This Day In United States Naval History

This Day In United States Naval History - February 21st

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1942 - USS Triton (SS 201) sinks Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shokyu Maru in the East China Sea, 60 miles south of Quelpart Island.

1945 - Japanese kamikazes sink escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea (CVE 95) while off Iwo Jima with the loss of 318 men. USS Saratoga (CV-3) is struck by five kamikazes but survives, although 123 men are killed.

1952 - During the Korean War, USS Symbol (AM 123), is conducting a routine check sweep in the vicinity of Mayang-do in company with USS Murrelet (AM 372), when she observes four splashes from an estimated 75 mm shore battery. The ships return fire, which silences the enemy guns.

1987 - Guided Missile Cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) is commissioned.

1991 - During Operation Desert Storm, AV-8B aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 331 conduct the first of 243 sorties off the deck of USS Nassau (LHA-4).

This Day In United States Naval History - February 23rd

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1795 - The U.S. Navy Office of Purveyor of Supplies is established.

1919 - The first ship named for an enlisted man, USS Osmond Ingram (DD 255), is launched.

1944 - In an overnight raid, Task Force 58 planes bomb the Japanese at Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam in the first raid of the Mariana Islands.

1945 - Four days after landing on Iwo Jima, an invasion where uncommon valor was a common virtue, the United States flag is raised on Mt. Suribachi.

This Day In United States Naval History - February 25th

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1861 - The sloop of war Saratoga of the U.S. African Squadron captures the slaver sloop Express.

1917 - Marines and a naval landing force from USS Connecticut (BB 18), USS Michigan (BB 27), and USS South Carolina (BB 26) move into Guantanamo City, Cuba to protect American citizens during the sugar revolt.

1933 - USS Ranger (CV 4), the US Navy's first true aircraft carrier, is launched.

1944 - USS Hoe (SS 258) attacks a Japanese convoy at the mouth of Davao Gulf, sinking the fleet tanker Nissho Maru and damaging the fleet tanker Kyokuto Maru, while USS Rasher (SS 269) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Ryusei Maru and freighter Tango Maru off the north coast of Bali.

1991 - During Operation Desert Storm, USS Wisconsin (BB 64) and USS Missouri (BB 63) provide naval gunfire support and other operations.

This Day In United States Naval History - February 27th

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1928 - Pilot Cmdr. Theodore G. Ellyson (Naval Aviator No. 1) and crewmembers Lt. Cmdr. Hugo Schmidt and Lt. Roger S. Ransehousen died when their XOL-7 observation amphibian, BuNo A-7335, crashed into the Chesapeake Bay while en route from NAS Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Annapolis, Maryland.

1942 - Seaplane tender USS Langley (AV 3), carrying 32 U.S. Army Air Force P-40 aircraft for the defense of Java, is bombed by Japanese naval land attack planes 75 miles south of Tjilatjap, Java. Due to the damage, Langley is shelled and torpedoed by USS Whipple (DD 217).

1942 - The Battle of the Java Sea begins, where the 14-ship Allied forces (American, Dutch, British and Australian) attempt to stop the 28-ship Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies colony of Java. The Japanese, during battles over three days, decimates the Allied forces, sinking at least 11 ships, killing more than 3,370 and taking nearly 1,500 prisoners.

1944 - Three US Navy submarines sink three Japanese cargo ships: Grayback (SS 208) sinks Ceylon Maru in the East China Sea; Cod (SS 244) sinks Taisoku Maru west of Halmahera while Trout (SS 202) sinks Aki Maru.

1945 - Submarine USS Scabbardfish (SS 397) sinks Japanese guardboat No. 6 Kikau Maru, 100 miles northeast of Keelung, Formosa, while USS Blenny (SS 324) attacks a Japanese convoy off French Indochina and sinks merchant tanker Amato Maru off Cape Padaran.

