Track chart of the action involving the U.S. Navy destroyers USS <i>Maddox</i> (DD-731) and USS <i>Turner Joy</i> (DD-951) on the night of 4 August 1964, during the second part of the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Many of the observations reflected in this chart were later determined to be inaccurate.<br>During an evening and early morning of rough weather and heavy seas, the destroyers received radar, sonar, and radio signals that they believed signaled another attack by the North Vietnamese navy. For some four hours the ships fired on radar targets and maneuvered vigorously amid electronic and visual reports of enemies. Despite the U.S. Navy's claim that two attacking torpedo boats had been sunk, there was no wreckage, bodies of dead North Vietnamese sailors, or other physical evidence present at the scene of the alleged engagement. At 01:27, Washington time, Captain Herrick of the <i>Maddox</i> sent a cable in which he acknowledged that the second attack may not have happened and that there may actually have been no Vietnamese craft in the area: "Review of action makes many reported contacts and torpedoes fired appear doubtful. Freak weather effects on radar and overeager sonarmen may have accounted for many reports. No actual visual sightings by <i>Maddox</i>. Suggest complete evaluation before any further action taken".
U.S. Navy. Post-work  <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cobatfor" title="User:Cobatfor">Cobatfor</a>
1986
Official U.S. Navy photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-96000/NH-96350.html">NH 96351</a> from the U.S. Navy <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.history.navy.mil">Naval History and Heritage Command</a>. The chart was originally prepared for The United States Navy and the Vietnam Conflict, Volume II: From Military Assistance to Combat 1959-1965, published in 1986 by the Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington D.C. (USA), page 430.