SeaWaves Today in History July 6, 2009 1699 - Capt William Kidd arrested in Boston 1747 - Birth of John Paul Jones at Arbigland, Scotland 1796 - Nicholas I born. Tsar, ascended the Russian throne in 1825 1898 - Armed Auxiliary Dixie captures Spanish Three Bells, Pilgrim, and Greeman Castle 1908 - CDR Robert Peary sails in Roosevelt from New York to explore Arctic 1911 - First naval aviation base established at Annapolis, MD. This was created on land across the Severn River from the Naval Academy. The land deal is interesting: it was donated by an aging and very wealthy woman of high pedigree, who understood that the Academy needed enlisted personnel as support people, but did not want them so close to the (clearly superior) "young gentlemen" midshipmen, who might be influenced into bad notions by such common people as sailors. Until then, the enlisteds were housed in a station ship moored at the far corner of the USNA yard -- the station ship then being the old Reina Mercedes, captured at Santiago in 1898. Now they would reside across the river, far from those easily influenced young midshipmen. The aviation setup was elemental at first, but involved seaplanes, which meant there had to be a long, sloping beachfront to launch them. This was available there. But it was hugely enhanced by concrete, which eventually came to cover a sizeable frontage. To back it all up, hangars were built, small at first, over the years gradually becoming sturdier and more comprehensive, as did the aircraft. By WWII the Severnside aviation setup was aimed wholly at introducing midshipmen to flying, and all were required to take orientation flights, and at least get some notion of the basics. These flights commonly involved the Navy's own two-place open-cockpit biplane trainers, built by the Navy under Navy specs -- the original "yellow perils", so-called because all were painted a bright golden yellow, indicating a training plane and probably a mere student in control; an aircraft to avoid if at all possible! 1917 - Arab forces led by T.E. Lawrence captured the port of Aqaba from the Turks during World War I 1917 - Cruiser HMS Coventry launched 1918 - Submarine HMS L69 launched 1918 - A squadron of German seaplanes returning from a daylight raid on Lowestoft and Walmer, caught a Harwich-based submarine HMS C25napping on the surface. When the boat was eventually towed into port she was literally a bloody shambles. The Commanding Officer and three crewmembers were killed. Another submarine came to their assistance; HMS Lurcher eventually saved both boats 1920 - Test and first use of radio compass in aircraft off Norfolk VA 1923 - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed 1929 - Submarine depot ship HMS Medway commissioned 1933 - Submarine HNLMS K XIV commissioned 1935 - U-14 laid down 1936 - Destroyers HMS Gurkha & Maori laid down 1938 - Destroyer HMS Hesperus laid down 1938 - Russia and Britain signed hew naval protocol because of reported Japanese naval construction 1939 - Patrol vessel HMS Guillemot launched 1939 - Light cruiser HMS Edinburgh commissioned 1940 - Angele Mabro was sunk by U-30 WSW of Brest with all hands 1940 - SS Vapper sunk by U-34 at 49.30N, 09.15W 1940 - U-151, U-152 laid down 1940 - While on patrol and minelaying operation off Skudesnes, SW Norway, HMS Shark was on the surface when a seaplane was sighted astern. As the submarine submerged to avoid the aircraft two or three bombs exploded close to the stern, followed closely by at least two more. The explosions caused considerable damage. Without steering gear and the hydroplanes jammed hard to rise, the submarine’s bow broached the surface to be greeted by more bombs. The submarine began to sink by the stern and all high-pressure air was used to return her to the surface. Once on the surface Shark got underway steering on main engines. Being sighted yet again the submarine came under sustained attack and No. 4 ballast tank was holed. Finally more aircraft arrived and Shark had no option but to capitulate. At about 0400 hours the next day German minesweeping trawlers M-1803, M1806 and M-1807 arrived to take Shark under tow but the submarine was beyond saving and she began to sink stern first 1940 - Corvette HMCS (ex-HMS) Hepatica launched 1940 - Corvette HMCS Dauphin laid down Montreal 1940 - Corvette HMS Hepatica (later HMCS Hepatica) laid down Lauzon PQ 1940 - Operation "Lever", whose purpose was to guarantee that Dunkerque was out of action for at least a year, initially called for another bombardment by HMS Hood and HMS Valiant. However, as Dunkerque was beached in front of the main portions of the port, high civilian casualties would have been expected, something His Majesty's Government did not want. Thus, the plan was revised such that a surprise dawn strike by Swordfish TSRs from HMS Ark Royal would be made 1940 - The French Admiralty has announced that because of the British fleet's attack on our naval combat forces which were in the process of disarmament; French naval