This Week in Naval History

This Week in Naval History

11 Apr 1783: Congress declared the end of the American Revolution

On 11 April 1783, Congress declared the end of war with Great Britain, officially ending the American Revolution. The preliminary articles of peace were approved by Congress on 15 April 1783, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified on 14 January 1784.


12 April 1981: 1st re-usable Space Shuttle launched

On 12 April 1981, the first re-useable Space Shuttle, Columbia (STS-1) was launched with an all US Navy crew. Captain John W. Young, USN (Ret.) commanded, while LCDR Robert L. Crippen, USN was the pilot. Mission duration was 2 days, 6 hours, and 20 minutes. Sixteen of the shuttle's heat-shielding silicon tiles were lost and 148 damaged during reentry.


13 Apr 1952: 200 tons of aircraft ordnance delivered to N. Korea

On 13 April 1952, during the Korean War, sorties launched from USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) and Boxer (CV 21), delivered 200 tons of aircraft ordnance to the North Korean target area.


14 Apr 1898: USS Solace (AH-2) was commissioned

On 14 April 1898, the first post Civil War hospital ship, USS Solace (AH-2) was commissioned and soon participated in the Spanish-American War attending to wounded servicemen from battles in Cuba. After time in the Pacific, she was ordered to the Atlantic in 1908. Solace served until decommissioned in 1920 and remained in the reserves until scrapped in 1930.


15 Apr 1912: US Navy sailed to assist RMS Titanic survivors

On 15 April 1912, the scout cruisers USS Chester and USS Salem sailed from Massachusetts to assist RMS Titanic survivors and to escort RMS Carpathia, which carried the survivors of the Titanic, to New York.


16 Apr 1947: Navy Nurse Corps members gained commissioned rank

On 16 April 1947, Congress passed the Army-Navy Nurses Act, giving Navy Nurse Corps members commissioned rank. Note, the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps was formally established by Congress in 1908, though nurses volunteered on board US Navy ships beforehand, such as during the Civil War on board USS Red Rover and during the Spanish-American War on board USS Solace (AH-2).


17 Apr 1778: Ranger captured British ship Lord Chatham

On 17 April 1778, during the American Revolution, the sloop-of-war Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, captured the British ship, Lord Chatham, in St. George’s Channel. While off the coast of Ireland on 20 April, she sank a schooner. Previously, on 14 April, Ranger sank a brig off Cape Clear.