SeaWaves Today in History June 27, 2009

 

UK - Veteran’s Day

1671 - Pirate Henry Morgan lands at Panama City 
1726 - Jacques d'Espiet de Pensens sets sail to take possession of Ile St-Jean (Prince Edward Island) for France
1759 - General James Wolfe 1727-1759 lands a body of troops across from Quebec and blockades the St. Lawrence River to French shipping; starts siege lasting 75 days
1813 - USS President anchors in Bergen, Norway
1909 - Submarine HMS C20 launched 
1916 - Submarine HMS K10 launched 
1917 - Destroyer HMS Valentine commissioned
1918 - Canadian hospital ship Llandovery Castle is torpedoed by a German U-boat. The 258  crewmen and medical personnel take to the water as the ship goes under and are machine-gunned by the German submariners. Only 24 people live through this atrocity
1918 - Submarine HMS L11 completed 
1919 - Destroyer USS Bailey commissioned
1922 - Submarine S-24 launched
1928 - Destroyer FS Typhon commissioned
1930 - Destroyer FS Albatros launched
1931 - Heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis laid down
1935 - Destroyer USS Somers laid down
1930 - Lightning strikes drill boat John B. King in the St. Lawrence River, setting off dynamite and killing 31 crewmembers
1935 - France resumed liberty in naval matters. "A grave event has just modified the equilibrium of European naval forces"
1938 - Boom defense vessel HMS Barlane launched
1940 - U-138 commissioned
1940 - At 0338, the unescorted Lenda was missed by U-47 with one torpedo. Then the U-boat began shelling the ship for the next 20 minutes until she caught fire. The crew then abandoned ship in the starboard lifeboat, because the shelling had damaged the port lifeboat. The boat stayed near the ship for a while in the hope to find the first mate that was missing. The ship was on fire aft and amidships and the sea entered through holes at the waterline on the port side, so the U-boat left her in this sinking condition. But at dawn, some of the crew reboarded the vessel and they found the first mate dead on the port side of the upper bridge. A workboat was lowered and eight of the men transferred to it, whereupon both boats left and headed for the south of Ireland, just before two explosions were heard, followed by a tall column of fire which appeared to come from the engine room. Lenda remained afloat for a while on her cargo, but finally sank in 50°N/13°24W, about 160 miles southwest of Fastnet, Ireland. The survivors were picked up in the afternoon by destroyers HMS Hurricane & Havelock and taken to Plymouth on 30 June, respectively 2 July
1940 - At 1705, the unescorted Leticia was attacked by U-47 with gunfire about 135 miles west of Ireland. The U-boat was only spotted when it opened fire from a distance of about 300 meters from the stern. The shelling killed the second engineer, seriously wounded the second mate and slightly wounded the master and a British donkeyman. Prien ceased fire to allow the crew to abandon ship in both lifeboats, but one British sailor fell overboard and drowned. After the lifeboats sailed away the U-boat again shelled the ship until she sank at 18.11 hours. Three men, which had remained on board, had to jump overboard and were picked up by U-47. They got dry clothing and schnaps and were brought to the lifeboats. First aid materials, some sausages and wine were given to the survivors before the U-boat left the area. The same day, the survivors were picked up by HMS Hurricane and landed at Plymouth two days later
1940 - A confidential meeting is held between members of the British and Australian governments and US Secretary of State Hull regarding their concerns about the Japanese buildup. They request either economic measures or movement of some naval vessels to the area of Malaysia or the Philippines. Cordell Hull does not agree to any of these proposals. They would constitute a more active foreign policy than the Administration believes the American public is prepared to tolerate
1940 - Italian submarine Console Generale Liuzzi was scuttled south of Crete after being depth charged by destroyers HMS Dainty, Ilex, Decoy, Defender & HMAS Voyager
1940 - In the US, President Roosevelt invokes the Espionage Act of 1917 to exercise control over shipping movements off the US coast and in the vicinity of the Panama Canal
1940 - Corvette FS Lobelia (ex-HMS Lobelia) laid down
1940 - Battleship USS Iowa laid down
