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- On 17 October 1942, USS Trigger (SS 237) sank the Japanese freighter Holland Maru close inshore near the mouth of Bungo Strait, off Kyushu.
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- On 17 October 1941, German submarine U-568 torpedoed and damaged USS Kearny (DD-432) near Iceland, resulting in 11 killed and 22 injured. In May 1942, U-568 was sunk by depth charges dropped by British destroyer HMS Hero and destroyer escorts HMS Eridge and HMS Hurworth.
- ActivityRecentNaval History & Heritage Command created the event NHHC PAO Event Focus: The Dep...
- On 17 October 1918, SS Lucia was torpedoed in the Atlantic by German submarine U-155. Lucia had been rigged with “buoyancy boxes” to render her virtually unsinkable. However, a torpedo penetrated to the engine room, killing 2 men, and she sank the next day. Her crew was rescued by the USS Fairfax, who then transferred them to USS Huntington (Armored Cruiser #5).
- On 17 October 1863, during the Civil War, sailors from USS Tahoma and USS Adela boarded the blockade runners Scottish Chief and Kate Dale at old Tampa Bay and destroyed them. During the battle, five of the landing party were killed, 10 were wounded and 5 were taken prisoner. This mission was also to divert the real attention from the shelling of Tampa, Florida.
- On 16 October 1944, USS Tilefish (SS 307) sank Japanese Guard Boat No.2 Kyowa Maru five miles north of Matsuwa Jima.
- On 16 October 1891, two sailors were killed and another 17 men were injured from USS Baltimore by a mob in Valparaiso, Chile. The incident nearly brought conflict between the United States and Chile. Previously, in August, sailors from USS San Francisco and USS Baltimore landed parties to protect American lives. Early in 1892, Chile apologized and compensated for the deaths.
- On 15 October 1943, The Submarine USS Tullibee (SS 284) attacked a 10 Ship Japanese convoy in the Formosa Strait
and sank the transport Ship Chicago Maru. - On 15 October 1957, USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39) reached Valencia, Spain to assist in flood rescue work. The American ambassador to Spain, John Davis Lodge, requested that Lake Champlain provide assistance for rescue operations. The ship's Chickasaw helicopters undertook numerous rescue missions, and the ship's crew fought in the "mud battle" that followed the disaster.
- On 15 October 1955, Lieutenant Gordon Gray, piloting a Douglas A4D-1 "Skyhawk", broke the Class C world speed record for 500 kilometers with a speed of 695.163 mph at Muroc, California.
- On 15 October 1965, U.S. Naval Support Activity Da Nang Vietnam was established. During the Vietnam War, it became the U.S. Navy’s largest overseas logistics command. In 1973, U.S. Naval Support Activity Da Nang was disestablished.
- On 14 October 1942, USS Greenling (SS 213) sank the Japanese army cargo ship Takusei Maru six miles off Todo Saki, off northcoast of Honshu, Also on this date, USS Sculpin (SS 191) sank the army cargo ship Sumiyoushi Maru 75 miles southwest of Kavieng, New Ireland.
- On 14 October 1918, in the first raid-in-force by the Northern Bombing Group in World War I, eight planes of Marine Day Squadron 9 dropped 17 bombs, totaling 2,218 pounds on the German held railroad junction at Thielt, Belgium. Returning, t...he planes were attacked by 12 German fighters. For extraordinary heroism during this occasion Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot and Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson, were awarded the Medal of Honor.See More
- On 14 October 1935, Lieutenant Commander Knefler McGinnis, Lieutenant (jg) James K. Averil, NAP Thomas P.Wilkerson and a crew of three flew an X-P3Y-1 Consolidated patrol plane from Cristobal Harbor, Canal Zone to Alameda, California in 34 hours and 45 minutes and established a new world record for Class C seaplanes of 3,281.383 miles.
- On 13 October 1944, a torpedo dropped from a TBF (VC-9) from escort carrier USS Card (CVE 11) sank the German submarine U-402.
- On 13 October 1952, during the Korean War, USS Lewis (DE 535) was taken under fire by estimated 105 mm shore batteries in the vicinity of Hungnam. Eighty-four rounds from probable radar controlled guns caused no personnel casualties or damage. Lewis countered with 214 rounds and observed one direct hit followed by smoke and fire. The batteries were silenced.
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Detroit -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert delivers his Navy Birthday message to the Fleet in front of U.S. Brig Niagara to commemorate the 237th birthday of the U.S. Navy. - On 13 October 1954, USS Saipan (CVL-48) began relief and humanitarian aid to Haitians who were victims of Hurricane Hazel. The operation ended 19 October.
- On 13 October 1862, during the Civil War, USS America seized Schooner David Crockett attempting to run the blockade out of Charleston with a cargo of turpentine and rosin.
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Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Ray Mabus, congratulates Sailor's and Navy Families on 237 years of warfighting heritage, defending freedom, and protecting U.S. interests around the globe. On, above and below the sea, Happy Birthday Navy! - On 12 October 1942, SBDs (VS-71) sank the Japanese Destroyer Natsugumo off Savo Island.
