: Denied use of the Suez Canal by Britain, they had to sail all the way around Africa. Along the way, sailors picked up various exotic pets, including snakes and crocodiles , which ended up roaming the decks.

: Their refrigeration failed, forcing them to dump massive amounts of rotten meat into the sea, which led to a swarm of sharks following the fleet for part of their journey. Interesting Story Ideas & Types

If you are looking for inspiration to write your own story, here are some common themes and starting points:

: Near England, the jumpy Russian sailors mistook British fishing trawlers for Japanese torpedo boats. They opened fire for twenty minutes, sinking a British boat and accidentally hitting two of their own ships. This nearly caused Britain to declare war on Russia.