SeaWaves Today in History June 21, 2009 Merchant Navy Day in Venezuela at Solstice Equinox 1596 - Lord High Admiral Charles Howard, Earl of Effingham, supported by General Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, commanded a English and Dutch force in a raid against the Spanish port of Cadiz. The purpose of the raid was to forestall another Spanish Armada, this one mounted in support of the Irish uprisings. At the time, King Philip was ill and command of the Andalusian coast was in the hands of the elderly Medina Sidonia, who had led the first Armada to disaster a decade earlier. The destination of the English force was a well-kept secret and the defenders of Cadiz were taken completely unaware by the arrival of the attackers. The fleet was divided into five squadrons: one each commanded by Lord Howard; the Earl of Essex; Sir Walter Raleigh; a Dutch Admiral; and a naval deputy of Howard’s. After a short skirmish, all of the Spanish warships in the outer harbor were either sunk or captured. Raleigh fought brilliantly in this part of the battle but was seriously wounded. However, the English forced failed to move quickly enough to capture an immensely valuable West Indies treasure fleet (flota) that was at anchor in the inner harbor, protected by the Defenses of the city. An assault force of approximately 3,000 troops was landed under the command of the Earl of Essex. They moved rapidly to overwhelm a small Spanish force that unwisely came out from the city to offer battle. The English advance then stalled as the attackers began to pillage the city systematically. Meanwhile, the Spanish treasure fleet was looted by its own crews and then set alight to prevent capture by the English. The cargo lost was valued at some £3.5 million, equal to ten years of revenue for the English crown. Queen Elizabeth, thinking the English had looted the Spanish ships themselves, at first refused to pay the English sailors for their time at sea but later relented when Howard interceded. The English remained in Cadiz for a fortnight before heading home with what was still a huge quantity of loot. A number of English universities benefited from the theft of Cadiz’ Jesuit library and the Bishop of Faro’s library. King Phillip was outraged at the disaster at Cadiz and ordered Don Pedro de Zubiaur to lead a new Armada in a reprisal against England in October. This Armada was broken up by a gale off Galicia with the loss of thirty ships. Afterwards, the reputation of Spain as a major sea power was effectively destroyed. Lord Admiral Howard was created the Earl of Nottingham in 1597 and given the exceptional office of Lord Lieutenant General of England, conferring upon him command of both England’s land and sea forces - an honor that fuelled the resentment of Essex against him. In 1601, Howard led the forces that defeated the Earl of Essex's rebellion against Queen Elizabeth and then served as the commissioner at his subsequent trial. Essex was executed for treason. Howard remained on good terms with Queen Elizabeth and occupied himself with administration of the navy. During King James I's reign, Howard served on many missions, including a spectacular peace delegation sent to Spain in 1605. He remained in command of the English navy for 33 years, retiring in 1618. Charles Howard is regarded as the most successful naval commander in English history. He died on 14 Dec 1624, at Haling, in Surrey, after nearly 20 years of illness, at the age of 88 1749 - Edward Cornwallis c1713-1753 arrives to found a settlement at Chebucto with two regiments and 2,576 settlers from England, Ireland and Germany; brings building supplies, a fire engine, hospital equipment and a midwife; with the help of New England builders, he starts laying out the town; later renamed in honor of Secretary of War George Dunk, the Earl of Halifax 1792 - Vancouver meets Spanish ships Sutil & Mexicana off Vancouver, BC 1854 - During a bombardment of Russian coastal fortifications on the Aland Islands in the Baltic, a shell landed aboard HMS Hecla, its fuse still burning. Mr Lucas, a Mate, ran to it and threw it overboard - it exploded before it hit the sea, but thanks to his action caused no injury. He was awarded the Victoria Cross 1898 - USS Charleston captures island of Guam from Spain 1904 - Submarine HMS A2 completed 1916 - Submarines HMS L3 & L3 laid down 1917 - HMC S/M CC1 & HMC S/M CC2 along with support ship HMCS Shearwater departed Esquimalt for Halifax. The submarines had been ordered to join RN forces in the Mediterranean & their initial destination was Malta 1918 - Submarine HMS L18 launched 1918 - Minesweeper HMC TR 15 commissioned Toronto ON 1918 - Cruiser HMS Calypso commissioned 1918 - Destroyer HMS Vanity commissioned 1918 - Destroyer HMS Windsor launched 1923 - Submarine HNLMS K IX commissioned 1928 - Heavy cruiser FS Foch laid down 1933 - First Great Lakes-to-Gulf of Mexico barge trip completed, New Orleans 1936 - Art/El, Godfrey William Bridgehouse 40251, RCN awarded Long Service & Good Conduct 1936 - Patrol vessel HMS Sheldrake laid down 1937 - Minesweeper FS Eland Dubois commissioned 1939 - Destroyer USS Roe launched 1939 - Submarine USS Searaven launched 1939 - Boom defense vessel HMAS Koala laid down 1940 - Destroyer HMS Hurricane commissioned 1940 - Corvette HMS Myosotis laid down 1940 - Corvette HMS Fleur de Lys launched 1940 - Minesweeper HMS Rhyl launched 1940 - Henry Asbjorn Larsen 1899-1964 sets sail from Vancouver on RCMP patrol vessel St. Roch intending to reach Halifax via Arctic. Makes first successful west to east navigation of NW Passage 1940 - Battleship FS Lorraine bombards Italian positions near Bardia 1940 - Throughout the bulk of the Norwegian Campaign, the Swordfish squadrons from HMS Glorious had been operating from various FAA and RAF airfields, engaging primarily in minelaying operations. Mid-June saw both 821 and the surviving elements of 823 Squadrons based at HMS Sparrowhawk (RNAS Hatston) when word came in that the damaged German battlecruiser Scharnhorst had sortied south from Trondheim under heavy escort, intent on returning to Germany. At 1150 ACOS (Acting Captain C. L. Howe, RN) instructed the combined squadrons to prepare a striking force. The short notice, combined with the need for the aircraft to be fitted with both long range tanks and torpedo couplings limited the available effort to a paltry six Swordfish, one sub-flight of three from each squadron. Lieutenant J. H. Stenning, RN of 821 was the strike commander, Lieutenant J. C. Reed; RN led the 823 sub-flight. There would be no escort. At 1245 the six aircraft departed Hatston with orders to fly to a designated point 40 miles off the Norwegian coast, turn northwards to search for the enemy fleet, and to return to RAF Sumburgh in the Shetlands. The intended point was reached at 1445, and a short search begun which resulted in the enemy force being sighted ahead at 1458, Scharnhorst in the center of a circular screen with one escort ahead, one astern, and two on either beam. The attackers approached from the port bow. The attack commenced at 1508 with a diving attack from 8,000 feet. The long-range AA fire, opened at as the Swordfish descended through 4,000 feet, was considered inaccurate, but the close range Flak from Scharnhorst was both heavy and effective, downing two from 823 - 4M shot down in flames (Sub-Lieutenant (A) Maurice Phillip White, RN (P), Naval Airman first class Charles Herbert Arthur G. Hull (AG)) while 4R was seen to make a controlled force-landing nearby (Sub-Lieutenant (A) Leonard Beale Cater, RN (P), Leading Airman Frederick Walter Davis (AG)), but in the event, neither crew was recovered from the cold North Sea waters. During the withdrawal Sub-Lieutenant (A) O. A. G. Oxley's of 821 sighted four approaching Bf-109s. He continued climbing and escaped after dragging his "Stringbag" into the cloudbank at 13,000 feet! Oxley, separated from the remainder of the striking force, and without an observer on board, managed to navigate his way back to Hatston. The other three survivors managed a safe return to RAF Sumburgh as planned. Unfortunately for the British cause, none of the six torpedoes dropped hit home in this, the last act of the Norwegian Campaign. The Observer who led the flight was a Lieutenant (O) Victor .A. T. "VAT" Smith RAN. For his efforts he was Mentioned in Dispatches. But he nearly got another crack at Scharnhorst, when as a survivor from HMS Ark Royal he was offered the position of Senior Observer in 825 Squadron commanded by LCDR (A) Edmonds, RN fortunately for him and the RAN he was recalled to Australia. By that time he had been shot down twice in 807 Squadron, lost one ship and was due to lose his second ship HMAS Canberra. He became known as the Father of Australia' Fleet air Arm and also became Admiral Sir VAT Smith AC KBE CB DSC RAN and chairman of the Defense Staff 1941 - Corvette HMCS Oakville launched Port Arthur ON 1941 - In response to the failed attack on the US battleship Texas, Doenitz instructs his U-boats thusly - The Fuhrer orders avoidance of any incident with USA during next few weeks. Orders will be rigidly obeyed in all circumstances. In addition attacks till further orders will be restricted to cruisers and battleships 1941 - U-264 laid down 1941 - U-87, U-158, U-436, U-455, U-456 launched 1941 - U-374, U-434 commissioned 1941 - ASW trawler HMS Minuet commissioned 1941 - Destroyer HMS Heythrop commissioned 1941 - Soviet submarine M-120 launched 1941 - Corvette HMCS Oakville launched Port Arthur ON 1942 - Minesweeper HMCS Georgian rammed & sank in error HM S/M P514 (ex USS R19) off the southern tip of Nfld. There were no survivors from the submarine's crew. Among the lost were Lt (E) James Flevelle MAGILL, RCNR, Halifax Memorial; OSST Albert Edward Lidstone RN of St. John's, Nfld. