SeaWaves Today in History April 25, 2009 1859 - At Port Said, Egypt, ground is broken for the Suez Canal, an artificial waterway intended to stretch 101 miles across the isthmus of Suez and connect the Mediterranean and the Red seas. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French diplomat who organized the colossal undertaking, delivered the pickax blow that inaugurated construction. 1862 - Admiral David Farragut captures New Orleans a day after his fleet successfully sailed past two Confederate forts on the Mississippi River the day before, and the Confederates lose a major city early in the war 1898 - Congress declares war existed with Spain since 21 April 1912 - Steamship Alameda crashes into Colman Dock in Seattle 1914 - First combat observation mission by Navy plane, at Veracruz, Mexico 1915 - Previous efforts to breach the Dardanelles by naval power alone having narrowly failed, British, Australian and New Zealand troops were landed at dawn along the Gallipoli peninsula, whilst French troops landed as a diversion across the straits at Kum Kale. The British landed at Cape Helles at the southern tip of the peninsula, whilst the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) came ashore further north at Ari Burnu, better remembered as ANZAC Cove. The operation was not a success as the troops rapidly became bogged down by determined Turkish defenses and never came near to successfully linking the two bridgeheads. Twelve Victoria Crosses were awarded for actions that day. Commander Unwin, Midshipman Malleson, Midshipman Drewry, Able Seaman Williams and Seaman Samson were all decorated for their heroic efforts aboard the converted assault ship River Clyde and her accompanying lighters to put the troops ashore at Cape Helles under murderous fire. Six officers and men of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers were elected to receive the Victoria Cross in recognition of that unit's overall performance in taking the cliffs above Cape Helles despite horrendous losses. And Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall, RNVR, serving as an infantryman with the Royal Naval Division, was decorated for rescuing numerous wounded men from the beach 1916 - Submarine HMS E22 was sunk by UB-18 in the North Sea. E22 was on surface passage in the North Sea. At just after 1150 a torpedo fired from German submarine UB18 struck the vessel sending her immediately to the bottom. Of the crew of 33 only two survived having been picked up by U18 and taken as prisoners of war 1917 - Destroyer HMS Woolston laid down 1918 - Destroyer USS Claxton laid down 1918 - Destroyers USS Boggs & Kilty launched 1918 - A sad day for Canadian Naval Aviation. Four former RNAS pilots, including two brothers, die - --Lt Albert Nathaniel Baker (Rodney ON) RNAS prior transfer to the RFC, is killed in action. Sopwith Camel D1776, 73 Squadron RAF. --Capt Norman Ainsley Magor, DSC, (Montreal) operating Curtiss H12 #8677 is shot down over the North Sea during a running fight between three British flying boats and seven German fighter seaplanes. Magor and his three-man crew, including a USN Ensign, are lost. German naval ace Oblt F. Christiansen of SFL1 claims the victory. (Magor won the DSC for sinking U-32 in September 1917). --Magor's brother, Captain Gerald Atkinson MAGOR, flying Sopwith Camel B6428 with 201 Squadron was shot down by Ltn H. Weiss of Jasta 11 on the 22nd of April. Captured, he dies of wounds about this same date. --Stanley Wallace Rosevear, DSC & Bar, (Port Arthur ON) of 201 RAF is killed in Sopwith Camel B6231. A twenty-five victory ace, Rosevear fails to pull out of a dive on a practice target 1918 - Submarine HMS H23 completed 1918 - Submarine HMS R1 launched 1918 - Submarine HMS R2 launched 1919 - Minesweeper USS Rail launched 1919 - Destroyer USS Thomas commissioned 1919 - Minesweeper USS Thrush commissioned 1923 - Destroyer FS Tornade laid down 1929 - Heavy cruiser USS Pensacola launched 1934 - Soviet submarine S-3 laid down 1937 - Submarine USS Seal launched 1940 - U-436, U-438 laid down 1940 - HMS Ark Royal launches several air strikes on German positions in Norway 1940 - The rescue of Lt (A) ABF Fraser-Harris & Crewman LS George Russell shot down in the attack by 803 Sqn on Trondheim. At 0500 in the morning an a/c was flying low against the Soerfjorden (Southfiord) It was one of the 11 a/c that had taken part in attacking enemy shipping & enemy forces in the Trondheim area. The pilot had major problems with their engine and was ditching in the Soerfjorden (Southfiord), near Trondheim. ("The water was bloody cold" as the pilot said 50 years later) Their mission ended up 50 meters from shore and they had to swim. 3 of the local people had seen the a/c and stood onshore and was throwing stones at them. The gunner shouted in cockney