Are you a battleship or a Lighthouse?
‘Two battleships were at sea in heavy weather for several days on training manoeuvres. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with thick fog, so the Captain remained on the bridge to keep an eye on everything.
Shortly after dark, as the ship pitched and rolled through the waves, 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.
The 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 for you to change course 20 degrees.”
The Captain said, “Send, I’m a Captain, change course 20 degrees.”
“I’m a seaman second class,” came back the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”
By this time, the Captain was furious. He snapped out, “Send, I’m a battleship! Change course 20 degrees immediately!”
Back came the flashing light…
“I’m a lighthouse.”
We changed course!’