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, UK. P514 was on passage from Argentina to St. John's, under the escort of HMS Primrose, just after midnight on 21 Jun 42 HMS/M P514 was sunk in error by the minesweeper HMCS Georgian. The tragedy took place off Cape Race when the path of the eastbound submarine & her corvette escort, intercepted that of a westbound convoy CL.43 being escorted by the minesweeper. Problems with one of the ships in CL.43 had delayed the start of the convoy & it was several hours behind schedule. At the same time an eastbound convoy, SC.88, which had been blown north of its intended track, intercepted & passed through CL.43. The situation was confusing & dangerous. Visibility was poor & the night sky was overcast with frequent mist patches. Georgian detected approaching diesel engine HE on her hydrophones & turned onto the bearing to investigate. When the lookouts spotted the submarine the helm was immediately put over & she rammed P514 amidships. According to one testimony, the submarine's navigation lights flicked on, then off. According to the CO of the corvette escorting P514, her lights had been on for some time. The bridge personnel in Georgian could look down into the bridge of the submarine & they observed that it was empty & the hatch was shut. At 00 -40 hours Atlantic Time, the submarine went down in 27 fathoms. There were no survivors. A lone body was spotted in the water at the time but sank before it could be recovered. The body of ERA, N.C. Bennett came ashore near Ferrylands a month later. He was interred in the local graveyard with full military honors. At the enquiry, no blame was attached to anyone concerned. It was NSHQ policy then, & throughout the war, to not inform escort forces of the movements of Allied submarines for fear they would hesitate in attacking U-boats. The only measure of safety offered to Allied submarines passing through an operational area was the establishment of temporary no-attack zones for aircraft, but the submarines were always on their own when it came to both ships & aircraft. Lt (E) James Flevelle Magill RCNR, was onboard, for passage, OSST Albert Edward Lidstone RN (of St. John's Nfld) crew, of HMS/M P514, when lost with all hands 1942 - Submarine USS Haddo launched 1942 - Destroyers USS Jenkins & La Vallette launched 1942 - U-760 launched 1942 - Fort Stevens military reserve Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River. A Japanese submarine, likely I 25, fired six to nine 5 1/2-inch shells at Fort Stevens. As well I-25 arrived off Cape Blanco, Oregon & launched a E14Y GLEN Yokosuka recon aircraft by catapult which flew inland about 50 miles & dropped 2 incendiary bombs on Oregon forest area, two such mission were flown. I-25 & I-26 were from the B1-Type class of fleet submarines, which were the most numerous classes of Japanese boats. They were fast, long-ranged, & carried a seaplane, which was hangared forward of the conning tower & launched on a forward-facing catapult. During the war, the a/c facilities were removed from some boats in order to mount a second 140-mm gun. In 1944, I-36 & I-37 were modified to carry four Kaiten (miniature submarines), & I-36 was later modified again to carry six Kaiten. The B1-Type boats were very large - 356 ft long & 2,580 tons surfaced displacement compared to 253 ft & 1030 tons for the German Type IX long-range U-boat. The B1-Type boats were widely deployed & had a number of notable successes. After I-26 left Canadian waters she damaged aircraft carrier USS Saratoga on 31 Aug 42 with one torpedo of six launched, thereby removing her from the Guadalcanal campaign at a critical juncture. Two weeks later, on 15 Sep, I-19 scored the most incredible success by any submarine during WW.II. She sank the aircraft carrier USS Wasp by hitting her with two of six torpedoes, which ignited secondary gasoline fires that quickly raged out of control. The remaining four torpedoes went several thousand yards further into a second American carrier task force & heavily damaged the battleship USS North Carolina & sank the destroyer USS O'Brien. On 13 Oct 42, I-26 sank the Atlanta-class anti-aircraft cruiser USS Juneau, one of several ships damaged during the First Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of 12-13 Oct. This incident is infamous for the loss of the five Sullivan brothers. The B-Type boats (B1, B2, and B3 combined) are credited with sinking 56 merchant ships for a total of 372,730 GRT. 95% of the twenty B-1 boats were lost during the war - only I-36 