SeaWaves Today in History August 5, 2009 Iran - Constitution Day. Visiting warships Dress Ship overall 1583 - Humphrey Gilbert c1537-1583 enters St. John's and reads Charter claiming the lands 200 miles around St. John's for Elizabeth I; grants shore rights to 36 foreign vessels; the first English colony in North America 1772 - Based on the secret convention signed in St-Petersburg by Russia, Austria and Prussia these three countries divided the territory of Poland among themselves. Russia received Eastern Byelorussia with cities Gomel, Mogilev, Polotsk and Polish part of Livonia (Latgalia). Before the end of the century there were two more divisions of Poland 1775 - First Spanish ship, San Carlos, enters San Francisco Bay 1832 - Frigate Potomac is first US Navy ship to entertain royalty, King and Queen of Sandwich Islands, Honolulu 1833 - 'Royal William' leaves Quebec for Pictou to take on coal 1858 - Frederick N. Gisbourne 1824-1892 completes laying Cyrus W Field's first transatlantic telegraph cable from Ireland to Newfoundland; started July 7; the service ends on September 1 because the current is too weak, and the line is relayed using a thicker and better shielded cable 1864 - RADM David Farragut wins Battle of Mobile Bay, sealing off last Confederate port on Gulf Coast. Farragut orders "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" 1882 - Authorizing of first steel warships, beginning of the modern Navy 1884 - Cornerstone for Statue of Liberty laid on Bedloe's Island 1914 - US, Nicaragua sign treaty granting canal rights to US 1914 - The Royal Navy caught and sank the German minelayer Konigin Luise - the first naval loss on either side during the First World War 1914 - Submarine HMS S1 completed 1915 - First air spotting for shore batteries at Fort Monroe, VA 1916 - Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Sazonov fired by Tsar Nicholas II. The minister suggested the Tsar promise more autonomy to Poland and free union with Russia after the end of WWI. Apparently, the Tsar had different ideas and Sazonov lost his position 1916 - Submarine HMS J7 laid down 1917 - Italian Submarines H3-H5 depart Halifax for Italy accompanied by Italian Steamer Umbria (5,020 GRT), which carried fuel, spare parts, stores and was available to render assistance in case of a major breakdown 1918 - Submarine USS R-16 commissioned 1921 - Yangtze River Patrol Force established as command under Asiatic Fleet 1922 - Cruiser HMAS Adelaide commissioned 1923 - First American to swim the English Channel (Henry Sullivan) 1924 - Submarine HMS L-23 commissioned 1924 - First Soviet locomotive was made in Baltic Shipyard. It made it first run on November 7. The author of the project was Professor Yakov Gakkel. He was one of the most innovative engineers. In pre-Revolutionary Russia Gakkel headed the construction of one of the first hydroelectric plant on Lena gold mines. He was participating in the creation of the streetcar system in St-Petersburg. Gakkel designed several airplanes for the first Russian aircraft plant, including a hydro-airplane 1925 - Destroyer FS Bourrasque launched 1925 - Destroyer HNLMS Evertsen laid down 1926 - Houdini stays in a coffin under water for one hour 1928 - SS Alaunia arrived Quebec City PQ from England with emigrants to Canada 1929 - Destroyer FS Lion launched 1930 - Submarine FS Atalante launched 1932 - Submarine FS La Sultane launched 1935 - U-16 laid down 1935 - U-8 commissioned 1935 - Soviet submarine SC-201 commissioned 1935 - Congress passed the Anti-Smuggling Act, which broadened the jurisdiction of Coast Guard 1936 - Boom defense vessel HMS Dunnet launched 1936 - Destroyers HMS Eskimo & Mashona laid down 1938 - Destroyer USS Maury commissioned 1939 - Destroyers HMS Jervis & Janus commissioned 1939 - U-44 launched 1940 - Latvia inducted into the USSR against its will 1940 - Armed yacht HMCS Wolf commissioned 1940 - Sloop HMS Erne launched 1940 - Submarine SH-423 left Murmansk for Vladivostok via the northern route, arriving September 11. It was a first submarine to complete this type of transit 1940 - Minesweeping trawler HMS River Clyde mined & sunk off Aldeburgh, Suffolk 1940 - At 2138, U-56 fired a spread of two torpedoes at Convoy OB-193 NW of Malin Head and observed that one missed and the other detonated at the end of the run after 7 minutes 25 seconds. However, the Boma was hit in this attack and sank the next day. Three crewmembers were lost. The master, 47 crewmembers and two gunners were picked up by the Norwegian tanker Vilja, transferred to destroyer HMS Viscount and landed at Liverpool 1940 - U-208, U-760 laid down 1940 - Corvettes HMCS Lethbridge & Sherbrooke laid down Montreal PQ 1940 - In Washington, D.C., Lord Lothian, the British Ambassador to the US, provides