A freighter in the open ocean could fake a medical distress and lure a DDG in close. They could communicate on VHF channel 13 and signal a may day. Once the DDG got to within 500 yards then the freighter could “punch it”. Especially if the DDG was launching small craft. Possible.
These theories are getting better by the minute. I’m going to have to look up 0-60 times for huge ocean going freighters now. Anyone have the latest version of “Freighter and Skipper” magazine?