officers are prohibited from wearing British medals 1941 - British submarine Torbay sinks the Italian submarine Jantina 1941 - Minesweeper HMCS Melville launched 1941 - Corvette HMCS Camrose arrived Halifax from builder Sorel PQ 1941 - Destroyer HMCS Hamilton (ex HMS Hamilton ex HMS Kalk ex USS Kalk) commissioned 1941 - Transports USS Munargo and USAT Cheaeau Thierry arrive at Tungugdliarfik Fjord, Greenland, to begin construction of an air base at Narsarssuak; this was designated Bluie West One (BW-1). Bluie was the code name for Greenland and W-1 indicated that this was the first base constructed on the west coast of Greenland; bases on the east coast were designated BE-numeric. Also debarking from the freighter SS Siboney were a small cadre of Army Airways Communications System (AACS) personnel. AACS had been tasked with supporting the Air Corps Ferrying Command's flights across the North Atlantic by providing communications services to disseminate weather information and navigational aids. AACS detachments had already established sites at Gander, Newfoundland, in March 1941 and Goose Bay, Labrador; BW-1 went on the air on 21 August. By November 1941, AACS had established stations as far to the east as Reykjavik, Iceland 1942 - Minesweeper HMAS Ararat laid down 1942 - Minesweeper USS Champion laid down 1942 - Destroyer HMAS Quiberon commissioned 1942 - U-367 laid down 1942 - At 0521 & 0522, U-132 fired torpedoes at Convoy QS-15 and reported three ships with 13,000 tons sunk. In fact only two ships, the Anastassios Pateras and the Hainaut were hit and sunk. Anastassios Pateras remained afloat for some time, but later sank at 49°12N/66°55W. Hainaut remained afloat for some time, but later sank in 49°13N/66°49W 1942 - At 0646, U-132 attacked Convoy QS-15 for a second time in the St Lawrence River south of Clarke City, Quebec, and observed one hit amidships accompanied by a large column of fire after a running time of 1 minute 35 seconds. The ship hit was the Dinaric, which later sank in 49°15N/66°43W on 9 July. Four crewmembers were lost. The master, 27 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by minesweeper HMCS Drummondville and landed at Sydney 1942 - At 1837, the Lalita was shelled and sunk by U-154 in the Yucatan Channel 1942 - At 0036, the unescorted Avila Star was torpedoed & sunk by U-201 NE of the Azores. The master, 66 crewmembers and 17 passengers were lost. 93 crewmembers, six gunners and 13 passengers were picked up by the Portuguese destroyer Lima & sloop Pedro Nunes and landed at Ponta Delgada, Azores 1942 - At 1638, the John Witherspoon was torpedoed by U-255 about 20 miles from the shore of Novaya Zemlya. The ship had been in convoy PQ-17 that was dispersed on Admiralty orders in the Barents Sea on 4 Jul 1942. One torpedo struck on the starboard side between the #4 and #5 holds, followed by a second torpedo about one minute later underneath the bridge. At 1655, two coup de grâce were fired, which struck on the port side amidships and broke the ship in two, causing her to sink within minutes. At this time, the eight officers, 31 crewmen and 11 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) already abandoned ship in three lifeboats and one raft. One seaman fell overboard and drowned. The U-boat approached the boat of the master and asked for the master and about the cargo, offered food and water, promised to send a message for the survivors, gave directions to the nearest land and then left. On 9 July, most survivors were picked up by corvette HMS La Malouine but 16 crewmembers and three armed guards in another boat had been trapped in the ice for 53 hours and had been unable to get free. The El Capitan picked them up in a heavy fog, after the chief mate spotted the boat after hearing the tone of a bos'n pipe. On 9 July, this ship was bombed by a German aircraft and later sunk by U-251. The survivors from the John Witherspoon had to abandon ship again & were picked up by trawler HMS Lord Austin & taken to Archangel 1942 - At 0526, the Hero with three escort vessels, was hit by two torpedoes from U-375. The first torpedo struck in the bow and the second after 30 seconds in the stern. The ship was blown to pieces and sank within 50 seconds. Four Norwegians, two British and 24 Chinese crewmembers died. Only 14 men that had been on deck survived by jumping overboard. They were picked up by an escort vessel and taken to Jaffa two hours later. The master was among the rescued, but died on board the escort ship and was buried the next day at the military cemetery in Ramleh, near Jaffa. The completely destroyed wreck of the Hero removed in March 1944 1942 - MS Bayard sunk by U-67 at 29.35N, 88.44W. 21 survivors were picked up by a seaplane and taken to New Orleans for medical care 1942 - Minesweeper HMCS Wallaceburg laid down Port Arthur ON 1943 - Destroyers USS Melvin & Porter laid down 1943 - Frigate USS Eugene launched 1943 - Destroyers USS Hall, Heermann, William D Porter commissioned 1943 - In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Group 16.7 under Rear Admiral Robert C. Griffin, consisting of the heavy cruisers USS Louisville, San Francisco and Wichita, light cruiser USS Santa Fe and four destroyers, bombards Kiska Island for 22-minutes with over 1,500 rounds of ammunition. The Japanese do not return fire on the US force 1943 - USN PV-1 Ventura Pathfinder; returning to base in the Aleutians, sights a submarine which crash-dives immediately 1943 - USS Permit sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship off the West Coast of Hokkaido Island 1943 - Light cruiser USS Helena was participating in the Battle of Kula Gulf when she was hit by three torpedoed from Japanese warships. The Helena blew in two and sank with 186 men out of a crew of 888. The survivors were later picked up by US warships 1943 - Submarine HMS Saracen sank the Italian merchant Tripoli (1166 BRT) near the Island of Monte Cristo 1943 - U-1105 laid down 1943 - U-676, U-677, U-1191 launched 1943 - U-629 set up an automatic weather station on Bear Island 1943 - At 0825, the Jasper Park was torpedoed & sunk by U-177 SSW of Cap Sainte Marie, Madagascar. Four crewmembers were lost. The master, 44 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by destroyers HMAS Quiberon & Quickmatch and landed at Durban 1943 - At 1959, the Hydraios was torpedoed by U-198 and sunk by a coup de grâce at 2017 1943 - At 1005, the Shahjehan in Convoy MWS-36 was torpedoed and damaged by U-453 NE of Benghazi, Cyrenaica. The ship was taken in tow but sank the next day in 32°55N/21°10E. One serviceman was lost. The master, 77 crewmembers, 20 gunners and 229 troops (military, naval and RAF personnel) were picked up by HMS St Monance and the river gunboat HMS Aphis and landed at Benghazi 1944 - Submarine USS Halfbeak laid down 1944 - Frigate HMS Loch Killisport launched 1944 - Submarine HMS Sleuth launched 1944 - Aircraft carrier HMS Theseus launched 1944 - Escort carrier USS Roi commissioned 1944 - Destroyers HMCS Kootenay and Ottawa along with corvette HMS Statice sank U-678 SW of Brighton 50-32N 00-23W. No survivors from her crew of 52. U-678 was a VIIC Type U-Boat, built by Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG, Hamburg, launched 18 Sep 43, commissioned 25 Oct 43, in service 9 months, with no record of sinking any ships 1944 - Minesweeper HMS Moon commissioned 1944 - Minesweeper HMCS Oshawa commissioned 1944 - Frigate HMCS Lanark commissioned 1944 - Frigates HMCS Penetang (ex Rouyn) & Carlplace launched Lauzon PQ 1944 - An armed US merchant tanker, en route from Cartagena, Colombia, to New York City, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-516 about 152 NM NW of the Dutch island of Aruba; eight of the 72-man crew and Armed Guard perish 1944 - Melansaari Island, north of Teikari, is evacuated 1944 - U-737 landed on Bear Island to check on an automatic weather station located there 1944 - Minesweepers HMS Cato & Magic sunk off Normandy by a German human torpedo (Neger) 1944 - U-3502 launched 1944 - Troop ship HMS Empire Halberd struck a mine laid by U-218 on 2 July and was damaged 1945 - Corvettes HMCS Algoma, Summerside & Ville de Quebec paid off Sorel PQ 1945 - Destroyer HMCS Hamilton departed Sydney NS under tow for scrapping Baltimore MD 1945 - Nicaragua became the first nation to formally accept the United Nations Charter 1948 - USS LSM 5 CTL after grounding on beach at Saipan 1953 - Destroyer HMCS Cayuga departed Vancouver for Prince Rupert BC 1954 - Destroyer HMCS Cayuga departed Nagasaki for Sasebo 1967 - USS Enterprise completed Vietnam deployment with CVW-9 1971 - USS Ticonderoga returned from Vietnam deployment 1976 - First women enter US Naval Academy at Annapolis 2001 - Submarine HMCS Windsor (ex-HMS Unicorn) delivered 2005 - The Titan Corporation announced today that Littoral Surface Craft - Experimental (X-Craft) -- christened Sea Fighter (FSF-1) and developed by Titan for the Office of Naval Research -- has conducted and successfully completed the sea trials jointly required by the US Navy and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Sea Fighter's sea trials included, in part, extensive certification testing ranging from maneuvering, cruise performance, and propulsion trials -- where the ship achieved a continuous cruising speed in excess of 50 knots -- to vibration, sound, and stern ramp operation trials 2005 - Grand Turk, the full size replica of a Royal Navy frigate of Nelson's day, arrived at Chatham direct from Portsmouth following her popular and successful appearance as Victory, leading a fleet of tallships to recreate the Battle of Trafalgar. Earlier, Grand Turk had accompanied HMS Endurance carrying HM The Queen to inspect a fleet of over 200 vessels, including 170 warships from 40 nations that had gathered at Spithead. Both events were televised and shown throughout the world. Grand Turk is owned by Turk Phoenix who last year took over the massive Covered Slip 7 at Chatham Historic Dockyard. The ship will arrive off Chatham