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ON COMMUNICATION . . .

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/06/2010 : 14:51:17

I shared this a few years back and just came across it again. So for those of you that haven't read it - enjoy!

ON COMMUNICATION

by Frank Koch in Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, "Light bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
Lookout replied "Steady, captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees."
Back came a signal, "Advisable you change course 20 degrees."
The captain said, "Send, I am a captain, change course 20 degrees."
"I am seaman second class" came the reply, "you had better change course 20 degrees."
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send, I am battleship, change course 20 degrees."
Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse."
We changed course.

Obviously this was written before the introduction of the GPS and chart plotters!

Edited by - OJ on 03/06/2010 14:58:37

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2010 : 15:25:41

I've seen a few versions... It's a fun yarn, but this version has at least one flaw: If the light is off the starboard bow and it's a lighthouse, and the ship is moving, then the bearing on the light will be moving aft--not steady.

Chief Hair Splitter

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2010 : 15:41:37

Yes, I've run this scenario though my mind more than once . . . <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Chief Hair Splitter
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Indeed!