Also on this date, TBFs (VT 8), Navy and USMC SBDs (VS 3, VS 71, and VMSB 141) and USMC F4Fs (VMF 121, VMF 212, and VMF 224) damaged Japanese Destroyer Murakumo off New Georgia as she was helping survivors at the Battle of Cape Esperance.
She was later scuttled by Japanese Destroyer Shirayuki. - On 12 October 1980, USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) and other ships of Amphibious Forces, Sixth Fleet began assistance to earthquake victims in Al Asnam, Algeria.
- On 12 October 1914, USS Jupiter (AC-3) was the first U.S. Navy ship to transit the Panama Canal. In March 1920, Jupiter was decommissioned. Following conversion, she was renamed USS Langley (CV-1). Upon commissioning in March 1922, Langley became the U.S. Navy’s first aircraft carrier.
- In honor of the Navy’s 237th birthday, the Navy Art Gallery has opened a new Navy Art exhibit at the National Museum of the US Navy. The new venue will feature changing exhibits, replacing the former display space in Bldg 67, which was been closed to visitors in anticipation of renovation. To read more about this new exhibit, please click on the first image.
- On 11 October 1968, Apollo 7 was launched. The first U.S. 3-man space mission was commanded by Commander Walter Schirra, JR. USN, Donn F. Eisele was the Command Module Pilot, and Major Ronnie Cunningham, USMCR, served as Lunar Module pilot. The mission lasted 10 days and 20 hours, with 163 orbits. Recovery was by HS-5 helicopters from USS Essex (CVS-9).
- On 11 October 1776, during the American Revolution, at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold’s 17 ship flotilla was defeated in three long and separate actions as they engaged 25 ships under Captain Pringle. Though defeated, the battle delayed the British advance and caused it to fall back into winter quarters. Note, it was nearly a year before the advance could be renewed.
- NHHC Fans. The Navy Library at NHHC has recently posted the accident reports for each of the aircraft lost in the Flight 19 incident in the purported Bermuda Triangle, December 1945. We invite all to review and share your comments on Flight 19 below.
- On 10 October 1845, the Naval School, later named the Naval Academy, opened in Annapolis, Maryland with 50 midshipmen and seven professors. The first superintendant was Commander Franklin Buchanan. Note: The original Naval School course covered five years, with the first and last being spent at the school and the three intervening years being spent at sea.
- On 9 October 1942, the first three schools for enlisted WAVES open at Stillwater, OK (Yeoman), Bloomington, IN (Storekeepers),
and Madison, WI (Radiomen). - On 9 October 1945, Typhoon Lucie hit Okinawa. A result of the damage, a total of 12 ships were sunk, 222 grounded, and 32 damaged beyond the ability of ships' companies to repair.
- On 9 October 1918, while escorting HMS Aquitania, USS Shaw's (DD-68) rudder jammed just as she was completing the right leg of a zigzag, leaving her headed directly towards the transport. Aquitania then struck Shaw, cutting off 90 feet of the destroyer's bow, mangling her bridge and setting her on fire. Shaw's crew heroically brought her damage under control. 12 lives were lost.
- On 9 October 1814, USS Wasp vanished at sea. On this date, she informed the Swedish brig Adonis that she was “standing for the Spanish Main.” She was never seen again, and all hands were lost.
- On 9 October 1873, Lieutenant Charles Belknap called a meeting of 15 officers at the U.S. Naval Academy to establish the U.S. Naval Institute for the purpose of disseminating scientific and professional knowledge throughout the Navy.
- On 8 October 1960, USS Constellation (CVA-64) was launched.
In 1975, she was reclassified as a multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier and received the designation (CV-64).
In 2003, Constellation was decommissioned.
★ Former shipmates, please come and tell a tale about your time on board Constellation..! - On 8 October 1915, the light cruiser Chester transported British, French, and Russian refugees to Alexandria from Jaffa.
- On 8 October 1842, Commodore Lawrence Kearny, commanding the East Indian Squadron, sent a letter to the Viceroy of China urging that American merchants in China be granted the same treaty privileges as the British. As a result of his letter, Chinese ports were opened to American ships. These agreements were formalized by Caleb Cushing in the Treaty of Wanghia in 1844.
- On 8 October 1812, during the War of 1812, a Boat party under Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliott in a night attack captured HMS Detroit and Caledonia at Fort Erie. HMS Detroit was burned and Caledonia was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1813 and placed in commission as USS Caledonia.
To read more about USS Caledonia, please click here:
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c1/caledonia-i.htm - On 8 October 1955, USS Saratoga (CVA-60) was launched.
In 1972, she was reclassified as a multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier and received the designation (CV-60). In 1994, Saratoga was decommissioned.
★ Former shipmates, please come and tell a tale about your
time on board Saratoga..! - On 7 October 1944, USS Hawkbill (SS 366) and USS Baya (318) attacked a Japanese convoy and sank the Japanese cargo ship Kinugasa Maru about 400 miles west of Manila. Note: the submarines were aware of each other but unaware that both were t...o attack the same target. Also on this date, USS Cabrilla (SS-288) sank Japanese transport No.8 Shin’yo Maru off Vigan, Luzon. The previous day, she damaged the transport Hokurei Maru and sank the tanker No. 2 Yamazmizu Maru.See More