survived. The destroyer USS Patterson sank I-25 off the New Hebrides on 03 Sep 43. I-26 became an operational loss off Leyte in Oct 44. It was a standard Japanese Navy practice to expend all remaining deck gun ammunition on any suitable target before the boat departed from its operational station and returned to its support base. Lighthouses were considered valid targets due to their importance to coastal navigation. The sort of attack that occurred at Estevan Point happened repeatedly all over the Pacific & Indian Oceans & was taken by naval intelligence analysts as a sure sign that a Japanese submarine had departed its patrol area 1942 - Rommel takes Tobruk in North Africa 1942 - After yesterday's disappointment, the morning brought renewed hope that RAF 217 Squadron's Beauforts would have a second shot at the Italian convoys. Sure enough, the morning search by 69 Squadron's Marylands turned up a small convoy of two merchant vessels [Italian MS Rosolino Pilo (8, 326 BRT) & German MS Reichenfels (7,744 BRT)] under the guard of a single destroyer [Da Recco]. At 1115 Squadron Leader Robert Grant Lynn DFC led off the nine serviceable Beauforts, the two other sub-flights being led by the experienced Flying Officers A. H. Aldridge & W. J. Stevens. A close escort of three Beaufighters of 235 Squadron was provided led by Squadron Leader A. E. Cook as well as an additional three for top cover, led by Squadron Leader W. C. Wigmore. One Beaufort was forced to abort, but the other eight sighted the enemy at 1255. The squadron was slightly astern of the targets port beam, and the three sub-flights abreast delivered their attack in line astern formation in the face of both heavy and accurate Flak that claimed Lynn early in the attack. Observers in the remaining aircraft were horrified when, an instant before W6502 hit the sea and disintegrated, the torpedo separated, rebounded of the surface, and smashed through the wing of the Australian Sgt. William Dennis Smyth's trailing Beaufort bringing it down as well. Of the eight crewmembers, only the Australian navigator in Smyth's plane, Sgt. Keith Dodd survived to be picked up by the Italians. About a minute later, flak accounted for a third Beaufort when Flying Officer Phillips’ DD996 was hit and made a successful water landing. The six that made it through the wall of Flak made runs on both cargo vessels, hitting Reichenfels a least once, stopping her on fire. The ship, loaded with ammunition was quickly abandoned and soon blew up in spectacular fashion. There was a strong air escort, primarily of Ju-88Cs over the convoy, and a number of air actions followed during which the Beaufighters claimed two Ju-88s. The German fighters damaged three of the Beauforts, almost claiming one when the Australian pilot of L9799, PO Jim McSharry, suffered a severe wound in his throat that nicked his jugular, leaving the navigator, Sgt. Alfred Leslie Augustinus (also an Australian) to fly the aircraft back to Malta where, two hours later, the grievously wounded McSharry managed a successful landing while holding his wound closed. Eventually, the 12 surviving aircraft (all six Beaufighters and six Beauforts) returned to Malta safely. Although the cost had been heavy (7 KIA, 5 POW, 1 wounded), the sinking of Reichenfels marked the first of many Axis merchant vessels to be sunk by Malta based Beauforts 1942 - US submarine sinks a Japanese gunboat in the Solomon Islands 1942 - USN PBY-5A of Patrol Squadron Twenty Four (VP-24), based on Midway Island, rescues the two man crew of a Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) TBD Devastator 360 miles (579 km) north of Midway Island. The two were from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) and had ditched their plane on 4 June during the Battle of Midway. These are the last survivors of the battle to be recovered 1943 - Corvette HMCS Arnprior (ex HMS Rising Castle) laid down at Harland & Wolff Belfast 1943 - U-1056, U-1057, U-1274 laid down 1943 - Corvettes HMCS Arnprior (ex-HMS Rising Castle) & Petrolia (ex-HMS Sherborne Castle) laid down Harland & Wolff Ltd Belfast 1943 - Destroyer escorts USS Connolly & Halloran laid down 1943 - Submarine USS Piranha laid down 1943 - Submarine USS Cod commissioned 1943 - Destroyer escort USS Engstrom commissioned 1943 - Destroyer USS Luce commissioned 1943 - Destroyer escorts USS Booth & Carroll launched 1943 - Corvette INS Assum (ex-HMS Bugloss) launched 1943 - Submarine HMS Stratagem launched 1943 - Corvettes HMS Hadleigh & Porchester Castle launched 1943 - MAC ship SS Empire MacRae launched 1943 - Milk-cow U-462 suffered one dead and 4 wounded during an attack from RAF 151 & 456 Sqn Mosquitoes. [Matrosengefreiter Ferdinand Brunnbaur] 1944 - Soviet troops land at Piisaari Island. Auxiliary gunboats Aunus