This Day In United States Naval History

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 5th

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1832 - USS Potomac, becomes the first U.S. Navy ship to entertain royalty, King and Queen of Sandwich Islands (future to be known as Hawaii).

1858 - The last bit of cable is laid by USS Niagara and British ship Agamemnon to complete the first trans-Atlantic cable. Niagara's boats carried the end of the cable ashore at Brills Mouth Island, Newfoundland, and the same day Agamemnon landed her end of the cable at England. The first message flashed across August 16 when Queen Victoria sent a cable to President James Buchanan.

1864 - Rear Adm. David G. Farragut successfully navigates through a deadly torpedo field * Confederates lay in order to block the channel into Mobile Bay. During the battle, Farragut gives his famous quote, Damn the Torpedoes, Full speed ahead!

1882 - The first US Navy steel warships (USS Atlanta, USS Boston, USS Chicago and USS Dolphin), are authorized by Congress, beginning the New Navy. Subsequently known as the A, B, C, D ships, they are built at Chester, Pa. USS Dolphin is commissioned first in 1885, followed by USS Atlanta (1886), USS Boston (1887), and USS Chicago (1889).

1921 - The Yangtze River Patrol Force is established as a command under the Asiatic Fleet. The force serves in the area until December 1941 when the force is disestablished with many of the ships captured, or scuttled, and the crews taken prisoner by the Japanese.

1944 - USS Barbel (SS 316) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship, Miyako Maru, off Tokuno Jima while USS Cero (SS 225) attacks a Japanese convoy off Minanao and sinks oiler, Tsurumi, in Davao Gulf. Also on this date, PBY aircraft sinks small Japanese cargo vessel No.2, Eiko Maru, off Taoelahat.

1990 - Operation Sharp Edge begins, with the Navy and Marines evacuating U.S. citizens and foreign nationals from Liberia during its civil war.

* torpedo field is what are know these days as a mine field.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 6th

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1862 - During the Civil War, CSS Arkansas is destroyed by Confederate Cmdr. Isaac N. Brown to prevent her capture when her engines fail during an encounter with USS Essex.

1917 - During World War I, the tank steamer S.S. Campana is captured and sunk by the German submarine U-61 in the Bay of Biscay. Four out of the five Naval Armed Guard ships are captured, along with the ship's captain, and become the first American sailors to be taken prisoner since war is declared on Germany. Chief Gunner's Mate James Delaney receives the Navy Cross for commanding the Armed Guard on this occasion.

1943 - Just before midnight, Task Force 31.2 waits at Vella Gulf as four Japanese destroyers carrying soldiers and supplies steam into radar range. Not giving away the position until firing their torpedoes, all four Japanese destroyers were subsequently hit. Bursting into flames, the destroyers, Hagikaze, Arashi, and Kawakaze were sunk. The last one, Shigure, is hit by a dud and escapes into the night.

1944 - PV-1 (VB 130), PBMs (VP 204 and 205), along with USAAF B-18 aircraft sink German submarine U 615 off Venezuela.

1988 - USS San Juan (SSN 751) is commissioned at New London, Conn. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine is the third to be named after San Juan, Puerto Rico. The boat is assigned to Submarine Group Two.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 7th

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1782 - The Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart, is established by Gen. George Washington.

1899 - Five officers and 121 enlisted Marines commanded by Maj. Allen C. Kelton, USMC, land at Agana, Guam, from USS Yosemite, as a garrison for the naval station which is later established.

1918 - Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is established as the Naval Mine Depot when President Woodrow Wilson signs proclamation.

1972 - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt Jr. issues Z-Gram 116, which enables Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women in the US Navy.

1942 - During the Guadalcanal Campaign, the armada led by Rear Adm. Richmond K. Turner lands Marines on Guadalcanal and seizes a nearly-complete airfield at Guadalcanal's Lunga Point in the first U.S. land offensive of World War II. To the north, Tulagi Island, and a few miles to the east, Tanambogo and Gavutu Islands, Marines also land and fight bitter battles, concluding a few days after. Nonetheless, the campaigns final outcome is in doubt for nearly four months and is not certain until the Japanese evacuate their surviving troops at Guadalcanal on Feb. 8, 1943.

1943 - TBF and F4F (VC 1) from USS Card (CVE 11) sink the German submarine (U 117) west of the Azores.

1990 - Operation Desert Shield is ordered by President George H.W. Bush. Desert Shield is the largest overseas deployment since Vietnam, to protect Saudi Arabia after Iraqi's invasion of Kuwait.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 8th

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1860 - Screw frigate USS San Jacinto, commanded by Capt. William M. Armstrong, captures the American slaver Storm King with 619 slaves on board, off the Congo River. A prize crew from the steam frigate sailed the captured slaver to Monrovia and turned 616 freed Negroes over to the United States agent there before proceeding to Norfolk with the prize.

