“How do you run into a cargo ship?”
First, the SLOW MOVING cargo ship RAN INTO THE DESTROYER AMIDSHIP! The truth is that the destroyer had to have passed directly in front of the cargo ship. Have any idea how much room it takes to turn a cargo ship of that size. How about the turning radius of a destroyer.
That makes the story given by the skipper totally unbelieveable.
Who is the captain of the ACX Crystal? Something like muhamhead?
Not necessarily. If the merchant was in an overtaking
position, it would have signalled the Fitz it’s intentions. If the Fitz was bearing to the left of the traffic lane, then the merchant would have signalled that it was overtaking on the starboard side. (correlates with damage). The Fitz was most likely at slow speed, waiting for first light to make approach to Yokosuka. The Merchant was making about 15 kts. If the bridge crew were signalled properly, and were in communication with the ship on bridge to bridge, they would accept the close passage to starboard. No reason to suspect anything outside a friendly port.
Then, as the merchant pulled just slightly ahead of the starboard beam of the Fitz, a quick sharp turn to port would have closed the distance in slightly over a minute.