to them and they finally understood that they were not German airmen. They did not understand English and therefore they had to use their fingers to be understood. Finally a man, Andreas Aune arrived and he could talk to them since he earlier had been 16 years in the USA. He had seen the a/c from his small farm and understood that they needed help. He had a small rowing boat and set down in this and had to row 2 kilometers before he saw them, there they was standing with the water coming out of their clothes. In the nearest house 2 old ladies wanted to make hot coffee for them, but Andreas spoke to them and they agreed in that he could take them to his farm. They walked through a forest to get to the farm. Where they got dry warm clothes and a small breakfast and then to bed. The 2 airmen slept for many hours while his wife was preparing a huge dinner meal for the "refugees". When they were sleeping the plans were made how to get them to a safe area. Andreas found the phone lines in the area and cut them, so the news about the airmen would not get around. It was only 20 kilometers to the nearest German fortress. Since there was some snow left in the area, they had to learn how to ski. When they had finished their dinner, Skiing practice could start with help from the son on the farm, Anders (16). It was a lot of laughing when they was falling again and again and again. They had a jolly good time. Poor George had almost ended his escape to freedom as he got his feet on each side of a tree! But at last it was ok. (Here am I not sure if they was one or 2 night on the farm) Andreas had found 2 men (Meier Roedsjoe & Oscar Odinsen) who could help them over the mountain and through the Namsos area. The discussion was if they should get them to Sweden or to the allied forces. Odinsen and Roedsjoe had just arrived back from a journey to Sweden with other refugees. But this time they should try to get them to the British and French forces, since the airmen wanted to get back so they could continue fighting against the German forces. Their uniforms had been changed with ordinary clothes and they paid one Pound as a thank you for the meal and shelter before they left the farm. After midnight their journey started and the first kilometers was with horse and sled. Karsten Moholt was the "driver". But it was not a nice romantic trip in the forest as you see in the movies, the waters in the area they were travelling over was not safe at this time of the year and sitting on the sled was an awful experience for them. The sled was built hauling wood. Finally they arrived at the Oeyan farm in Roedsjoe. Then they traveled to the Skaugdalen (a valley) where Olav Hullvang gave them breakfast. At Fines in Verran the police sergeant was waiting for them. He had obtained a small open fishing boat for them. Then they sailed to Follafoss. On their journey they passed some German destroyers, but they did not take any notice of them. At Follafoss they left Odinsen and got into a "modern" Taxi, (as Fraser-Harris recalls). Between Malm and Namsos they finally found British forces, who were firing at them! In the beginning, they did not believe they were allied airmen, but when they found their uniform caps in their backpacker, he was convinced. On 2 May the allied forces left the Namso area and Fraser-Harris and Russel were with them. When they got back, a message was sent over Radio Canada to the men who had helped them. Some of the local people had heard this message and mentioned it to the men. But Fraser-Harris was worried the local people would have major problems after they had been helping "the enemy". In France they had shot local people for doing the same. It seems the Germans did not know about the incident before it was too late. Not until 1944 when Andreas arrested by the Germans and was confronted about the incident. After the war the Aune family tried to get in contact with Fraser-Harris, but he could not be found. They did not remember he was from Canada. In 1986 another pilot, PT Partifge was in the Trondheim area. He had also been shot down, but this was in the Stjoernfiord, which leads to the area where Fraser-Harris did his emergency landing. He mentioned to Fraser-Harris, that some of his rescue team was still alive. In June 1990 Fraser-Harris visited the area and could talk to some of the men who had helped him. The young boy on the farm, Anders got a nice silver cup from him. He had still the one Pound they had got in 1940. Now this rests in the silver cup. Only Anders is alive in 2004. He will never forget Fraser-Harris and the incident 1940 - ASW trawlers HMS Bradman, Hammond & Larwood sunk by German aircraft off Norway 1940 - Destroyer HMS Obdurate laid down 1940 - Aircraft carrier USS Wasp commissioned 1940 - HMS Trident fires two torpedoes against the