Was in a joke fest earlier, and I remembered this one.
The following is the transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation that
took place in October 1995, between a US Navy ship off the coast of
England, and some British authority. The transcript was released by the
MoD.
BRITS: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South, to avoid a
collision.
AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North, to avoid a collision.
BRITS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the
South to avoid a collision.
AMERICANS: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert
YOUR course.
BRITS: Negative. I say again. You will have to divert your course.
AMERICANS: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. THAT’S 15 DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.
BRITS: We are a lighthouse. f**k off.
Thanks matie that gave me a hearty chuckle. 🙂
It reminded me of the story of the code cracking teams during the second world war where Brits and Americans were working together. Phone lines were pretty limited and an American phone operator cuts into a conversation between two Brits. She asks “Are you through?” to which the Brit replies “Yes thank you.” at which point they were very confused upon being promply disconnected mid conversation…
I think Bill Bryson was spot on when he said that we are two nations separated by a common language.
Best Wishes