President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a note concerning the facilities which the British were prepared to "extend to the United States Government." This will be part of the "destroyers-for-bases" agreement between the U.K. and US that will be announced in September 1940 - In the US, Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade, USN, and French Vice Admiral Georges A.M.J. Robert conclude an agreement concerning the status of Vichy French warships and aircraft in the French West Indies. Ships in question are the aircraft carrier Bearn, light cruiser Emile Bertin, training cruiser Jeanne d'Arc and auxiliary cruisers Esterelle, Quercy, and Barfleur; aircraft are 44 Curtiss SBC-4 Helldivers, 15 Curtiss H75-A4 Hawks (export version of USAAC P-36) and 6 Brewster Model B-339 fighters (export version of USN F2A Buffalo) delivered to Belgium. The basic agreement is that the French ships and aircraft will remain in Martinique throughout the war 1941 - Corvette HMCS Amherst commissioned 1941 - At 0150, 0154 & 0159, U-372 fired four torpedoes at Convoy SL-81 west of Ireland. The first torpedo struck the Belgravian, which burned out and sank the next day. Neumann reported that the second torpedo missed the target but exploded on a ship beyond and that the fourth hit an ammunition freighter, which exploded and sank in 50 seconds. The ship missed was the British steam merchant Volturno, but it is not reported that the torpedo did hit another ship. The ship sunk was the Swiftpool. Three crewmembers from the Belgravian were lost. The master, 40 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by corvette HMS Bluebell and landed at Gourock 1941 - At 0540, U-74 fired a spread of two torpedoes at Convoy SL-81 west of Ireland and three single torpedoes at 0541 & 0542. The U-boat observed a hit amidships with the second torpedo and heard three detonations after the boat had to dive. Kentrat reported one ship sunk and three others damaged, however, only the Kumasian was hit and sunk. One crewmember was lost. The master, 43 crewmembers, six gunners and nine passengers were picked up by corvette HMS La Malouine and landed at Liverpool 1941 - At 0520, U-75 attacked Convoy SL-81 west of Ireland and observed a column of fire and water after a first hit and a column of water after a second hit. Ringelmann then had to dive and was not able to make further observations. The two ships hit were the Harlingen and the Cape Rodney. Cape Rodney was taken in tow by tug HMS Zwarte Zee two days later at 52°11N/14°42W. On 9 Aug the ship foundered west of Ushant in 52°44N/11°41W. The master, 31 crewmembers and four gunners were picked up by corvette HMS Hydrangea and landed at Gourock. Three crewmembers were picked up by corvette HMS Zinnia and landed at Londonderry. Three crewmembers from the Harlingen were lost. The master, 34 crewmembers and four gunners were picked up by Hydrangea and landed at Gourock 1941 - In the US, President Roosevelt transfers from presidential yacht USS Potomac, anchored in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, to the heavy cruiser USS Augusta; shortly thereafter, USS Augusta and heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa escorted by five destroyers, sail for Argentia, Newfoundland, for a meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The President's flag, however, remains on the USS Potomac and she will proceed via Cape Cod Canal to New England waters, maintaining a fiction of presidential presence 1941 - Destroyers HMS Partridge, Lauderdale launched 1941 - Escort carrier HMS Campania laid down 1941 - Destroyers HS Miaoulis (ex-HMS Modbury) laid down 1941 - The heroic defense of Soviet Black Sea port of Odessa from invading Germans began. The city was attacked by 18 enemy divisions, which were five times more troops and armor than Odessa defenders. For 73 days of fighting Germans lost 160,000 soldiers and officers. And only after the high commanders order, the Soviet troops moved to the Crimea and left the city. In 1942 the special medal "For Odessa defense" was minted, and during the celebration of 20-years of victory Odessa received the title "Heroic City." 1942 - Minesweeper HMCS Sault Ste Marie (ex HMCS The Soo) launched Port Arthur ON 1942 - HMCS Pictou, a Flower-class corvette, A/LCdr. Robert Baird Campbell, RCNR, CO, was damaged in a collision with the Norwegian merchantman Hindanger (4,884 GRT), in fog, off St. John's. Pictou suffered heavy damage to her stern and was under repair in Halifax until 20 Sep. Hindanger was sunk on 11 Sep 42 while she proceeding as part of the 34-ship Liverpool to New York City convoy ON-127 by U-584, Kptlt. Joachim Deecke, CO. ON-127 arrived at New York on 20 Aug 42 having lost six ships and having