German merchantmen Palime and Pelikan about 30 miles southwest of Lindesnes, Norway. Both torpedoes missed 1941 - Due to major engine difficulty U-553 was forced to return to base 1941 - U-413 laid down 1941 - At 0038, the Polyana was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-103, capsized fast and sank within one minute. The ship was last seen when detached from Convoy OG-58 in 44°41N/22°43W and was reported missing when she did not arrive in Freetown on 30 April. The U-boat had missed the freighter with a first torpedo at 2357 on 24 April. All crewmembers, 19 Norwegians, two British, one Danish, one Tunisian, one Spanish and one Maltese were lost 1941 - RAF Bomber Command - 2 Group 18 Sqn bombs and sinks a 7,000-ton vessel 1941 - The US Navy enforces a new security zone 2,000 miles off the East Coast 1941 - Submarine HMS P-311 laid down 1941 - HMS Upholder torpedoes and sinks Italian Antonietta Lauro, near Kerkennah Buoy #3, Tunisia 1942 - U-302 launched 1942 - U-212, U-382, U-518 commissioned 1942 - At 0831, the unescorted Modesta was hit in the #2 hold by one torpedo from U-108 and sank within 12 minutes about 110 miles NW of Bermuda. A first torpedo had missed the ship at 0517. The master, 16 crewmembers and one gunner were lost. 19 crewmembers and four gunners were picked up by the Belgian Airman and landed at Bermuda 1942 - United States troops landed on Free French-controlled New Caledonia 1943 - Patrol Vessel District YP-481 destroyed by grounding at Charleston South Carolina 1943 - U-533 attacked by an American USN VP-84 PBY-5A. Three of U-533´s gun crew were injured by the Catalina's .30 cal. gunfire. They were - (Bootsmaat Buttkus, Matrosengefreiter Ludwig and Matrosengefreiter Fekken). All of them went again out to sea and Buttkus and Ludwig perished with the boat the following October. 1943 - A Swordfish from HMS Biter attacked U-203 with a bomb, but missed. Later that day the boat was sunk south of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 55.05N, 42.25W, by depth charges from Swordfish from Biter destroyer HMS Pathfinder. 10 dead and 38 survivors 1943 - SS Empire Morn was damaged by a mine laid on 11 April by U-117. She reached Gibraltar and was used as store ship 1943 - At 0143, the Rosenborg, a straggler from Convoy RU-71, was hit by two torpedoes from U-386 north of Rockall and sank within 30 seconds. The master, 21 crewmembers, four gunners and two passengers were lost. Two crewmembers were picked up by the British rescue ship Goodwin & landed at Clyde on 28 April 1943 - SS Rouennais struck a mine laid on 2 April by U-455 and sank off Casablanca 1943 - Soviet Union severed diplomatic relations with Poland 1943 - Minesweeper HMCS Quinte arrived Pictou NS under tow for repair. Quinte had completed a 6-week refit in Lunenberg just before she went aground on 30 Nov 42 at the entrance to St Peter's Channel, Cape Breton Island. The damage to her hull was so extensive that she had to be beached to prevent outright sinking. Salvage operations were conducted over the winter of 1943. Her repairs were not completed until Jun 44 1943 - Five Baglietto-type MTBs ("Hurja-class") purchased from Italy arrive in Turku 1943 - Escort carrier HMS Ravager commissioned 1944 - U-2502 laid down 1944 - U-18 was attacked in the Black Sea by German aircraft BV 138 and suffered slight damage 1944 - U-289 landed espionage agents Sverrir Matthiasson and Magnus Guðbjörnsson in Iceland 1944 - Corvette HMCS Kamloops completed forecastle extension refit Charlottetown 1944 - ASW towing vessel HMCS Lakewood assigned to Esquimalt 1944 - Tug HMCS Glenholme laid down Vancouver BC 1944 - Corvette HMS Farnham Castle launched 1944 - Frigate HMS Loch Eck launched 1944 - Light cruiser USS Amsterdam launched 1944 - Destroyer HMS Whelp commissioned 1944 - Minesweeper USS Concise commissioned 1944 - Destroyer escort USS Oswald launched 1945 - PB4Y-2 Privateers of Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Eighteen (VPB-118) based at Yonton, Okinawa, continue sewing aerial mines off the coast of Korea 1945 - US and Soviet forces linked up on the Elbe River, a meeting that dramatized the collapse of Nazi Germany's defenses 1945 - U-326 sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest in position 48.12N, 05.42W by a homing torpedo from a USN VPB-103 Sqn Liberator. 