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Thursday, July 18, 2013

This Week in Naval History



 18 Jul 1779: Capture of 11 British prizes off Newfoundland Banks

On 18 July 1779, in the largest prize value of the American Revolution, Commodore Abraham Whipple’s squadron consisting of Continental frigates Providence, Queen of France and sloop Ranger, captured 11 British prizes off the Newfoundland Banks sailing from Jamaica. The ships were Holderness, Dawes, George, Friendship, Blenheim, Thetis, Fort William, Neptune and three smaller vessels. The cargoes captured were worth over $1,000,000.



19 Jul 1918: MOH – Lieutenant Joel T. Boone, MC, USN

On 19 July 1918, while serving with the Sixth Regiment Marines in the vicinity of Vierzy, France, Lieutenant Joel T. Boone, MC, twice left the shelter of a ravine. Bravely, he went forward onto the open field where there was no protection and, despite the extreme enemy fire of all calibers, through a heavy mist of gas, applied dressings and first aid to wounded Marines. For his actions on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Boone later attained the rank of Vice Admiral.

20 Jul 1969: First Man to Set Foot on the Moon

On 20 July 1969, former Navy pilot Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. While taking the first step, he said, "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong was Commander of Apollo 11, which during its 8 day mission landed on the Sea of Tranquility. Michael Collins was the Command Module Pilot and Edwin “Buzz” E. Aldrin Jr., was the Lunar Module Pilot. Recovery was by HS-4 helicopters from USS Hornet (CVS-12).

21 Jul 1918: German sub U 156 attacked tugboats off Massachuset

On 21 July 1918, during World War I, German submarine U 156 surfaced and fired on US tugboat Perth Amboy and four barges, three miles off Nauset Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. HS-2L and R-9 seaplanes from Naval Air Station Chatham attacked U 156, but the submarine submerged and escaped. Note, just two-days earlier, the submarine sank USS San Diego off Fire Island, New York. U 156 finally met her fate when she was apparently mined in September 1918 transiting the Northern Passage.

22 Jul 1802: USS Constellation defeated 9 Corsair gunboats

On 22 July 1802, during the First Barbary War, the frigate Constellation, commanded by Captain Alexander Murray, defeated nine Corsair gunboats off Tripoli, sinking two.

23 Jul 1950: USS Boxer (CV 21) set Pacific crossing record

On 23 July 1950, USS Boxer (CV-21) set the record of crossing the Pacific, bringing aircraft, troops and supplies for the Korean War, arriving at Yokosuka, Japan. She carried a load of 145 P-51 and 6 L-5 Air Force aircraft, 19 Navy aircraft, 1,012 passengers and 2,000 tons of additional cargo, all urgently needed for operations in Korea. In making this delivery, Boxer broke all existing records for a Pacific crossing, steaming from Alameda, California, to Yokosuka in 8 days and 16 hours. Of note, on her return trip to the United States on 27 July, she cut the time down to 7 days, 10hours and 36 minutes.

24 Jul 1863: USS Iroquis captured Confederate blockade-runner

On 24 July 1863, during the Civil War, the steam sloop of war Iroquis captured the Confederate blockade-runner Merrimac off North Carolina. Purchased by the US Navy in March 1864, she was converted into a gunboat and commissioned USS Merrimac. While en route to the Gulf of Mexico in January 1865, the gunboat encountered heavy weather that twice forced her into port. Back at sea on 15 January, USS Merrimac was overcome by the stormy seas and sank after her crew had been rescued by mail steamer Morning Star.


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