four other ships damaged 1942 - U-boats return to large scale operations on the main north Atlantic routes with attacks beginning on convoy SC-94 today. These attacks will continue through the 13th. The convoy loses 11 ships and 2 U-boats are sunk, 4 are damaged 1942 - Finnish SS Pohjanlahti sunk at Uzava south from Ventspils by sub S-7 1942 - Destroyer HS Adrias (ex-HMS Border) commissioned 1942 - Minesweeper HMS Gozo laid down 1942 - Frigate HMS Tay commissioned 1942 - Corvette HMS Milfoil launched 1942 - While U-598 was refueling in the Middle Atlantic from U-463 one of her men drowned (Maschinenmaat Willi Bredereck) during maintenance work on the hydroplanes and propellers 1942 - U-188, U-304, U-415 commissioned 1942 - At 1145, the unescorted and unarmed Draco was taken under fire by U-155 about 325 miles east of Barbados. Several warning shots were fired, after which the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The CO later questioned the crew. One lifeboat made it to Suriname while the occupants of the other lifeboat were picked up by the British motor tanker Athelbrae 1942 - At 1613, the Arletta, a straggler from Convoy ON-115, was torpedoed and sunk by U-458 SSW of Cape Race. The master, 29 crewmembers and six gunners were lost. The first officer William H. Duncan and four crewmembers were rescued after 15 days by the USCGC Menemsha and landed at Boston, Mass on 25 August 1942 - The Spar was in convoy SC-94 (position 12), which was separated into several smaller convoys due to fog on 3 August 1942. The section Spar was part of failed to notice the signals for a course change, became separated and rejoined the main convoy on 5 August. But before rejoining, U-593 fired three torpedoes at 1848 on three ships, observed a hit on the second ship and heard one detonation on the first vessel. Kelbling reported a ship of 5000 grt sunk and one of 4000 grt damaged. In fact only the Spar was hit by one torpedo in the engine room, which probably killed three of four men on watch. The survivors abandoned their ship in two lifeboats and were picked up by one of the escorting corvettes (HMS Nasturtium or HMCS Orillia) 1943 - Minesweeper HMS Mary Rose launched Toronto ON 1943 - A USN submarine sinks a Japanese transport west of Marcus Island 1943 - U-34 (Type VIIA) sinks at 2155 at Memel in position 55.42N, 21.09E after a collision with the U-boat mothership Lech. 4 dead. Raised on 24 Aug, 1943 and stricken on 8 Sept 1943 1943 - U-1193, U-1194 launched 1943 - U-316 commissioned 1943 - SS Efthalia Mari sunk by U-177 at 24.21S, 48.55E 1943 - MV Majakovski (approx. 80 tons) was sunk by a mine laid on 31 July by U-212 SE of Koglujew in the Kara 1943 - At 2137, USS Plymouth was hit by one torpedo from U-566 about 120 miles SE of Cape Henry, Virginia. The gunboat had made an underwater sound contact while escorting a coastal convoy, just as the ship swung left to bear on the target she was struck just abaft the bridge. The ship rolled first to starboard, then took a heavy list to port with the entire port side forward of amidships in flames and sank within two minutes. The survivors were picked up by the US Coast Guard cutter USS Calypso in heavy seas and arrived in Norfolk on 6 August. Built as American motor yacht Alva for W.K. Vanderbilt, New York. On 4 Nov 1941, given to the USN and placed in reduced commission under CDR FW Schmidt at Jacksonville on 29 December. On 22 Jan 1942, the ship entered the Norfolk Navy yard to be converted to the patrol gunboat USS Plymouth, armed with one 4in and four 3in guns. On 20 April, she was fully commissioned, based in Norfolk and assigned to the Inshore Patrol Squadron in the 5th Naval District. She made several convoy escort voyages between New York, Key West and Guantanamo during 1942/43 1943 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Red Gauntlet torpedoed & sunk by E-boat S-86 off Felixstowe 1943 - Destroyer USS Moale laid down 1943 - Destroyer escorts USS Duffy, Farquhar commissioned 1943 - HMS Rorqual lays 29 mines off the Gulf of Saloniki, Greece 1943 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Gulland launched 1944 - Submarine HMS Turpin launched 1944 - HMS Terrapin bombards Japanese installations at Gunung Sitoli, western Sumatra. She also sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire and damages another 1944 - Dr. James Oliver, now Lt. Comdr. Oliver USN, has received a citation for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the line of his profession according to word received by relatives here. For service in the Gilbert Islands campaign, the citation was signed by Adm. Chester Nimitz 1944 - HMC MTB 486 commissioned 1944 - Tug HMCS Riverton commissioned 1944 - Carrier-based aircraft from the USN's Task Group 58.1 (Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark) and TG 58.3 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery) and cruisers and destroyers (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose) repeat strikes on Japanese installations on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands. Aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill inflict further damage upon fast Japanese transport T.4 and damage T.2 off Chichi Jima 1944 - In the Pacific, US submarines sink a Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship & an oiler 1944 - Minesweeper USS Ransom commissioned 1944 - Corvette HMS Denbigh Castle launched 1944 - Destroyer escort USS McGinty launched 1944 - U-671 was sunk at 0200 south of Brighton, in position 50.23N, 00.06E, by depth charges from frigate HMS Stayner & escort destroyer HMS Wensleydale 1944 - U-2506 launched 1945 - HMS Seadog sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with demolition charges 1945 - While operating together HMS Seadog and HMS Shalimar sink a Japanese coaster with gunfire in the southern part of the Strait of Malacca 1945 - HMS Shalimar sinks three small Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire 1945 - Atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima, Japan. Navy weaponeer, Captain W.S. Parsons, USN, armed the atomic bomb on the B-29 bomber, Enola Gay 1945 - Minesweeper HMCS Granby paid off Halifax NS 1946 - Destroyer HMAS Tobruk laid down 1946 - Italian sub chaser AS 26 sank after fuel tank explosion off Cape Miseno 1952 - HMA SDML 1322 wrecked off Sydney after breaking tow 1953 - Exchange of prisoners of war of Korean Conflict (Operation Big Switch) begins 1955 - Canadian Government decides that HMCS New Glasgow is not needed in Korea 1960 - Destroyer HMCS Nipigon laid down Sorel PQ 1963 - Britain, US & USSR sign nuclear test ban treaty 1964 - USS Ranger commenced Vietnam deployment 1967 - Operation Coronado III begins in Rung Sat Zone, Vietnam 1967 - Pirate Radio Station 333 (Radio Britain) & Radio London close down 1969 - USS Ticonderoga port call Sasebo 1970 - USS America port call Hong Kong 1973 - USS Constellation port call Subic Bay 1980 - Hurricane Allen battered southern Haiti, leaving more than 200 dead in its wake 1990 - Operation Sharp Edge, noncombatant evacuation operation, authorized by State Department to remove US citizens caught in civil war in Liberia. USS Saipan, Ponce, Sumter & Peterson off Liberia inserts USMC reinforced rifle company into US Embassy compound in Monrovia for increased security 2003 - RFA Brambleleaf saved 12 seamen after their cargo ship exploded & sank in Persian Gulf 2004 - New York City's director of ferries pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of manslaughter in the wreck of a Staten Island ferry. (Patrick Ryan later pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter) 2005 - Vice Admiral Alain Dumontet officiated a change of command ceremony at 1000 onboard carrier Charles de Gaulle. Captain Denis Beraud succeeded Captain Xavier Magne, who had held the post since August 1, 2003 2005 - The rescue operation command has recommended the crew of the Russian AS-28 mini-submarine trapped on the Pacific floor "save electricity" but "do not take any intensive action to save electricity," chief naval spokesman Igor Dygalo said. An examination of the sunken bathyscaph AS-28 has shown that the accident was caused by the vessel getting tangled in fishing nets, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Viktor Dmitriyev told Interfax on Friday. "Tiger apparatuses have shown that the AS-28 got tangled in fishing nets," Dmitriyev said. Dygalo said that "during routine operations in the Beryozovaya Bay on August 4, the apparatus AS- 28's propeller hit a fishing net. The apparatus got tangled in the net when it tried to free its propeller," Dygalo said. The Russian Foreign Ministry has requested assistance from Japanese and US the authorities in rescuing a Russian mini-sub off the coast of Kamchatka. The US Navy is dispatching two AUVs from San Diego, which will be carried by a USAF C-5 from NAS North Island 2005 - An unknown oil spill on the beach at S. João da Caparica e da Rainha, Portugal 2005 - At a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court, Mr Mark Goodwin of was sentenced to a 6 month custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to riding his Yamaha Wave Runner in contravention of Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. This prosecution followed a joint investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Dorset Police Marine Section into a collision on Saturday 15 May 2004 off of Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth during which the rider of another Personal