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From: jfarrell@spirit-lake.k12.ia.us (jim farrell)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.military,alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Cute, but...
Date: 23 Jan 1996 15:11:01 GMT

In article <AD294E199668834CEA@ehrice.his.com>, ehrice@his.com (Edward Rice) wrote:

> Friend of mine posted this, elsewhere, a few days ago. It sounds
> authoritative enough to be an old folklore. Anybody got the straight on
> this? For a variety of reasons related to radio protocol, I just don't buy
> it.
>
> >===========================================================

> >     Actual radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval

> >     Operations, 10-10-95.

> >===========================================================
> >
> >

> >     Station #1:  Please divert  your course  15 degrees  to the

> >     North to avoid a collision.

> >

> >     Station #2: Recommend  you divert YOUR course  15 degrees to

> >     South  to avoid a collision.

> >

> >     #1: This is  the Captain of a  US Navy ship. I say  again, divert

> >     YOUR course.

> >

> >     #2: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

> >

> >     #1. THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE, WE ARE A LARGE

> >     WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!

> >

> >     #2. This is the Pudget Sound lighthouse.  It's your call.

I watched a real cat fight about this in another group, great fun.

It undoubtedly is not true, and probably never was meant to be believed. Navy culture is rife with tales designed to pull the legs of boots and pass the time on interminable mid-watches -- Charlie Noble, squeegee sharperners, fog dispersant etc.

If you wanted to dissect the tale you would note: (a) It's unusual for any ship to suggest any maneuver to any other ship. Collision avoidance is covered in "Rule of the Road" (later ColRegs), and the rules are committed to memory by deck officers. (b) It would be very unusual for a captain to be on the radio in a routine maneuvering situation. (c) Transmissions are ended with "over" or "out." (d) Any radarman striker could have long before told the bridge that station two was stationary. (e) The dead reckoning plot would have shown the ship in its relationship to the lighthouse, and Curley Moe or Larry could have figured out what it was (f) "Divert your course to the right/left)" is an unusual, maybe unheard of, phrase in this context, especially when coupled with a specific -- 15 degree -- request (g) "To the south" and "to the north" would not be the phrases used. (h) I doubt there is a "Puget Sound" lighthouse; more probably there are many on the sound, each with a more specific name. (Anyone with a chart or local knowledge may correct me on this.) There are other problems, but I'm running on too long as is.

I have a small collection of these sea stories in the unlikely anyone is interested.

Best
Jim
"What is wanted here is not fact but entertainment."