1941 - At 2357, 2358 & 2400, U-123 fired one torpedo each at three ships in Convoy SL-78 from between the columns WSW of the Canary Islands. The first torpedo sank P.L.M. 22, the second the Oberon and the third missed the intended target, but was thought to have hit another ship in the convoy. Oberon was struck by a torpedo in the engine room, killing four men on watch below and a purser. A British corvette picked up the survivors, but one man later died of wounds. The master and 31 crewmembers from P.L.M. 22 were lost. Ten crewmembers and two French naval gunners were picked up by HMS Armeria, transferred to HMS Asphodel and landed at Freetown on 4 July
1941 - At 0427 the M-99 (SLt B.M. Popov) was hit by two torpedoes from U-149 and sank immediately east of Dagö Island
1941 - At 0155, U-564 fired three single torpedoes in one minute intervals at Convoy HX-133 in grid AK 2432 and observed three hits. Maasdam and Malaya II were sunk and Kongsgaard was damaged. The Kongsgaard was torpedoed amidships and caught fire in position 60°N/30°42W. The crew first abandoned ship in the lifeboats, but the master, one mate and nine crewmembers later reboarded the vessel and managed to extinguish the fire with the help of more men. After picking up the remaining crew, the tanker continued and arrived at Belfast on 2 July. Three days later, a telegram from the First Lord of the Admiralty arrived, congratulating them on bringing their ship safely to port after being torpedoed. Maasdam was hit by one torpedo on the port side at #2 hold. Several lifeboats were destroyed, but the most of the 48 crewmembers and 32 passengers (17 American Red Cross nurses and US Marines under Maj Walter L. Jordan, the advance detail for the Marine Detachment at the American Embassy in London) safely abandoned ship before she sank. Two passengers were lost. 44 survivors, among them nine of 17 American Red Cross nurses, were rescued by the Norwegian motor tanker Havprins and landed at Barry. The remaining survivors were picked up by another Norwegian vessel. The master, 38 crewmembers and four gunners from the Malaya II were lost. Six crewmembers were picked up by HMCS Collingwood and landed at Reykjavik
1941 - At 0119, U-69 fired a spread of two torpedoes at two overlapping steamers in Convoy SL-78 about 200 miles SE of the Azores and heard one detonation, but no hit can be confirmed from Allied sources. At 0149 hours, another torpedo was fired that hit the River Lugar amidships, which broke in two and sank within seconds. In a third attack at 0237, the Empire Ability was hit by a torpedo, caught fire and sank after 21 minutes. The master, 60 crewmembers, two gunners, 17 military personnel and 27 passengers from the Empire Ability were picked up by the British SS Amerika, transferred to corvette HMS Burdock and landed at Milford Haven. The master, 35 crewmembers and two passengers from the River Lugar were lost. Six crewmembers were picked up by Burdock and landed at Milford Haven. U-69 was on her return voyage from the South Atlantic, (the longest voyage then made by a type VIIC), and running on one engine to conserve fuel, encountered Convoy SL-78. U-69 also draws the convoy to the attention of U-123 and U-66. U69 departed on this voyage from Lorient 5 May 1941
1941 - At 0056, the Tibia was torpedoed and damaged by U-79 in Convoy HX-133 on position 59°55N/30°49W (grid: AK 2434)
1941 - U-556 sunk in the North Atlantic SW of Iceland, in position 60.24N, 20.00W, by depth charges from corvettes HMS Nasturtium, Celandine and Gladiolus. 5 dead and 41 survivors
1941 - Corvette HMCS Bittersweet departed UK for Iceland & assignment to NEF. The creation of a naval base in Nfld was vital to the provision of Trans-Atlantic convoy escort. This was due to the unanticipated high fuel consumption by 'short-legged' escorts while engaged in anti-submarine warfare. Eventually, the River-class frigates & Castle-class corvettes, with 7,000 NM of endurance at medium speed, proved equal to the task. The use of over 200 escort oilers, beginning in the late 1942, was also vital to the efficient operation of the older warships that had much shorter cruising ranges. However, until the escort oilers & long-range escorts could enter service, the lack of fuel was a critical factor in the generally poor performance of RCN & RN warships
1941 - Corvettes HMCS Nanaimo & Trail arrived Halifax from Esquimalt 
1941 - Corvette HMCS Moose Jaw arrived Halifax from builder Montreal PQ
1941 - (Gazetted) Sub-Lt Geoffrey Gledhill Turner (1903-59), RNVR, disarmed many German mines in the early Blitz. One at Seaforth, Lancs, blew up in his face; amazingly, he survived. (George Cross)
