Clyde ferry threatened by US battleship

muckypup

muckypup

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A tiny ferry making its way across the Clyde river got caught up in a NATO naval exercise and ended up being threatened by a large US battleship, it emerged this week.

The 70-year-old boat was starting the 15 minute crossing from Gourock to Kilcreggan when it received a radio message: "Unidentified vessel approaching on my starboard side, please identify yourself. If you fail to do so, we will open fire on you with live ammunition."

The US ship had just left Faslane Naval base.

A source told the Daily Record: "The skipper got a real fright and radioed him back, saying he was just a wee ferry.

"If you've got a big battleship loaded with guns bearing down on you and threatening to shoot, it's quite scary."

The message was broadcast on channel 16 - usually reserved for emergencies. Commander Don Chalmers, in charge of the excercise, apologised to the rattled ferry

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Sounds more than a little heavy handed for an initial identification request.

Reminds me of the Canadian Lighthouse (i think thats right) and the American Naval ship incident..
 
And being a tiny ferry i cant imagine the old girl was closing in on Battleship exactly quickly..

Sledgehammer and nut springs to mind...
 
CRICKEY !! I went between 3 US warships heading out to sea during the summer - guess Im lucky to be alive

the lady officer on watch actually radiod the arran ferry to let them know they were approaching her stern - nice or what
 
I take it this was a scheduled ferry? Don't the Americans check this stuff? Oh no they normally bomb friendly troops so this ferry got off lightly.

Was the battleship on the ferry's portside? If so the battleship should have given way;-)
 
On the right is in the right unless you have bigger guns... I beleive the colregs are different in the US..
 
The truth is, it was an exersize, but some pillock on the battle ship had the radio on 16. So it got broadcast to the ferry.

The other incident from above was fron the US Aircraft carrier Enterprise. They asked that the vesel in position xyz turn to starboard.

The reply came back. I suggest you turn to port.

Enterprise... This is the captain of the US Enterprise. We have Admirel ??? on board and I demand you turn to Starboard..

Reply. This is seaman Jones, still recomend you turn to port. This is the Edistone Light House. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Reminds me of an incident earlier this year when a US battleship was arriving on a courtesy visit to Portsmouth. The ship was just passing the Warner Buoy inbound when he called up the escorting police launch and asked him to move the yacht that was sailing between the Forts in a westerly direction off his track as he "did not like it's position relative to mine".

Bluddy cheek - power gives way to sail ffs!
 
In the past few years, all around the world, there has been a number of suicide attacks on ships by different organisations using stolen or hijacked boats crammed with explosive. (If you do not remember the news just try an internet serch, you will be surprised)

In the Clyde there is an exclusion zone round all warships, this is well-publicised and especially well known to all locals.

If you are carrying large amounts of explosives yourself, particularly if they are nuclear, you do not like any unknown vessel, no matter how innocent looking, coming near you.

The RN in the Clyde is used to the ***** ***** ways of Scottish sailors, Americans are not and in these time are very jumpy. The incident does not surprise me at all.
 
ryanair will be next sometimes the planes get low over the water might be something to do with the airport /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
That story about the lighthouse still makes me laugh.. (and worry a little that these people are allowed to play with guns /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )
 
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