Send us Fan Mail Season 4 Episode 35. Host Michael Ryan interviews David Barnett who was the sonar operator the night of The Southland Encounter. During the third week of February 1987 the New Zealand Frigate HMNZS Southland was 175 miles off the coast of the North Island of New Zealand. At 1 am the ship started tracking a USO that was 20 kms behind the vessel. After 30 minutes the USO went from 20kms behind to underneath the warship in less than 30 seconds. At t...