and Viena with German AF barges are sent to attack Soviet units in Koivisto Sound. Aunus damaged by bombs. While covering these MTB Taisto 1 caught fire and explodes after gun and bomb hits from IL-2 planes south from Oritsaari Island. One man is lost and 3 wounded. The only operational total loss of the MTB fleet 1944 - The USN's Task Groups 58.1, 58.2 and 58.3 continues searching for the remaining ships of the IJN's First Mobile Fleet. At 2030 hours local, the task groups begin retiring towards Saipan 1944 - off the Normandy Sword beach area, destroyer HMS Fury is mined and has to be taken in tow. However, she breaks free from her tow in bad weather, and is driven ashore where she becomes a constructive total loss 1944 - Patrol Boat, 83 Foot Type USCGC 83415 foundered off Normandy 1944 - Patrol Boat, 83 Foot Type USCGC 83471 foundered off Normandy 1944 - During an aircraft attack by an RAF 86 Sqn on U-743, one man was killed and 2 more wounded 1944 - Frigate HMS Zanzibar commissioned 1944 - Minesweeper HMCS Lavallee commissioned 1944 - Submarine USS Menhaden laid down 1944 - Submarine USS Atule commissioned 1944 - Submarine HMS Aurochs laid down 1944 - Rescue tug HMS Mediator launched 1944 - U-3005 laid down 1945 - Kamikazes are still active off Okinawa. A kamikaze sinks a medium landing ship (LSM) and damages three other ships. A kamikaze attacks the destroyer escort USS Halloran (DE-305); the ship’s gunners shoot the plane down but it lands 75 yards (68.6 m) from the ship and an exploding bomb kills three crewmen and causes considerable damage to hull and superstructure. Two seaplane tenders are damaged by Kamikazes. An aircraft crashes USS Curtiss (AV-4) and its bomb rips two holes in her hull and exploded on the third deck, killing 35 and wounding 21 of her crew. Effective damage control keeps her afloat and four days later she was underway for the US USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) shoots down a kamikaze but part of the plane hits the ship, causing minor damage and wounding five men 1945 - Okinawa declared secure after most costly naval campaign in history. US had 30 ships sunk and 223 damaged, mostly from kamikaze attacks, with 5,000 dead and 5,000 wounded, while the Japanese lost 100,000 dead 1945 - 25 B-29 Superfortresses mine the sea approaches around Fushiki, Senzaki, Nanao, and Yuya Bay, Japan during the night of 21/22 June; two others mine alternate areas 1945 - USN PB4Y-2 Privateers of Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Eighteen (VPB-118) sow mines between Hakin Do, Iion Do and Gantai Do in the Korean Archipelago 1945 - HM S/M L23 paid off 1945 - HMC ML 081 paid off 1945 - USS LSM-59 sunk by Kamikaze attack off Okinawa 1945 - High Speed Transport USS Barry damaged Kamikaze attack off Okinawa 25 May 1945 and sunk as a decoy 1945 - HMC MTB 735 paid off 1945 - Corvettes HMCS Galt & New Westminster paid off Sorel PQ 1945 - Submarine HMS L-23 paid off 1945 - HMC ML 081 paid off 1945 - HMC MTB 735 paid off 1945 - Corvettes HMCS Galt & New Westminster paid off Sorel PQ 1946 - Destroyer USS Shelton commissioned 1952 - Destroyer HMCS Crusader relieved HMCS Athabaskan in Korean waters 1952 - Minesweeper HMCS Chaleur launched Port Arthur ON 1955 - Destroyer HMCS Terra Nova launched Victoria BC 1960 - Submarine HMS Dreadnought launched 1961 - Supply HMCS Provider laid down Lauzon PQ 1966 - USS Franklin D Roosevelt commenced Vietnam deployment 1966 - USS Intrepid port call Yokosuka 1966 - USS Enterprise completed Vietnam deployment 1970 - At 1741 USS Shangri-La entered the Republic of South Viet Nam territorial waters and stood into the harbor of Danang. Vitally needed parts for the number 3 elevator were received via helicopter. The ship returned to Yankee Station the same day. It is also the only incident known of a US aircraft carrier (CVA, CVAN or CVS) that entered a port area in South Vietnam. It should be noted that this visit was for the purpose of obtaining supply parts and not for liberty 1971 - USS Enterprise port call Pearl Harbor 1972 - USS Oriskany port call Subic Bay 1974 - USS Constellation commenced Vietnam deployment 1975 - Cmdre Douglas Rainsford Learoyd awarded Commander-Order of Military Merit. CPO1 Robert Alexander Lyon, Lt (N) Robert Kenneth Nicholson, CPO1 James Arthur Puddifant awarded Member-Order of Military Merit LCdr Donald George Smith awarded Officer-Order of Military Merit. Lt (N) Peter Ralph Dickinson, Lt (N) Thomas Walter Gardner, CPO1 Donald George Howard, Lt (N) William Bentley Irwin, CPO1 Arthur Roy Keeble, CPO2 Willard Albert Losier, CPO1 Frederick Gilbert McKee, CPO2 James Melville Watt awarded Member-Order of Military Merit. 