pepsi the 6th largest navy in the world by trading 17 submarines, a cruiser, frigate and a destroyer to the company, as well as several new oil tankers.

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“Even the scrap value was low as the boats were heavily corroded and contaminated with fuel,lube oil, PCB’s (Polychlorinated Biphenyls), and the batteries were leaking acid,” Southern wrote.

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