 HMNZS "Otago" was flying 3 RNZN battle ensigns, officially as an aid to recognition  and to signal this was a RNZN operational warship on a political not a protest mission.France may have considered it an act of war and it is unlikely the RN was approached on the right and wisdom of flying an associated battle ensign on this exercise.A couple of Soviet research ships were out of sight 25 nm distant and two large USN naval auxiliary and spy ships, USS "Corpus Christi Bay" and USS "Wheeling" (T-AGM-8).