1984 - Venezuelan landing craft Los Frailes scrapped after fire 1986 - RADM Robert Demytre Yanow awarded Commander-Order of Military Merit. LCdr Anthony Ewart Delamere, LCdr William Albert Greenlaw, Capt (N) Peter Charles Martin, Cdr Brian Douglas Neal awarded Officer-Order of Military Merit. CPO1 Roger Michael Burt, CPO1 Murray Elwood Eisnor, PO2 Stuart Gordon Fairbanks, PO1 Ernest Hollett, CPO1 Alvin Roy Hoover, PO1 Joseph Omer Geden Yves Lemieux, CPO2 Alvin Donald McVicar, CPO1 Thomas Morley Wybert awarded Member-Order of Military Merit 1986 - Destroyers HMCS Restigouche, Terra Nova & Kootenay along with supply ship HMCS Provider returned to Esquimalt from RIMPAC 86 1991 - Torpedo Sound Range Vessel CFAV Sooke commissioned 1994 - Destroyer HMCS Kootenay departed RIMPAC in Hawaiian waters for Operation Forward Action, Haiti 1997 - Patrol vessel HMCS Edmonton commissioned 2004 - The yet to be named second Danish Flexible Command Ship L 17 launched. Eventually to become HDMS Ebsern Snare 2004 - Cruiser USS Leahy left Suisun Bay CA under tow for scrapping Brownsville TX 2005 - National Defense Minister Lee Jye joined Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng and 16 legislators from various parties on an inspection tour of the waters northeast of Taiwan on Tuesday, on what the lawmakers dubbed as a sacred mission to proclaim the Republic of China's sovereignty over a chain of islands and overlapping economic maritime zones claimed by both Taiwan and Japan. "Despite the controversy, from a historical, geographical and legal viewpoint, this is without a doubt our territory," said Wang as he led 16 lawmakers aboard the 4200-ton frigate Fengyang as it prepared to sail to the area northeast of Taiwan. The trip, initiated by People First Party Legislator Lin Yu-fang two weeks earlier, was made to inspect the Navy's patrol missions off Taiwan's east coast after local fishermen strongly expressed discontent at Japanese authorities' interference in their fishing operations, and staged an unprecedented demonstration at sea on June 10 2005 - New redundancy terms for members of the Regular Armed Forces were announced by Under-Secretary of State for Defense, Don Touhig, today. The new terms will provide the Armed Forces with redundancy arrangements that are better related to an individual's length of service and provide a generous package for those leaving the services. This change will not affect Service personnel leaving as part of the restructuring announced in July 2004 unless individuals decide that they would prefer to leave on the terms offered by the new Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 - Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited announced the completion of the sale of the two Handymax tankers M/T Pella and M/T Dion for cash to third party interests. The Company will recognize a net gain of approximately $8 million from the sale of these vessels in the second quarter, and brings TEN closer to its stated goal of operating a fleet exclusively of modern double-hull vessels 2005 - The world's first solar sail launch from Russian Project 667BDR nuclear submarine Borisoglebsk in the Barents Sea failed. The private US-Russian consortium sponsoring the takeoff calls the spacecraft Cosmos 1. Its designers say the large, lightweight reflective sheet will revolutionize space propulsion by using the gentle shove of sunlight rather than costly fuel. A solar sail might do for space missions what fabric sails once did for sea travel. It would use free, natural energy to move a craft across distances in the heavens not now possible, partly because of limits to the amount of heavy fuel that can be carried. The attempt failed 2005 - The Coast Guard suspended the search for the 44-year-old female scuba diver missing in the vicinity of Ram Island CT at 1028. Sandra Dagata from Preston CT was reported as missing by her boyfriend to Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound 1155 the previous day while they were on a scuba diving expedition approximately one-half mile south of Mystic Harbor. The Coast Guard's search and rescue efforts included the following: Three HH-60J helicopter flights totaling 12 hours flight time, Three Station New London rescue boats totaling 30 hours search time. Local, state and private resources searched with more than eight assets for a total of 45 hours search time. The water depth is 10-20 feet deep and the water temperature is 61 degrees. Next of kin has been notified. The incident is under investigation 2005 - B + H Ocean Carriers Ltd. agreed to purchase a 1992-built double hull combination carrier of approximately 75,000 dwt for $33,250,000 and also agreed to commit the vessel on a time charter for three years. The Company said the purchase will be completed and the vessel will be delivered by September 2005, with the charter commencing simultaneously. The Company noted that the