Sun Pier at about 1700 and fire a cannon salute to the town before returning downriver to moor at the Chatham Maritime Marina River Pier opposite Upnor Castle 2005 - The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Anthony Oni, has been selected to take over the affairs of the Nigerian Navy pending when the federal government will appoint a new naval chief. The Nigerian Navy revealed that President Olusegun Obasanjo has approved the request by Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan to go on voluntary retirement in August 2005 - At 1930 Brixham Coastguard picked up a pan-pan call via VHF radio from a yacht in St Austell Bay called Gemini reporting four people in the water from another yacht they were sailing with. The four men were attempting to lower a sail when the vessel filled with water and turned over, throwing the four men into the water. Brixham Coastguard on receiving the pan-pan call called out the St Austell Coastguard rescue team and requested the launch of the Fowey RNLI all weather lifeboat. An ambulance was also called. The yacht was in a position, one mile offshore in St Austell Bay. The broadcast by the fellow yacht was also received by a nearby fishing vessel who went to their assistance. Fowey Lifeboat was quickly with the vessels to render assistance. The men were taken back to the boathouse to be checked over by paramedics after being recovered from the water. The men were all local to the St Austell area 2005 - The crew of the Kittery, Maine based Coast Guard Cutter Campbell seized 6,700 pounds of cocaine and detained five suspected smugglers, July 6, 50 miles south of Cayos de Albuquerque, Colombia. Campbell, on routine patrol in the Caribbean Sea spotted someone aboard the 65-foot Honduran fishing vessel Ocean Mistery dumping bales into the water. One of the bales was recovered by Campbell crewmen and tested positive for cocaine. Campbell directed Ocean Mistery to stop. The captain of Ocean Mistery did not comply with the order to stop his vessel. Campbell pursued Ocean Mistery for more than an hour, attempted to contact over VHF radio, and eventually fired warning shots from their .50-caliber machine gun. Ocean Mistery's captain complied after the warning shots and a law enforcement team from Campbell boarded and took control of the vessel and crew without incident. The contraband and five suspected smugglers will be turned over to law enforcement and Department of Justice officials for prosecution. Ocean Mistery was turned over to the Honduran government 2006 - USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez will administer the Oath of Allegiance and deliver congratulatory remarks at a naturalization ceremony aboard the USS Intrepid Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum 2006 - Two additional Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPBs), announced as part of the Government's Securing Australia's North West Shelf policy, named Glenelg and Maryborough 2006 - The Honorable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, announced joint at-sea inspection patrols in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area 2006 - The Indian Navy will acquire three additional Talwar-class stealth frigates from Russia at a Cost of 55.14 billion Rupees (1.22 billion US dollars) 2006 - Aker Yards has signed a contract with Sneingen AS, a company within the Island Offshore Group in Ulsteinvik, Norway, to deliver two UT 755 LN platform supply vessels. The value of the contract is approximately NOK 320 million. This is the 19th contract between the shipowner, Island Offshore in Ulsteinvik and Aker Yards. The hulls for the platform supply vessels will be built in Romania and the vessels will be outfitted in Brevik. Delivery is scheduled for May and July 2008 2006 - An international forum on peace and security in island societies opened on Jeju Island. Jeju was designated the Island of World Peace last year. During the two-day “Peace Island Forum,” some 50 Korean and foreign scholars will discuss ways of building peaceful islands and increasing cooperation among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the demilitarization of islands, said Professor Ko Chang-hoon of Jeju National University. The World Association for Island Studies, chaired by Ko, organizes the conference 2006 - Thousands of family members and friends crowded the pier at Naval Air Station North Island to take part in the homecoming celebration for the maiden deployment of USS Ronald Reagan, the Navy’s newest Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 2006 - At 0650 Karl Chavrat Jnr saw that he had received several voicemails from his father Karl Chavrat Snr, who he knew was undertaking a passage on his yacht from Norfolk, UK to Madasgacar 2006 - At 1515 Yarmouth Coastguard received numerous 999 emergency calls reporting that two children were in difficulties whilst on a toy inflatable off Great Yarmouth. Two swimmers who had made an attempt to rescue the children, also got into