1941 - Italian submarine Glauco was sunk west of Gibraltar in position 35.00N, 12.41E by destroyer HMS Wishart
1941 - HMS Triumph on patrol off the Egyptian coast sinks the Italian submarine Salpa
1942 - At 1055, the unescorted Leiv Eiriksson was hit by one torpedo from U-126 west of Barbados. Since 0445 hours, the U-boat followed the tanker, which stopped off Barbados due to engine troubles. Just as a spread of three torpedoes was fired at 1044, the tanker got underway again and they missed. The torpedo fired at 1055 hours hit in the forward cargo hold, resulting in a large hole in her starboard bow. The ship settled by the bow until water started to wash across the foredeck, while some oil was leaking out. The most of the complement of 40 crewmembers and four gunners abandoned ship in three lifeboats, only the master and eight men, including the gun crew stayed on board to send radio messages and firing star shells to attract help from the nearby land. As the tanker was not sinking further, the U-boat fired at 1146 hours a coup de grâce, which struck on the port side a little forward of the bridge and out from #3 center tank. The tanker immediately caught fire and sank rapidly by the bow, leaving a sea of burning oil on the surface. The men had to jump overboard and were picked up by a lifeboat, but the master and second mate had been very seriously burnt and the radio operator and the steward died in the flames. U-126 then surfaced, approached the lifeboats and Bauer asked the survivors the usual questions. He also said he regretted the loss of lives and asked if they needed first aid articles, but the two injured men were beyond such aid, so the offer was refused. Bauer then gave them the direction of Bridgetown, Barbados, which they could see in the distance, wished them a "good journey, and I hope that I will never see you again," then the U-boat left. The lifeboats headed for land, but 45 minutes later a British MTB arrived, took all survivors on board and then proceeded at full speed towards Bridgetown, arriving after 30 minutes. The two injured officers were taken to hospital, but they died and were buried at Bridgetown the following day with the entire crew present, as well as a large amount of people from the local population
1942 - At 1552, the unescorted and unarmed Polybius was hit by one torpedo from U-128 about 250 miles east of Trinidad, while steaming a nonevasive course at 9 knots. The torpedo had been spotted by a lookout, but it was too late and it struck abaft the #5 hatch directly under the living quarters, blowing off the stern and killing ten crewmembers. She settled rapidly by the stern and sank within ten minutes. The survivors among the eight officers, 29 crewmen and seven passengers on board abandoned ship in four lifeboats immediately after the hit. The U-boat questioned the master before it left the area. Seven survivors in one boat were picked up the next day by the Dutch SS Dracos and taken to Georgetown, British Guyana. Twelve men in a second boat were picked up after three days by the steam merchant Clarona and brought to Trinidad. The remaining survivors in the other two boats were rescued by an Allied vessel after two days and landed in Trinidad
1942 - At 1525, the unescorted Las Choapas was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-129 in the Gulf of Mexico
1942 - At 2152, the unescorted Potlatch was hit by one torpedo from U-153 about 650 miles east of the Virgin Islands, while steaming on a nonevasive course at 7 knots due of heavy smoke coming from the stack. The ship had stopped several times during the day to check the water content in the fuel oil. The torpedo struck on the port quarter near the engine room about ten feet below the waterline. The explosion blew a hole through the deck, threw the trucks and tanks on deck into the air, buckled the deck plates and damaged the steering gear. She immediately began settling on an even keel and sank by the bow within five minutes. The seven officers, 32 crewmen and 16 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four 20mm and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in one lifeboat, four liferafts and two doughnut rafts. The gunners manned their stations until the after gun was awash and then jumped overboard. The U-boat surfaced after the ship sank, picked up some spare tires from the cargo, questioned the survivors and handed over cigarettes to them before leaving the area (They reported the ship under her former name Narcissus). One