Reference

Captain Brunswig is often mentioned in the context of the widely known urban legend involving a misidentification error between a naval vessel and a lighthouse. According to the tale, a naval ship (sometimes a battleship or aircraft carrier) spots a light ahead and, assuming it is another ship on a collision course, instructs the other "ship" to change its course. The communication typically goes as follows:

1. The navy captain instructs the other vessel to change course.
2. The reply comes back instructing the navy ship to change course instead.
3. The navy captain, asserting authority, repeats the order to change course.
4. Finally, the reply reveals the true nature of the light source: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."

This mix-up highlights the error of the naval crew in not properly identifying the lighthouse, which is a stationary object, unlike the anticipated moving vessel.

Further insight can be found from sources like Wikipedia and the Richard E. Simmons III website.