Point of Diversion (Bucharest Dispute)

Background
The Point of Divergence in the Bucharest Dispute timeline, is that instead of failing to intercept the Bucharest, a Soviet ship passing through the blockade, the two ships tasked with intercepting it, the USS Essex and the USS Gearing, succeed in outrunning and boarding the Bucharest.

The crew are completely passive and state that there are no contraband materials on board, that it is only bringing supplies to the Soviets stationed there and also the citizens. After one search of the cargo hold, nothing is found, but when a seaman decides to take another look-around, he goes down to the hold and discovers munitions hidden behind some supplies.

Conflict
The seaman, Ensign Paul S. O'Ryan, proceeds to scramble to tell his crew-mates of the discovery. As soon as the words are spoken, several weapons are already drawn. The conflict would not have happened, had it not been escalated by the lie the Soviet crew members told, and the first shot is fired by Ensign Michael D. Rube.

As soon as the first shot is fired, O'Ryan scrambles to the deck of one of the ships to warn the mainland of his discovery. The USS Essex keeps parallel to the Bucharest, while the USS Gearing draws back in case of enemy fire. The firefight aboard the deck continues, with aid from soldiers upon the Gearing and Essex.

After a devastating firefight that the US forces were completely unprepared for, the remaining seamen retreat onto the USS Essex, the Soviet crew unable to follow due to suppressing fire from the crew members. As the Essex pulls away, the Gearing begins to open fire upon the Bucharest's decks. The Soviet crew members suffer devastating losses, and resistance is futile against two battleships.

Aftermath
The Bucharest is sunk by the two overpowering battleships, and word of the deceit spreads to the American government. The Soviets and Cubans are also both quite triggered by the sinking of a tanker, and this leads to tension between Cuba, Soviets in Cuba, their allies, and the US and her allies.