43 dead (all hands lost) 1945 - U-1197 damaged by bombs at Bremen and stricken at Wesermünde, 25 Apr 1945. Captured there by British forces 1945 - Destroyers HMS Iroquois, Haida & Huron arrive Kola Inlet with Convoy JW-66 1945 - Delegates from some 50 countries met in San Francisco to organize the United Nations. Canadian contingent flown in an RCAF Dakota by F/L Al Turnbull of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan 1945 - Destroyer USS Hamner laid down 1945 - Submarine USS Unicorn laid down 1945 - HMS Sea Scout sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire off Sumbawa Island, Netherlands East Indies 1945 - Minesweeper USS Embattle commissioned 1946 - Destroyer USS Witek commissioned 1954 - Destroyer HMCS Cayuga arrived Sasebo 1956 - Submarine HMS Porpoise launched 1958 - Washington State Toll Bridge Authority agrees to give ferryboats Native American names 1959 - USS Eversole rescues 14 Chinese Nationalist fishermen from their sinking fishing trawler in the Formosa Strait 1959 - St. Lawrence Seaway opens for traffic as the first ship enters the locks south of Montreal; 650 km. waterway between Montreal and Lake Erie 1961 - Submarine HMS Auriga departed Halifax following ASW training 1967 - Commons passes Act unifying the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force into one unit, the Canadian Armed Forces 1967 - USS Hancock port call Subic Bay 1968 - USS Yorktown port call Hong Kong 1968 - USS Enterprise port call Subic Bay 1979 - Submarine HMS Trafalgar laid down 1982 - British forces attack Argentine positions on South Georgia. Having lost the element of surprise by engaging the Santa Fe, British forces decided on an early attack on Argentine positions. A naval bombardment by HMS Antrim and HMS Plymouth kept Argentine positions pinned down while troops British forces were landed by helicopter near Grytviken. The garrison there quickly surrendered, followed by a surrender offer by Argentine forces at Leith under threat of bombardment from HMS Plymouth 1982 - HMS Intrepid (which had been out of service), Atlantic Conveyor and Europic Ferry sail from the UK. Atlantic Causeway is being refitted at Portsmouth Ottawa to pay $630 million for new Coast Guard ships 1992 - Frigate HMCS Fredericton laid down Saint John NB 2003 - The South Shore Naval Association honored the 89-year-old retired seaman at its annual Battle of the Atlantic Mess Dinner in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia by officially changing its name to Admiral Desmond Piers Naval Association 2004 - Dutch actress Renee Soutendijk named godmother to Holland America Line's new Vista-class ship, the MV Westerdam, in a ceremony dedicating the ship in Venice 2004 - Three boats exploded near two Iraqi oil terminals in the Gulf today, killing two coalition sailors, but causing no damage to the facilities. The blasts appeared to be coordinated suicide attacks 2004 - A cove on the Parramatta River in Sydney will be named in honor of naval veterans who served in World War Two. Minister for Lands Tony Kelly has announced Fairmile Cove will be named after the 20 Fairmile naval ships that were built at the Old Greenpoint Shipyard between August 1942 and December 1943. The Fairmile was a wooden ship with a crew of 17, which served in New Guinea and the southwest Pacific until the end of World War Two. The cove is between Mortlake Point and Breakfast Point and Mr Kelly says the name recognizes the courage and sacrifice of sailors who served on the Fairmile ships 2005 - The 14th meeting of GCC Border and Coast Guard officials kicked off in Kuwait with attendance from all six member states. The three-day meeting is of much importance as the agenda covers issues requiring deliberation and fine-tuning to best serve the interests of the Gulf Cooperation Council as a whole, Interior Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Border Security Major General Sleiman Al-Fahad said in his address at the opening 2005 - Frigates HMAS Anzac & HMS Chatham take part in ANZAC Day ceremonies at Gallipoli. The Royal Navy banned 12 warships from flying the English flag to commemorate St George’s Day today in case it upsets the Turks. The order is blasted as “political correctness gone mad” 2005 - Northrop Grumman Corporation and the US Navy moved closer Monday to realizing the Navy's network-centric war-fighting vision with the joint celebration of the "keel-start" of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye test aircraft and the first deliveries of Improved Capability III EA-6B Prowler electronic-attack aircraft. The ceremony at Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems' manufacturing center recognized both milestones as enabling elements of the broader Navy vision, Sea Power 21. Participants included Rep. John L. Mica, (R-FL) 7th District; Rep. Ander Crenshaw, (R-FL) 4th District; Rear Admiral David J. Venlet, program executive officer, Tactical Air Programs, Naval Air Systems Command; Scott Seymour, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems; and Philip Teel, sector vice president, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems 2005 - The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has contracted with Det Norske Veritas DNV), a US Coast Guard (USCG)-accepted Quality Standards