Watercraft, Mr Paul Facer, sustained serious head injuries. On Saturday 15 May 2004, Mark Goodwin was riding his 3 seater Yamaha Wave Runner personal watercraft at Bowleaze cove. There were several other similar craft in the area including the one being ridden by Mr Paul Facer. At approximately 1710, Mr Facer had stopped his vessel on the western side of the designated area and was watching some of the others craft. Mark Goodwin was in a similar area and accelerated his craft without clearly looking where he was going. He collided at speed with the starboard bow of Mr Facer's craft and rode upwards hitting Mr Facer in the head. Mr Facer suffered severe head injuries and was hospitalized for several days. He still suffers from the long-term effects of his injuries and has no intention of going on these types of craft ever again. Mr Goodwin pleaded guilty to the offence of operating his vessel in a manner, which caused or was likely to cause serious injury to Paul Alan Facer 2005 - Members of HM Coastguard from throughout the Northwest and Dumfries and Galloway attend a Civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Carlisle and her Consort (Councilor Mrs Sandra Fisher and Mr Lawrence Fisher), the Town Clerk and Chief Executive (Ms Maggie Mooney) and other council officials in recognition of their efforts in supporting the residents of the City during the storms of January this year. HM Coastguard staff (from the Annan, Portling, Kirkudbright, Burgh by Sands, Millom, Maryport, Walney Island Coastguard Rescue Teams, Solway Sector and Liverpool Rescue Co-ordination Center) attending this event will be presented with Chief Coastguards Commendations for Meritorious Service which will presented, on behalf of the Chief Coastguard Mr John Astbury, by the Mayor 2005 - At 0900 Portland (UK) Coastguard were contacted by the glass bottomed boat Discoverer on VHF Channel 16 reporting that they had just picked up three persons from the water in Portland. The three people were taken ashore by Discover to be met by ambulance and transferred to Dorchester Hospital with possible hypothermia. The three people from Bristol, had left Castletown in Portland this morning in a small 18' boat with fishing equipment on board. During the trip, water began coming in over the stern and swamping the boat, which quickly sank. Life jackets were on board the vessel but due to the boat sinking so quickly the occupants had not had time to get their lifejackets on or raise the alarm with the Coastguard. The three people, all in their 60's, were reported to have been in the water for about 30 minutes when fortunately the Discoverer spotted them. A strong winds warning was in place this morning for the Portland area 2005 - At 1230, after an extensive 24-hour search, Portland Coastguard concluded the search for a missing diver. Sadly, no sign of the diver has been found. The search began yesterday at 1215 when Portland Coastguard received a call from the Swanage based dive vessel Killer Prawn, reporting that one of their divers was missing. The divers were diving from the Killer Prawn' on the wreck of the Kyarra which is approx 1 mile southeast of Anvil Point 2005 - Two people died and 17 are still missing in floodwaters of the mountainous Mzympta River near the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi. Eighty people trapped by floodwaters were evacuated from the area 2005 - Minister for Defense Teo Chee Hean sailed with RSS Formidable from Changi Naval Base in the morning. The lead ship of the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Formidable-class stealth frigates returned to Singapore on 8 Jul 05 from France where she was built by Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) 2005 - A landmark inter-Korean agreement calling mainly for the equal treatment of commercial vessels when visiting each other's ports came into effect. The effectuation of the agreement, signed in December 2002 as a way to boost inter-Korean economic cooperation, has been delayed by a fierce debate here over national security issues and concerns the North could possibly abuse the arrangement. Under the agreement, the two Koreas are also required to cooperate in maritime accidents such as shipwrecks, vessel clashes and marine pollution caused by oil leak 2005 - The Coast Guard has selected three individuals to represent the service during the America's Celebrate Freedom Salute, World War II 60th Commemoration this summer. Maurice Poulin of Nahant, Mass., and George and Betty Stauffer of Eugene, Ore. Mr. Poulin served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation aboard the USS Leonard Wood. Husband and wife, George and Betty Stauffer met while serving in the Coast Guard in the Pacific. Mr. Stauffer served