The USS John S. McCain was struck in some of the world’s busiest waters

“At close range it might well be very difficult to avoid a collision,” he said. “The question is how the ships got in that close range.” The location of the damage on the McCain seemed to indicate that the ship had tried to maneuver out of the away, Roberts said. “The fact that the ship is still running is a tribute to some quick thinking on the part of the crew,” he said.