Question

What happened to the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin?

Answer 1

Nothing

Explanation:

It was reported to have been attacked and yet the alleguation proved false and served as a pretext to start the Vietnam War in 1964. It led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which enabled the president to carry out the escalation without any hindrance from Congress.

Answer 2

Supposedly, the USS Maddox was attacked, although realistically, nothing.

Explanation:

In the Gulf of Tonkin, it was reported by the media that the USS Maddox was shot by `2` North Vietnamese ships, in order for President Johnson to send troops, funds, supplies, ammo, weapons, etc over to Vietnam to start the Vietnam war.

Although, it was later found out that this was a lie, in order to send the troops in Vietnam. It gave Johnson an excuse to send troops in from the reasons to start the war which includes The Failure of Ngo Dinh Diem's government, The Domino Theory and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, etc.