difficulties. Yarmouth Coastguard immediately called out the Winterton Coastguard rescue team and requested the launch of Caister independent inshore lifeboat, Great Yarmouth & Gorleston RNLI inshore lifeboats and Yarmouth beach rescue boat. The RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham was also scrambled. Both the children and the swimmers were recovered by the Caister inshore lifeboat and the Yarmouth beach rescue boat. Winterton Coastguard Rescue Team met the four who were examined by paramedics. The children were taken to hospital where they were found to be safe and well 2006 - Rolls-Royce delivered the first three gas turbine generator sets which provide the main electrical power system for the ROK’s first 7,000-tonne destroyer, designated KDX-III 2006 - BC Ferries announced today it has signed a $45.5 million contract with Vancouver Shipyards, a Washington Marine Group company, to build a new 125-car intermediate size ferry. Construction on the 100-meter vessel will begin later this year and the ship is expected to enter service by the summer of 2008 2006 - Aker Kvaerner and the Norwegian ship owner Aktieselskabet Borgestad ASA establish a new company named Aker Borgestad Operations AS, combining expertise within oil field processing and marine operations. The new company will operate oil and gas production vessels on behalf of Aker Floating Production, a company, which owns several Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units 2006 - The Honorable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honorable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony this morning of a new federally funded $1.7 million ferry terminal. The new terminal building substantially improves service to passengers of the ferry service between Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec and Souris, Prince Edward Island 2006 - Vice Admiral (Ret.) Roger T. Rufe, Jr. started as the new Director of the Dept of Homeland Security’s Operations Directorate. Admiral Rufe is returning to public service after a distinguished 34-year career with the United States Coast Guard. He most recently held the position of President and CEO of the Ocean Conservancy in Washington DC. Admiral Rufe previously served in some of the most senior and demanding operational posts at the Coast Guard. He captained five ships and held the Pacific and Atlantic Area commands, as well as leading other key Coast Guard field offices. He also served as vice chairman of the National Response Team, chief of the Coast Guard Congressional Relations Office, representative to the North Pacific and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Councils, and delegate to the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization. Admiral Rufe is a graduate of the USCG Academy. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from New York University, and he has maintained leadership positions in several non-governmental associations, societies and commissions involved in oceanic policy 2006 - The world’s largest container ship, Xin Los Angeles, delivered by Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd (SHI) to Lloyd’s Register class. The ship is owned by China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and is operated by China International Shipmanagement Company Ltd, a joint venture between CSCL and V.Ships. The ship is 9,600 TEU and is the first in a series of eight being built by SHI. The ship will trade from China to Europe initially and will eventually also trade to the US 2006 - NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, will visit Zagreb and Tirana 2007 - A massive rescue operation carried out after 23 sailors were stranded in the English Channel following an engine fire. The blaze wiped out power on board the 944-ton Russian trawler Marginella about 16 miles south of the Isle of Wight 2007 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced that President George W. Bush made the following nominations: Navy Rear Adm. (Selectee) Adam M. Robinson Jr. nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and Surgeon General, Washington. Navy Vice Adm. John D. Stufflebeem nominated for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director, Navy Staff, N09B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington 2008 - A reunion of crewmembers of HMCS Sarnia & Esquimalt and German submarine U-190 in Halifax during the week of July 6 to 11, 2008. HMCS Esquimalt, the last Canadian warship to be sunk in the Second World War, was torpedoed by U-190 in the Halifax approaches. HMCS Sarnia assisted in the recovery of 27 of Esquimalt’s survivors 2008 - Using the 'Hot Balloon' technique, experts from the Indian Navy brought the launch to the surface eight days after it had drowned in an attack by the rebels of the Communist Party of India-Maoist killing more than 30 Greyhound commandos and policemen 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. 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