Atlantic near Azores: US Navy ship USO encounter
On May 23, 1968, at 9:00 p.m., the crew of the USS Monrovia observed a large submerged object pacing their ship near the Azores. The translucent ovoid caused equipment failures that resolved when it departed.
Background
Event Details
On May 23, 1968 at 21:00, the crew of the US attack transport USS Monrovia (part of the Sixth Fleet) reported a large object beneath the water. It appeared off the starboard quarter in the Atlantic near the Azores.
Appearance and Behavior
The object was an elongated, translucent oval with a pulsating orange glow. It followed the ship for 90 minutes, during which the compass, radio, and radar all failed. The light finally went out, the object disappeared, and the systems worked again.
Witnesses and Evidence
Crew members of the USS Monrovia (APA-31) were the witnesses. The report is based on the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC Sighting 54893) of February 1, 2007, and on sources such as Dolan.
Significance
The case is regarded as a classic USO event (unidentified submerged object) with military witnesses and technical effects, shortly after the disappearance of the USS Scorpion on May 22, 1968 in the same region.