System (QSS) organization, to evaluate and certify maritime security training courses for training course providers in the United States under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, PL 107-295 (MTSA). Section 109 of the MTSA specifically mandated “that the Secretary of Transportation shall develop standards and curriculum to allow for the training and certification of maritime security professionals.” The Secretary of Transportation delegated this function to MARAD; the Maritime Administrator charged the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) with its execution. The goal of this voluntary certification program is to promote high quality, uniform training of maritime security professionals 2005 - Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd announced that it has taken physical delivery of "MV Attractive," a Handymax bulk vessel, at the port of Rotterdam in Holland. The Company also announced the simultaneous commencement of a one-year charter for the vessel at US $22,500 per day. Expected profitability from this charter is in line with company targets. The vessel is a Handymax dry bulk carrier of approximately 41,500 dwt, built in 1985 in Japan, which the Company agreed to acquire on March 3, 2005 2005 - San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy announces his resignation 2005 - Dominic LeBlanc, MP for Beausejour, today announced, on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, that the Government of Canada will invest $230,000 for dredging projects in New Brunswick. Dredging will take place at the fishing harbors of Cap-des-Caissie, Cormierville, Richibucto Cape, Chockpish, Dupuis Corner and Saint-Edouard-de-Kent 2005 - The system of moored buoys in the Pacific that has helped predict El Niño is being expanded into the Indian Ocean to help improve the understanding of the climate system in that region. Scientists from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are working with international climate scientists to develop a plan for such a system 2005 - Dennis McCarthy, a NOAA National Weather Service veteran with a career spanning 30 years, has been appointed director of the Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services. NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As OCWWS director, McCarthy will oversee the office’s mission to sustain and enhance the climate, water and weather services of NOAA’s National Weather Service; to establish operational requirements; to evaluate customer satisfaction; and to train the workforce. OCWWS is part of the NOAA National Weather Service headquarters in Silver Spring MD 2005 - The fishing vessel Kibitzer grounded and took on water on the backside of Coghlan Island near Auke Bay in Southeast Alaska. The Coast Guard received a call from a friend of the owner reporting that the Kibitzer grounded and he had no communications with the vessel's operator, causing concern about the fisherman's safety. The Coast Guard made radio call outs for the Kibitzer and found the vessel taking on water, listing and had all pumps operating while transiting en route Auke Bay. Station Juneau launched a rescue boat crew. They arrived on scene and escorted the vessel into Auke Bay. The operator aboard the fishing vessel Sea Dew, a 54-foot long liner, called in agreeing to remain near the vessel until the operator safely moored the Kibitzer. The Marine Safety Office Juneau investigators determined the operator fell asleep at the wheel while attempting to tow a 30-foot cabin cruiser. There are no reports of pollution from the vessels on board fuel 2006 - A Chinese cargo ship which was reported missing in the Bohai Sea of north China over two months ago has been found sunk in the sea with 10 people aboard missing 2006 - The first images of 25 sailors of the Dongwon 628 ship, who were abducted by pirates three weeks ago offshore Somalia, were released 2006 - At 1430 Liverpool Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting an injured man on the rocks at the base of the South Head, St Bees, Cumbria Whitehaven Coastguard rescue team, crewmembers of the St Bees lifeboat, Cumbria ambulance and police proceeded. On locating the casualty, who was injured but conscious, it transpired that he had fallen approximately 30 meters from the cliff top. Due to the location of the incident and the extent of the man's injuries, it was decided to airlift the 19-year-old local to the West Cumberland hospital at Whitehaven, this was carried out by a rescue helicopter from RAF Valley in Anglesey 2006 - Diana Shipping Inc. announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with the Australian Wheat Board (Geneva) S.A. ("AWB") for one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the Nirefs, at a rate of 4.5% per day above the average rate of four