Ferry land Lighthouse v US Carrier

[Merlyn]

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JJ, your comment concerning the QM talking to Gibraltar shore station prompted me to recall a famous saying concerning navigation which funnily enough concerns a Canadian Lighthouse and a U.S. Carrier conversation. Although they deny it many think it did indeed happen. Trying to locate it on the net I came across several U tubes of actual live conversations between US warships and Lighthouses ordering the lighthouses to change course in order to avert a collision and attempting to belittle the lighthouse crew in the process. Never knew it was there but I find it very amusing. Seems like a lot of pop rivets in your lighthouses over there?

[The Dieselduck]

Yes, indeed a classic, probably a fake story, but there is some "je ne sait quoi" quality about it.
You can find a version of it on my video page, under the funnies, or click here : http://www.dieselduck.info/videos/06%20funny/USNavy.wmv

[JollyJack]

No, it's not fake, it happened in the '60s in the English Channel. The lighthouse was the Lizard, I believe, and the US warship was an aircraft carrier, on the way to Pompey for the annual fleet visit. (Special trains ran from London to Portsmouth for the event, carrying ladies of the evening. UK ports were added to the USN "high risk" list for social diseases.)

[Merlyn]

Wow, I missed out on that one then

[JollyJack]

I was based at Pompey at the time, Army LCTs docked at Gunwharf, right behind Portsmouth Harbour station. We were in HMS Vernon, tucked away in a corner. The Navy didn't want to know us and the Army didn't know what to do with us! It was great! Apart from doing the St Kilda run, or taking new Chieftan tanks to Antwerp, we were left alone.

[Merlyn]

Bet you skidded about well in a seaway with them, Paxmans?

[JollyJack]

Shallow draught, wide beam, bloody things rolled on wet grass! Best thing was a following sea from the quarter though, they corkscrewed!

4 x 12 TPMs and 2x SLM gearboxes, Foden gennys.

[Merlyn]

Not a whinny old Foden, a two stroke?

[JollyJack]

yup, that's the one.