aboard several ships and Mrs. Stauffer served as a SPAR. During the culminating commemoration ceremony Aug. 28, the veterans will receive recognition on stage on behalf of 241,093 World War II Coast Guardsmen that served as part of the war effort. America's Celebrate Freedom Salute, World War II 60th Commemoration is one of six regional observances selected by the Department of Defense honoring those who served during WWII. Every veteran attending the Sunday ceremony will be presented with a WWII Veteran badge and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin. The veterans selected to represent the Coast Guard will be presented their pins on stage during the ceremony. Veterans and family members are invited to the three-day event, with our WWII Veterans being recognized as the "Distinguished Guests" of "America's Celebrate Freedom Salute. The Northwest's event is expected to be the largest in the nation. The event is managed by the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust and co hosted by the National Park Service and the City of Vancouver in cooperation with the Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard. The festivities will be at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve, home of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Vancouver Barracks, which has a military history dating back to 1849 2005 - The United States Coast Guard has announced a 90-day trial period for regularly scheduled drawbridge openings on the Loop, Meadowbrook, and Wantagh Parkway bridges. The test for scheduled draw bridge openings for marine traffic is being undertaken in cooperation with the NYS Department of Transportation and in consultation with the marine community to improve draw bridge operations in Nassau County 2005 - A Polish shipyard has suddenly become an unlikely point of controversy in Scottish politics following two separate contract wins announced yesterday. Gdansk company Remontowa has wrapped up deals to supply both a new fisheries research vessel for the Scottish Executive and a ferry for state-owned operator Caledonian MacBrayne. News of the awards became public on the same day only by coincidence. But in both cases Port Glasgow facility Ferguson had unsuccessfully tendered for the work and now may have to close with the loss of up to 300 jobs. The Scottish Executive's decision immediately attracted strong criticism from the Scottish National Party 2005 - A Canadian rescue helicopter braved high winds to pick up a badly burned crewmember from a container ship off the West Coast. The Cormorant helicopter from 442 Squadron based here flew out to the container ship Nedlloyd Berentsz, 100 kilometers off Tofino on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Hovering over the massive ship, the Cormorant's crew hoisted the injured man aboard and flew him to Comox, where he was transferred to hospital by ambulance. The weather was clear and the ship was stable 2005 - HMS Argyll, on patrol in the Arabian Gulf, helped save the life of a merchant sailor after she was badly burned. The frigate received a May Day call to provide life-saving medical assistance to an American-flagged container vessel the MV Maersk Alaska. On receiving the nighttime call HMS Argyll rushed to the vicinity of the vessel. Due to unfavorable weather during the monsoon season, the only way to provide assistance was to winch the ship’s medical team, led by Surgeon Lieutenant (Lt) Daniel Henning (27) by helicopter onto the containers on the deck and then climb down. On arrival Lt Henning quickly found the victim had been seriously injured in an accident when a pipe containing boiling water burst, pouring onto the victim, causing 80% burns. Administering vital life saving, medical treatment to the 24-year-old woman. Daniel stabilized her condition sufficiently for HMS Argyll’s helicopter to take her to Seeb in Oman, where an ambulance and medical teams were waiting to transfer her to hospital 2005 - The Defense Department has authorized Northrop Grumman Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. to continue design work on the new Navy DD(X) destroyer while Congress and Defense Department officials decide the fate of the program 2005 - Naval personnel under the Captain of the Port at Puerto Montt, Chile rescued three crewmembers of the capsized fishing vessel Anga Rosa 2005 - Capt. Michael W. Byman relieved Capt. John Mickey as Commander Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Newport Division at a Change of Command ceremony. Mickey, who will retire in August, has been the division commander since August 28, 2002. Byman, who is an experienced nuclear submariner and acquisition professional with more than 22 years of active duty service, has extensive experience at