Do you think an entire Navy crew of a couple hundred Sailors would participate in a conspiracy ot protect Clinton? C'mon!!!! I personally know at least ten Chiefs that refused retirement ceremonies because they didn't want the certificates signed by the man!
One of the things you seem to have overlooked is that it may not have been a U.S. Navy vessel at all -- that's why I included the speculation about a naval vessel from another NATO country.
No I really do not, and that is the main reason I question the conspiracy theory around this. My point was that I have no idea how these exercises work so MAYBE it could be possible that hundreds of sailors would not have known. Still, like you I find the possibilty a stretch.