10 Weirdest Cold War Stories You Probably Haven't Heard
7. Ramming Speed
In the late '70s, the US, believing that the right of safe passage through international waters should be afforded to all nations, started testing the boundaries. They particularly tested the territorial waters of the USSR, which is basically akin to poking a bear with a stick. What would follow is one of the more bizarre incidents in naval history.
In 1988, the US Navy sent two ships to patrol the Black Sea, the USS Yorktown and the USS Caron. The Russian Navy sent two frigates out to confront the US ships, under orders to prevent them breaching their waters. When the Yorktown and Caron strayed into Russian waters, the Russian captains had to act but were hesitant to fire on a US ship fearing it would start a war.
So, what did they do? Quite simply, they rammed them! With a move last used by the Romans, the Russians had saved face (which Soviet era Russians lived for) and avoided a major conflict.