1945 - Land-based patrol aircraft from VPB 112, along with others from three British vessels, HMS Labaun and HMS Loch Fada and HMS Wild Goose, sink German submarine U 327 in the English Channel.

1973 - First airborne mine sweep in a live minefield takes place in the Haiphong, Vietnam ship channel by helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Twelve on board USS New Orleans (LPH 11).

2017 - The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) is decommissioned after 33 years of service during a ceremony held at Keyport Undersea Museum.

This Day In United States Naval History - March 1st

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1865 - Side-wheel steamship Harvest Moon, while underway near Georgetown, S.C., with Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren on board, hits a Confederate mine (or "torpedo" in contemporary terms) and sinks with the loss of one of her crew.

1942 - Naval Reserve pilot Ensign William Tepuni, flying a Lockheed Hudson reconnaissance, light bombing and transport aircraft (PBO) from VP-82 Squadron based at Naval Air Station Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada, attacks and sinks German submarine U 656 southwest of Newfoundland. It is the first U-boat sunk by U.S. forces in World War II.

1953 - During the Korean War, USS Valley Forge (CVA 45) aircraft raid the No.1 power plant at Chosen, Korea and heavily damage the strongly defended industrial site.

1991 - Following USS Missouri's (BB 63) bombardment of Faylaka Island during Operation Desert Storm, hundreds of Iraqi soldiers wave white flags and surrender to the battleships Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) flying overhead.

This Day In United States Naval History - March 3rd

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1776 - Under the command of Commodore Esek Hopkins and Marine Capt. Samuel Nicholas, the Continental Navy makes the first American amphibious landing operation at New Providence, Bahamas, and captures the forts for much needed ordnance and gunpowder.

1777 - The Continental brig Cabot comes under attack by the British frigate HMS Milford and is run ashore off the coast of Nova Scotia, becoming the first Continental navy ship captured by the British.

1871 - Position of the Surgeon General of the Navy is created.
Previously appointed Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery on 28 June 1869, William M. Wood assumed the newly appointed position, making him the first Surgeon General of the Navy.

1915 - The Office of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is established by Congress with Adm. William S. Benson named the first CNO.

1915 - The Navy Reserve is officially established.

1942 - USS Perch (SS 176), after being depth-charged and irreparably damaged by Japanese destroyers Ushio and Sazanami, is scuttled by her crew in the Java Sea. All hands survive but are taken prisoner. Also on this date, USS Asheville (PG 21) is sunk by gunboat fire of Japanese destroyers Arashi and Nowaki south of Java.

1945 - During the Battle for Iwo Jima, three Marines and two Sailors each commit acts of such conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty to have them later awarded the Medal of Honor. The servicemen are: Cpl. Charles J. Berry, (posthumous); Pvt. 1st Class William R. Caddy (posthumous); Sgt. William G. Harrell; Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Jack Williams (posthumous); and Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class George E. Wahlen.

1969 - Initially attached to Fighter Squadron (VF) 121 and operated out of a trailer, the Navy's Fighter Weapons School, also known as "Top Gun," is established.

This Day In United States Naval History - March 5th

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1942 - The "Seabees" name and insignia are officially authorized. Rear Adm. Ben Moreell personally furnishes them with their official motto: Construimus, Batuimus -- "We Build, We Fight."

1943 - Auxiliary aircraft carrier USS Bogue (ACV 9) begins the first anti-submarine operations by an escort carrier in the Atlantic as the nucleus of the pioneer American anti-submarine hunter-killer group.

1945 - USS Sea Robin (SS 407) sinks three Japanese gunboats and USS Bashaw (SS 241) sinks two Japanese tankers.

1960 - USS Newport News (CA 148) and personnel from Port Lyautey complete emergency relief operations at Agadir, Morocco after Feb. 29 earthquake.

2005 - USS Nitze (DDG 94) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is named after former Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze, who was in attendance for the ship's launching and christening in April 2004, but died before the commissioning ceremony.