In 1969, the aircraft carrier rammed and sank another destroyer. During the night of 2–3 June, was escorting the carrier during multinational wargames in the South China Sea. Ordered to the plane guard station, "Evans" crosses the carrier's bows and was cut in two, killing 74 United States personnel. A Joint RAN-USN Board of Inquiry was established, which found "Melbourne"s Captain John Stevenson and three officers from "Evans" at fault. Despite being cleared by a RAN court-martial, Stevenson resigned after receiving similar treatment to Robertson in the first collision. HMAS "Melbourne" is believed to be the only warship to sink two friendly vessels in peacetime.