A high-seas collision between 45,000 tons of steel moving at 15 knots and 2,900 tons travelling at 27 knots can't be good. A witness provides a first-person look at the event and its aftermath.

The plan for Sunday, 6 May 1956 began simply enough. The Navy was to parade a small task group for politicians during a routine weekend cruise 50 miles off the Virginia Capes. What was not planned was the day's chaos, confusion, and destruction.

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