1861 - During the Civil War, the frigate USS Santee commanded by Capt. Eagle captured the schooner C.P. Knapp in the Gulf of Mexico.

1863 - During the Civil War, the screw steam gunboat, USS Sagamore, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. English, seizes British sloop, HMS Clara Louisa, off Indian River, Fla. Later the same day, Lt. Cmdr. English captures British schooners, HMS Southern Rights and HMS Shot, and Confederate schooner, CSS Ann, off Gilberts Bar.

1924 - USS Shenandoah (ZR 1) secures herself to the mooring mast on USS Patoka (AO 9), making the first use of the mooring mast erected on shipboard to facilitate airship operations with the fleet.

1933 - Commander, Aircraft Battle Force, requests the authority to use variable-pitch propellers during forthcoming exercises on six Boeing F4B-4s of VF 3 based on board USS Langley (CV 1) and on one (F4B 4) of (VF 1) on board USS Saratoga (CV 3).

1942 - USS Narwhal (SS 167) sinks Japanese crab boat, Bifuku Maru, southeast of Shiriya Saki while USS S-38 (SS 143) sinks Japanese transport, Meiyo Maru, at the southern entrance of St. George Channel, between New Britain and New Ireland. Also on this date, USS Silversides (SS 236) attacks a Japanese convoy emerging from Kobe Harbor and sinks freighter Nikkei Maru in Kii Strait.

1987 - USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) is commissioned at Lockheed Shipyard, Seattle, Wash. The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship is named for Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Md., the fort for which its 1814 defense inspired Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics for the Star Spangled Banner.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 9th

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1842 - The Webster-Ashburton Treaty is signed. In the treaty, the United States and Great Britain agree to cooperate in suppressing the slave trade.

1867 - One officer and 46 Marines and Seamen from the steamer, USS Wachusett, land at Shanghai, China, to assist in fighting a fire.

1942 - A Japanese force runs through the Allied forces guarding Savo Sound, sinking three American heavy cruisers, USS Quincy (CA 39), USS Vincennes (CA 44), and USS Astoria (CA 34), along with other damaged Allied vessels. As a result of the loss, the sound gains the nickname, Iron Bottom Sound.

1943 - TBF aircraft from Composite Squadron One (VC 1) based onboard USS Card (CVE 11) sink German submarine U 664, 570 miles west of Fayal, Azores.

1945 - Following the Aug. 6 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a second atom bomb is dropped on Japan at Nagasaki, eventually resulting in Japan's unconditional surrender.

2008 - USS Sterett (DDG 104) is commissioned at Baltimore, Md., the birthplace of the ships namesake: Master Commandant Andrew Sterett, who fought in the Quasi-War and Barbary Wars for the Navy.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 10th

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1812 - The frigate USS Constitution captures and burns the brig, HMS Lady Warren, off Cape Race, off Labrador, Canada.

1831 - The U.S. flag gains the nickname of Old Glory from William Driver, master of the brig USS Charles Daggert.

1916 - The first naval aircraft production contract begins when the Bureau of Construction and Repair contacts Glenn H. Curtiss via telegram asking him to supply 30 school hydro aeroplanes. The N-9s become the Navy's most popular training aircraft during World War I.

1921 - The Bureau of Aeronautics is established by General Order. Medal of Honor recipient, Rear Adm. William Moffett is the first Bureau Chief.

1942 - Off Kavieng, New Ireland, USS S-44 (SS 155) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese cruiser, Kako, as she retires from the Battle of Savo Island.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 11th

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1861 - USS Penguin, commanded by Cmdr. John L. Livingston, engages blockade-runner Louisa during the Civil War. The blockade-runner hits a sandbar near Cape Fear, N.C., and sinks

1877 - Prof. Asaph Hall of the U.S. Naval Observatory discovers the first of two satellites of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, using the largest refractor of the time, a USNO 26-inch (66-cm) telescope.

1898 - During the Spanish-American War, USS Cushing (TB 1), USS Gwin (TB 16), and USS McKee (TB 18) captured and burned the Spanish schooner Jover Genard at Carendas, Cuba.

1943 - Aircraft from Composite Squadron One (VC 1) based onboard USS Card (CVE 11) sinks German submarine, (U 525), about 376 miles west-southwest of Corvo Island, Azores.

1960 - USNS Haiti Victory (T-AK 238), using Navy helicopters and frogmen, recover Discoverer 13 satellite capsule in the Pacific Ocean, the first recovery of a U.S. satellite from orbit.

2001 - USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) is christened and launched at New Orleans, La. The Bob Hope-class large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship is part of Military Sealift Commands prepositioning program that serves as dry cargo surge sealift carriers.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 12th

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1898 - USS Mohican and USS Philadelphia (C 4) crew members take part in official ceremonies marking the assumption of sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands by the United States.

