On April 19, 1972, during a major North Vietnam offensive, a task force of four US ships was sailing off the coast of Vietnam. They were the USS Oklahoma City, USS Sterett, the USS Lloyd Thomas and the USS Higbee. They were attacked by three North Vietnamese MiGs in an attack known as battle of Dong Hoi. In an attempt to surprise the task force, the MiGs came in low, described as getting their feet wet. Despite the official stories, they did not surprise the task force, which had spotted them long before engagement range and were ready to shoot.