operating economics for the vessel were expected to be similar to those that applied to the three combination carriers which the Company purchased earlier this year, subject to operating costs, drydocking and off hire. The Company will finance the acquisition with a combination of cash and additional borrowings. The Company owns and operates seven Medium Range Product Tankers and four Combination Carriers 2005 - Belfast Coastguard received a '999' call from a member of the public at 0034 stating he had witnessed a person walking into the sea. Coastguard rescue teams from Larne and Portmuck were sent to the area to conduct a shoreline search and the RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboat from Larne Lough was requested to launch. Royal Navy Rescue helicopter 177 from Prestwick was scrambled to the scene. Incident later determined to be a hoax 2006 - USCG accepts into its official collections 19 new paintings depicting the service's multi-faceted missions, including several works featuring its response to Hurricane Katrina, at a ceremony at the historic Alexander Hamilton US Custom's House in Manhattan 2006 - Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, will travel to Stavanger, Norway 21st & 22nd June 2006. The Secretary General will participate in the SACT Seminar 2006 on “Delivering Transformation”. The Secretary General will also meet with the Norwegian Minister of Defense Mrs. Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen and will deliver the seminar address 2006 - Abu Dhabi Ship Building handed over a newly constructed multi-mission landing craft to the UAE Special Operations Command. The 42m Special Forces Landing Craft, named Umm Al Narr, is the second of its type to be built by ADSB. The earlier one, L41, is in service with the UAE Navy 2006 - SeaDrill has entered into an agreement with Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering Sdn Bnd for the purpose of building a new self-erecting tender rig, T-11. The new barge unit is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter 2008 2006 - Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the President has made the following nomination: Vice Adm. Albert M. Calland III for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as the deputy director for strategic operational planning, National Counterterrorism Center, Washington DC. Calland is currently serving as deputy director of Central Intelligence Agency, Washington DC 2006 - Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash flew in a MiG-29 fighter, similar to the one which would be deployed on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov being acquired by India from Russia 2006 - Chevron Corporation, through its affiliate Chevron Frade Limited Liability Company, along with partners Petrobras and Frade Japao Petroleo Limitada (FJPL), a joint vehicle company of INPEX, Sojitz and JOGMEC, today announced their commitment to develop the Frade oil field offshore Brazil. The Frade Field is Chevron's first oil field development project in Brazil. It is expected to begin production in late 2008 or early 2009, with production capacity of approximately 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day and estimated peak annual production of 85,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day. The Frade Field contains an estimated 200 million to 300 million barrels of recoverable oil and is located in the Campos Basin in a water depth of 3,500 feet, approximately 75 miles offshore the state of Rio de Janeiro 2006 - Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. announced a three-year charter extension for its 2005-built double-hull 1C ice class Suezmax tanker Euronike to a large independent United States refiner, who has employed the vessel for the past twelve months since her delivery from the shipyard. The charter rate for the extension compares favorably to rates for similar duration charters for similar modern tonnage in the market. Gross revenues for this vessel are expected to exceed $40 million over the corresponding charter period 2006 - US Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 said today that a new phase of cleanup at the upper river portion of the Sheboygan River and Harbor Superfund site begins this week. The project will continue under EPA supervision, in consultation with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, through the fall. Construction vehicles and workers in required protective clothing may be visible on the riverfront near Sheboygan Falls' Rochester Park 2006 - A moderate earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale rocked Indonesia's disaster-scarred Nias Island 2006 - At 2330 of the 20th, Stornoway Coastguard received a distress call from yacht "Night Challenge" which had suffered some damage in stormy weather conditions. Stornoway Coastguard requested the RNLI lifeboat from Barra to the scene, which towed the yacht back to Castlebay. Just after 2330 Stornoway Coastguard were contacted by another yacht taking part in the race. "Ruffian" had run aground, again due to 45 knot winds and high seas. Stornoway Coastguard stayed in touch with the yacht which refloated under her own steam. A further 12 race yachts decided to shelter art Castlebay last night. 