Americans

 This is a transcript of an ACTUAL radio transmission between a US Navy ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. (Released by Chief of Naval Operations 10/10/95.)

CANADIANS: Please divert your course 15 degrees south to avoid a collision.

AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees north to avoid a collision.

CANADIANS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision.

AMERICANS: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

CANADIANS: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

AMERICANS: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A TASK FORCE OF THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. I SAY AGAIN, THAT IS ONE-FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.

CANADIANS: This is a lighthouse. Your call.


(Tro´t om ni vill.)