1918 - The Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels approves the acceptance of women in the Marine Corps. The following day, Aug. 13, Opha M. Johnson becomes the first woman Marine.

1942 - USS Cleveland (CL 55) demonstrates the effectiveness of radio-proximity fuze (VT-fuze) against aircraft by successfully destroying three drones with proximity bursts fired by her five inch guns.

1944 - USS Pompon (SS 267) and USS Puffer (SS 268) attack Japanese convoys and damage and sink Japanese destroyers.

1957 - The first test of the Automatic Carrier Landing System is completed by Lt. Cmdr. Don Walker when he lands a F3D Skyknight on board USS Antietam (CV 36).

1988 - USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) is commissioned at New York City. The cruiser is the third ship named after naval battle in a New York lake where Commodore Thomas McDonough defeated a larger and more heavily armed British squadron Sept. 11, 1814.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 13th

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1777 - A spar torpedo made by David Bushnell is used unsuccessfully against HMS Cerberus, off New London, Conn. Bushnell and his brother, Ezra, also designed the first submersible vessel: Turtle. Two ships have been named after David Bushnell, USS Bushnell (AS 2), 1915-1940 (renamed Sumner), and USS Bushnell (AS 15), 1943-1980.

1812 - During the War of 1812 and while returning to New York from Bermuda waters, the frigate, USS Essex, commanded by Capt. David Porter, engages the British brig HMS Alert in intense gunfire, broadsides the British brig and forcing her surrender.

1870 - The armed tug, USS Palos, becomes the first Navy ship to transit the Suez Canal.

1945 - USS Atule (SS 403) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.6 and damages Coast Defense Vessel No.16 off Hokkaido. Also on this date, USS Torsk (SS 423) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship, Kaiho Maru.

1952 - While serving in combat with a 1st Marine Division Rifle Company during the Korean War, Hospitalman John E. Kilmer exhibits great heroism moving from one injured man to the next administering aid under intense enemy fire. While administering aid to a fallen Marine and using his own body as a shield, Kilmer is mortally wounded. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" at that time, he is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

1994 - USS Stout (DDG 55) is commissioned at Houston, Texas. The sixth Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is named for Rear Adm. Herald F. Stout for his actions as a commander of USS Claxton during World War II.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 14th

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1813 - In the early morning, the brig USS Argus, commanded by William H. Allen, battles HMS Pelican, off Englands coast. During battle, Allens right leg is shot off, but he remains on station until fainting. As Pelicans men board, USS Argus strikes her colors. Allen died four days later.

1886 - The Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney signs General Order 354 establishing the Naval Gun Factory at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill agreed to the Atlantic Charter at Argentia, Newfoundland.

1945 - USS Spikefish (SS 404) sink the Japanese submarine (I 373), in the Sea of Japan. Also on this date, USS Torsk (SS 423) sinks Coast Defense Vessel (No.13), and Coast Defense Vessel No.47.

1945 - The Japanese accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and agree to surrender, ending World War II. It is known as V-J Day! Announcing the news to the country in the evening, President Harry S. Truman proclaims a two-day holiday. Explosive celebrations immediately follow as Americans and their Allies rejoice that World War II is finally over.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 15th

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1895 - The battleship USS Texas is commissioned. She is the first American steel-hulled battleship. USS Texas serves off Cuba during the Spanish-American War and takes part in the Battle of Santiago.

1908 - The first Navy Post Offices are opened on board Navy ships following a June 27, 1908 General Order 74 establishing them.

1944 - Operation Dragoon begins, which is the Allied invasion of Southern France. Western Naval Task Force, commanded by Vice Adm. Henry K. Hewitt, USN, lands the Allied force on the front between Toulon and Cannes.

1953 - Adm. Arthur W. Radford becomes the first naval officer to be appointed as the Chairman, Joints Chief of Staff, serving two-terms until Aug. 15, 1957.

1987 - USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is christened and launched in San Diego as a Mercy-class hospital ship following conversion from a San Clemente-class supertanker. She is the third Navy ship named Comfort.

1998 - USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) is commissioned at Pensacola, Fla.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 16th

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1822 - USS Grampus investigates and pursues a brig flying Spanish colors. When called upon to surrender, the privateer brig Palmyra from Puerto Rico fires cannon and musket fire. USS Grampus fires back on Palmyras broadsides reducing Palmyras rigging to a complete wreck, killing one and wounding six. The brig surrenders with a crew of 88, one long 18-pounder gun and eight 18-pound carronades. Her officers acknowledge they had robbed the American schooner USS Coquette.

