In 1997, An Aircraft Carrier Clashed With a Lighthouse

In 1997, An Aircraft Carrier Clashed With a Lighthouse.

On October 26th, 1997, USS Abraham Lincoln detects a vessel off the coast of Spain. Both ships were heading towards each other. The supercarrier was told to change its course 15 degrees to south. The aircraft carrier replied, "Reroute your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid collision," but the unknown ship repeated the same words. Then, the carrier's captain requested the same, but when the ship didn't listen once again, he said, "This is the captain of USS Abraham Lincoln; change your course right now; otherwise, I would do anything to protect this ship. After a while, the reply came, "We won't move; we are a lighthouse!

[Awesomethingness]

I have heard this same story told five different ways over the last 20 years or so, and the size of the fleet grows each time.

[bxf]

"Both ships were heading towards each other" that's quite a feat for the lighthouse.

[DetentionHallPutsch]

I served for 30 years and this story was making it's rounds in the 80s

[Tenchu]

You forgot to say, " well..were a lighthouse, we got two guys, a dog, and a case of beer . YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE!"

[badrsalkani]

You forgot to say we're 2 persons and 1 dog 🐕 in a lighthouse.

[blitzchamp]

That lighthouse really stood its ground, literally... 😂😂😂

[terryatchison]

I'm 74 and have heard this story since I was a kid...:)

[milonmitra]

Luckily heard the story for the first time. So enjoyed it more than anyone else.

[patsongbandith]

Hear this 30 yrs ago and it still puts a smile on my face. They left a part of the joke out. When the Fleet Captain replies about how big the Fleet was, the other guy replies with “There 3 of us here, 1 is drunk and the dog is asleep. And you should move since we’re a lighthouse.” Probably had to do it to make it fit YouTube time constraints.

[sst]

1997?
This has been a naval joke for over 50 years.

[DerpRulesGotham]

I'm 55, and I first heard this when I was around 10. Back then it made much more sense because an aircraft carrier, with advanced radar, wouldn't mistake a lighthouse for another ship.

[DillinCool-bfuh]

Ok folks, I was literally stationed on cvn 72 uss Abraham Lincoln from 1995 to 1998. In 1997 this ship was stationed in Everett WA. It was nowhere near spain.

[arthurwright]

Retired from the US Navy in 87. Heard this story featuring every carrier we had at one time of another. It was stupid then and it still is! If our sensors couldn’t differentiate between a ship and a lighthouse, it would be pathetic, so this never happened.

[kenney]

Nothing beats a very true exchange between a captain and a seaman:
Captain: what course did you take?
Seaman: accounting captain sir😂😂😂

[bjornbonthuys]

“My ships are bigger than yours so move”

*“I’m on a f-ing continent”*

[seanmcquilkin]

All those ships and not one realised it was a light house 😂😂😂

[SMILELIF]

Life lesson- never get so emotional to respond without knowing your facts! 😂😂😂😂

[Riverweed]

Nothing beats the lighthouse, just like the cameraman never dies

[TrudieOtto]

😂😂😂😂 it must be boring to sit in a lighthouse and that was actually a little bit of humor for the lighthouse 😍😍😍😍

[TheDirtbiker]

Them: we are the biggest boat here, move it!

Lighthouse: Lmao I’m the Earth, move the f**k away from us!