I have heard the nickname, "Sinking Sara", for the USS Saratoga (CV-60), forever. Even though my last deployment was on the Sara, I don't recall hearing the true story behind the nickname. Many years ago, a retired Master Chief told me that the ship earned that name, due to it almost sinking at a dock in Yokosuka, Japan because one of the ship's crewmembers had left some petcock valves open.

I did some Google searching. Plenty of information on the ship, and even a reference to that nickname; but no further explanation.

Am betting someone here knows!

NC