Freakinoldguy
$1:
Strange as it sounds these incidents happen alot more often than people think. I've been involved in a couple of collisions at sea and seen a few others, which fortunately happened prior to youtube so the whole world wasn't privy to our misadventures.
I never was one of those guys who went down to the sea and ships......but many times have seen the results.
In my extensive reading on naval units of the 20th century, I have pondered how these navies managed to maintain a serviceable fleet. Reading through classes of ships the number lost to collision.... On particular incident was named "the Battle of ???? Sound". Night fleet maneuvers involving a surfaced submarine involved at least a dozen collisions and several losses in the twenties. It seems no navy was better or worse at it.
Recently the only collisions we usually hear of involve the "Rainbow warrior."
A classic maneuver "the Battle Turn" was notorious. A clever move but fraught with danger. The German High Seas Fleet successfully pulled that off during the Battle of Jutland. Basically everybody does a 180.
The RN did another maneuver prior to engagement---going from line to line astern after a Port 90 turn. The Germans came within range just moments after the turn which had placed the entire home fleet broadside, unmasking all guns. The High Seas Fleet still in line astern had it's leaders mauled savagely. The German Battle turn effected a rapid disengagement. Superb sea-manship.