36 yachts in total are taking part in the race. At 0830 yacht "Vijaya" requested assistance from Stornoway Coastguard and was towed into Catslebay by the RNLI Barra lifeboat. The last yacht in need of assistance was "Blue Demon" which contacted Stornoway Coastguard at 1045 having suffered some damage 2006 - At 0830 Stornoway Coastguard were contacted by Kilda Base who reported that seven people were stranded on the Isle of Dun. The seven people were on the island carrying out work on the local wild fowl and had been staying in a tent. However the weather conditions in the area deteriorated and their tent had blown down. The seven people had been in radio communication with Kilda base but had been without food or water for two days. Stornoway Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard rescue helicopter "Mike Uniform" to the island to airlift all seven casualties back to St Kilda which is 48 miles west of the Hebrides. All seven casualties are safe and well, but cold, tired and hungry and very happy to be back on mainland St Kilda 2006 - A South Korean Naval Academy female cadet accepted into the US Naval Academy for the first time. Jo Seon-hye, a sophomore at the Republic of Korea Naval Academy in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, received permission from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis after a final interview with a US military attaché 2006 - Coast Guard rescue crews are on scene and assisting with the dewatering process of a 184-foot freight ship that was reported to be taking on water at 2340 approximately 12 miles northeast of Miami Beach. The Coast Guard received a mayday call by the captain that the Sea Taxi was taking on water and his five-person crew needed immediately assistance. The Coast Guard launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Miami Beach and USCGC Sitkinak. Sea Taxi was reported to be taking on approximately 120 gallons per minute in the engine room. Sitinak sent a damage control team on board and has made temporary repairs to the vessel. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has granted the ship to re-enter the Miami River under strict guidlines. The ship must only enter the Port of Miami during the daylight hours and must use tugboats to make way. The captain must also have the vessel boomed off at the moorings and immediately have divers in the water to inspect and make repairs to the hull 2006 - Holyhead Coastguard coordinated a rescue of yachtsmen in the water from the off shore racing vessel 'Hugh Jars' whilst sailing off the Holyhead breakwater in a local sailing race 2006 - An oil spill is contained Wednesday, June 21, 2006, near a crude oil tanker at the Clifton Ridge terminal along the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles LA. The cause of the spill is under investigation by the US Coast Guard and CITGO Petroleum Corporation 2007 - Two regiments of Tu-22M Backfire strategic bombers currently under Navy command are set to become part of the Russian Air Force by the end of 2008 2007 - USCG Commandant, Admiral Thad W. Allen, delivers remarks on maritime infrastructure protection at the Infrastructure Partnership speaker series breakfast Army and Navy Club 901 17th Street NW Washington DC 2007 - Secretary General of NATO Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Canada on 21 and 22 June 2007 - Ocean Group christens new tug Océan Raymond Lemay in Montreal 2007 - All 19 crew aboard a Panamanian ship which sank in the Arabian Sea yesterday in bad weather were rescued by a passing vessel 2007 - France conducted a successful test launch of its new M51 ballistic missile, which will be used on its nuclear submarines 2007 - NE Greenhalgh & Almirante Gastão Motta intercept drug smuggling FV Sabala 2007 - RADM Peter J. Williams USN fired from his position and reassigned for having an inappropriate relationship and misusing government property. Williams, the program executive officer for tactical aircraft programs, was sent to another position within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, following an admiral’s mast before Adm. Patrick Walsh, vice chief of naval operations 2008 - US Navy submarine New Hampshire (SSN 778) christened at Electric Boat in Groton 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