1863 - During the Civil War, three Union ships, USS Rhode Island, USS De Soto and USS Gertrude each capture steamers loaded with cargoes of turpentine, cotton, tobacco, coffee, cigars and dry goods from the Bahama Islands to the Gulf of Mexico to Cuba.

1864 - During the Civil War, USS Saratoga, commanded by Cmdr. George Colvocoresses, captures 100 prisoners and a quantity of arms on a raid into McIntosh County, Ga.

1944 - USS Croaker (SS 246) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper, Taito Maru.

1954 - Operation Passage to Freedom begins. The operation transports refugees from Haiphong to Saigon, Vietnam.

1958 - USS Seadragon (SSN 584) launches at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. USS Seadragon decommissions in 1984.

1986 - USS Nevada (SSBN 733) is commissioned at Groton, Conn. The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine is the fourth named after the Silver State.

2009 - USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) is christened and launched at San Diego, Calif. The Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship is named to honor Commodore Matthew C. Perry, who led the expedition to open trading between the West and Japan.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 17th

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1812 - The frigate, USS President, captures British schooner, HMS L'Adeline, in the North Atlantic.

1841 - Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger signs that the Chief Clerk's signature is valid on the certified copy of the medal citation awarded to Capt. Stephen Decatur, for his gallantry in action against the British frigate, HMS Macedonian, on Oct. 25, 1812.

1942 - The submarines USS Nautilus (SS 168) and USS Argonaut (SM 1) land more than 200 Marines on Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, in the first amphibious attack made from submarines.

1943 - Army troops enter Messina terminating the campaign in Sicily. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 15 conducts unopposed landings from motor torpedo boats (PT 215), (PT 216) and (PT 217) on islands of Lipari and Stromboli. Commander Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 15, Lt. E.A. Dubose, accepts the unconditional surrender of the Lipari Islands (Alicudi, Filicudi, Vulcano, Stromboli, Salina and Lipari). Destroyer Trippe (DD 403) covers the operation.

1959 - Adm. Arleigh A. Burke, is reappointed as Chief of Naval Operations for his third, two-year term, serving the longest as Chief of Naval Operations.

1962
The Navy's first hydrofoil patrol craft, USS High Point (PCH 1) is launched at Seattle, Wash.

2002 - USS McCampbell (DDG 85) is commissioned at San Francisco, Calif. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is named for Medal of Honor recipient Capt. David McCampbell, the Navys leading ace pilot during World War II.

2017 - Expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) is commissioned in a ceremony at Khalifa bin Salman Port in Al Hidd, Bahrain. The ship honors Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, a distinguished combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War. The commissioning transitions the ship, previously a U.S. naval ship (USNS), to a U.S. naval warship.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 18th

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1838 - The Exploring Expedition led by Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on a world cruise.

1908 - The first Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, is appointed. Under her leadership, 19 additional nurses are recruited and trained for naval service during 1908.

1918 - The first naval railway gun, a 14-inch, 50 caliber, Mark IV Navy gun mounted on a railway carriage, became operational in St. Nazaire, France during World War I. The "rail guns" operated until the end of the war.

1943 - USS Philadelphia (CL 41) and USS Boise (CL 47) and four destroyers shell Gioia, Taura, and Palmi on the Italian mainland.

1966 - The first ship-to-shore satellite radio message is sent from USS Annapolis (AGMR 1) in the South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

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This Day In United States Naval History - August 19th

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1812 - The frigate USS Constitution captures the frigate HMS Guerriere, off Halifax, Nova Scotia after an intense battle.

1818 - Capt. James Biddle, as commanding officer of USS Ontario, takes possession of Oregon Territory for United States.

1936 - Lt. B. L. Braun, pilot, completes test bombing against the submarine USS R-8 (SS 85) off the Virginia capes, sinking the old submarine and proving the value of properly armed aircraft in antisubmarine warfare.

1943 - USS Finback (SS 230) sinks the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser (No.109) off the eastern Celebes.

1981 - Two F-14 Tomcats of VF-41 shoot down two Libyan (Su 22) Sukhoi aircraft over international waters. Flying off USS Nimitz (CVA(N) 68), the Tomcats are on a reconnaissance mission for a missile-firing exercise being conducted by U.S. ships from two carrier battle groups when they are fired on by the Libyan planes.

2000 - USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is the first ship named for Marine Private First Class Oscar P. Austin, who earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his “indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty” after he twice threw himself between a North Vietnamese weapon and a wounded comrade on Feb. 23, 1969.

2017 - A team of civilian researchers led by entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul G. Allen announces they found the wreck of World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35), which was lost July 30, 1945, in 18,000 feet of water. About 800 of the ship's 1,196 Sailors and Marines survived the sinking, but after four to five days in the water - suffering exposure, dehydration, drowning, and shark attacks - only 316 survived.