Right Of Way
|
This one has been around for awhile, and comes in different forms. One must wonder about its origins. Provided by Art Padios The following is a transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation between an Irish Navy Signals Officer and a British Navy Task Force operating off the coast of County Kerry (October '95): IRISH OPERATOR: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South, to avoid collision. BRITISH OPERATOR: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North, to avoid collision. IRISH OPERATOR: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South, to avoid collision. BRITISH OFFICER: This is the Captain of a British navy ship. I say again, YOU will have to divert YOUR course. IRISH OPERATOR: Negative. I say again, YOU will have to divert YOUR course. BRITISH OFFICER: (agitated) THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS BRITANNIA,THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE BRITISH ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, I SAY AGAIN, THAT IS 15 DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP. IRISH OPERATOR: We are a lighthouse. Your call. |