sea, including command of USS Louisiana 2005 - A nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, or 50th anniversary of Victory, under construction at St. Petersburg shipbuilder Baltiisky Zavod caught fire Friday. There was no danger of a radiation leak because the fuel for the reactor has not yet been installed. The fire was small and damaged about 40 meters of cable. The reason for the fire was not clear yet, Savelyev said. The icebreaker had already been on fire in November 2004 when a room of 9 square meters burnt down. At that time one worker on board the ship inhaled fumes from the fire and was hospitalized. Savelyev said little fires on ships under construction are not unusual in any country because “such construction works are often accompanied with fire sources.” The keel of the icebreaker was laid in 1989 and it was put into the water at the end of 1993. But due to the lack of financing, construction was suspended. Partial financing was renewed in the late 1990s. A contract for completing the ship was signed by Baltiisky Zavod and the government in Feb. 2003. It will join seven other nuclear icebreakers run by the Federal Nuclear Power Agency in Murmansk 2006 - To reinforce Taiwan's yacht industry, the government has decided to invest NT$450 million (US$13.64 million at US$1 = NT$33) to establish two yacht piers in Kaohsiung 2006 - An Indian MP from Kerala called for the resumption of a shipping service between Bahrain and India for the benefit of low-paid Indian workers in that Gulf country. Pannyan Ravindran of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said that he will submit a petition signed by 20 MPs from Kerala to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking resumption of the services, according to a report in the Gulf Daily News newspaper 2006 - Workers at the ship breaking yard in Alang, Gujarat, expressed happiness over the Supreme Court giving permission to scrap the Norwegian ship "The Blue Lady," the former SS France and SS Norway 2006 - Russia's Navy took over command of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group from Romania prior to an active phase of a BLACKSEAFOR exercise 2006 - USCG medevaced a boater who lost consciousness 47 miles southeast of Montauk 2006 - A fishboat manned by eight South Korean seamen and 17 other nationals, released last week by pirates in Somalia, arrived at Mombassa for a brief rest. The South Korean crewmen will be given a brief medical checkup in Kenya and then be airlifted to their homeland 2006 - Israeli naval commandos battled with Hezbollah in the southern port city of Tyre 2006 - The first of the Philly shipyard's series of product carriers will reportedly be called “Overseas Houston", a name that's fully in accord with OSG's traditions 2006 - USCG terminated the voyage of a vessel carrying approximately 100 people operating in the Intracoastal Waterway near Dania Beach FL for operating without proper certification. The passenger vessel Carrousel, homeported in Miami, was receiving required maintenance during a scheduled dry-dock period and had not yet been recertified to carry passengers 2006 - USCG rescued six people from a vessel in distress near San Clemente Island. At about 0230 Sector San Diego received a broken mayday call from the vessel Chango Loco off Pyramid Cove. An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew responded, and when they arrived on scene, reported that the 48-foot vessel was hard aground on the rocks in Pyramid Cove. A rescue swimmer was lowered to hoist all six passengers, and they were flown back to the sector 2006 - Petty Officer 2nd Class Cathryn J. Martens, administration clerk, Patrol Squadron 4, chose to hold her reenlistment ceremony in the waters of North Shore of Oahu surrounded by sharks 2007 - Russia will start production of a submarine-based Bulava-M intercontinental ballistic missile after a recent successful test that followed repeated misfires 2007 - Colombian Navy seized a 65-foot submarine that likely was used to haul tons of cocaine on part of its journey to the United States. No drugs were found or arrests made when the fiberglass submarine was discovered Sunday in a swampy mangrove about six miles off the northernmost point of Colombia's Caribbean coast 2008 - A vessel from the Italian navy saved 69 illegal immigrants whose rubber dinghy suffered from engine failure 50 miles off the Italian island of Lampedusa 2008 - Small shipping vessel will set sail for Gaza from Cyprus expecting to be detained as they enter Gazan waters. The waters on either side of Gaza are patrolled by Israeli navy vessels, and Israel enforces a "Fishing Limit" that is 6 nautical miles (11.1kms) from the Gaza shore 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