pre-determined time-charter routes as published by the Baltic Exchange for a period of 18-21 months. The charter commenced on April 23, 2006 2006 - Persian Gulf, the largest bulk containership of Iran's commercial fleet launched in the Chinese port of Shanghai. The 74,000-ton ship is the fourth carrier built by China's Jiangnan Shipyard Corporation, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), which is located in Changxing Island 2006 - A boatload of 77 Myanmar nationals has arrived in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh and officials are still finding out if they are seeking asylum, an immigration officer said 2006 - At 1255 Clyde Coastguard received a 999 call from a mobile phone. The caller was the skipper of the 42 foot Bermuda rig sloop Shantico with seven people on board reporting that they had lost all power and were taking water. They were in a position four miles south of Ardlamont Point, when they started taking water. They commenced baling to stem the flow of water. They were advised by the coastguard to launch their liferaft but not to enter it. The MCA Hawk, a coastguard vessel was nearby and was immediately available to proceed and give any assistance required. Clyde Coastguard requested the launch of the Tighnabruaich RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Troon RNLI lifeboat. A helicopter was also requested to scramble. Hawk has taken onboard three of the crew from the yacht, and a pump has been transferred to the yacht from the lifeboat. The vessel is now under tow by the lifeboat, and the helicopter has been stood down. The weather in the area is south easterly F7, with rough seas with good visibility 2006 - Dr. Peter H. Cressy, distinguished educator and retired US Navy Rear Admiral and Leonard H. Tyler, President, Maine Maritime Academy were elected to the ABS Board of Directors by the ABS Council following today’s Annual Members Meeting of the international classification society 2006 - The United States will move 8,000 Marines from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam by 2012. The relocation of the Marines will cost a staggering $10 billion with Tokyo paying $6 billion of the total. The total cost of realigning US forces in Asia is estimated to be $42 billion according to press reports from Japan 2006 - A new record fleet size and a solid financial performance were the 2005 highlights reported to the Annual Members Meeting of ABS in New York today by the classification society’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Robert D. Somerville. By the end of 2005 the ABS fleet had grown to a record 121 million gross tons, an increase of 6.5m grt over the previous year. Just over half that tonnage is less than 10 years old, continuing the remarkable rejuvenation of the ABS fleet that has been taking place over the last 3 to 4 years. In numerical terms, the fleet grew by almost 300 vessels to just over nine and a half thousand 2007 - The transport vessel “Mongoose” flying the Belize flag was detained in the Sea of Okhotsk after 20 hours of pursuit 2007 - Fire broke out on littoral combat ship USS Freedom, damaging a ship that already has had more than its share of problems. The Freedom is under construction at Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis., under a program managed by Lockheed Martin. The ship, launched in September, is about 80 percent complete 2007 - An explosion on a small Indonesian products carrier killed four crewmembers. The 1,500-dwt, 1993-built Maulana had completed discharging a cargo of fuel oil and was steaming back to port along the Siak River on the island of Sumatra when the incident occurred 2008 - The Navy will review maintenance and training across the surface fleet after a recent inspection found the Norfolk-based destroyer Stout unfit for sustained combat 2008 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has nominated Navy Rear Adm. David J. Dorsett for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director of naval intelligence, N2, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington Copyright 2009 Shirlaw News Group ISSN 1710-6966 Today in History Archives This information is licensed to the recipient only. Images may be subject to copyright. Ask before you right-click. Royal Navy photos are Courtesy of www.oldships.org.uk unless otherwise indicated. To contact us: 418-145 West Keith Rd North Vancouver BC V7M 1L3 Canada Phone: 778-968-7447 Copyright 2009 Shirlaw News Group ISSN 1710-6966 Today in History Archives This information is licensed to the recipient only. Images may be subject to copyright. Ask before you right-click. Royal Navy photos are Courtesy of www.oldships.org.uk unless otherwise indicated. To contact us: 418-145 West Keith Rd North Vancouver BC V7M 1L3 Canada Phone: 778-968-7447