officer and five crewmen were lost with the ship and two later died in the lifeboat (one from exposure on 29 June and another from an infected shark bite on 18 July) and were buried at sea. The lifeboat took the four rafts in tow, but soon all survivors were transferred into the boat because the rafts slowed down the sailing too much. They sailed in the only lifeboat for 26 days with little food or water until they made landfall on the uninhabited Great Inagua, Bahama Islands. They found some water by following some wild jackasses to a water hole, but had to sail to the also uninhabited Little Inagua for more where they stayed for two days and then continued to Aklins Island, landing on 29 July. From there they were brought by the yacht Vergermere (Owner Betty Carstairs) to Nassau, arriving on 1 August. The master, John Joseph Lapoint was awarded the US Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for especially meritorious service under unusual stress and hazards. He had sailed the crowded boat to the nearest land only navigating by the sun and stars. He survived another sinking when his next ship, the Liberty Samuel Gompers was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-10 in the South Pacific on 30 Jan, 1943
1942 - At 2257, the unescorted Moldanger was torpedoed by U-404. The torpedo struck on the port side amidships in the engine room, killing two men and disabling the radio equipment, so no distress calls were sent. The ship sank following a coup de grâce at 2302, which hit on the port side aft, near #5 hatch. The explosion killed eleven men, who were lowering a lifeboat just over the point where the torpedo hit. The master, an engineer and the carpenter were the last that left the ship by jumping overboard and swimming to a raft. The U-boat then surfaced and questioned the survivors before leaving the area. The survivors distributed themselves between a gig, a motor lifeboat and three rafts, because the other lifeboats were damaged and unusable. They all stayed together for three days, but towing the rafts in heavy seas slowed them down, so they let one raft go on the second day after the men and supplies had been transferred. It was decided to let the motorboat and the gig continue towards land to get the injured under medical care and later send help to the rafts. On 4 July, one injured man in the motorboat died and was buried at sea. The remaining 15 men (including the master and the chief engineer) were picked up by HMCS Buctouche on 7 July. The six survivors in the gig were sighted on 15 July by a USAAF aircraft about 100 miles SE of Ambrose Light. Food and water were dropped by USN blimp K-9, which then stayed nearby until USS PC-495 picked them up and landed them at Cape May NJ the same day. The nine survivors on the two rafts drifted around for 48 days before the Norwegian merchantman Washington Express rescued them on 14 August, all in remarkably good shape, considering what they had endured. They had traveled over 1000 miles towards the Azores and caught underway three large turtles and many fish
1942 - At 1507, the British Freedom in Convoy KS-514 was torpedoed and damaged by U-701 in position 34°45N/75°22W (grid DC 1231). No casualties among the crew of 55. The ship was en route in ballast and reached port safely
1942 - Steam tanker Tuxpan sunk by U-129 at 20.15N, 96.20W 
1942 - Destroyer USS Brown laid down
1942 - Minesweeper USS Swift laid down
1942 - Frigates HMS Bayntun & Bazely launched
1942 - Minesweeper HMS Circe launched
1942 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Damsay launched
1942 - Mooring vessel HMS Moorcock launched
1942 - Submarine HMS Taurus launched
1942 - Escort carrier USS Breton launched
1942 - Destroyer USS MacKenzie launched
1942 - Submarine HMS Saracen commissioned
1942 - Destroyer HS Pindos (ex-HMS Bolebroke) commissioned
1942 - Destroyer HMS Zetland commissioned
1942 - Corvette HMCS Louisburg completed refit Louisburg NS
1942 - In the US the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announces the capture of eight the German saboteurs who had been put ashore from submarines. The first group of four had landed at Amagansett, Long Island, New York, on the night of 13 June; the second group of four had landed on Ponte Vedra Beach, south of Jacksonville, Florida, on 17 June. Two of the spies had turned themselves in to the FBI resulting in the roundup of the other six. They were to be charged as enemy soldiers and tried by military court martial but the US Army-appointed lawyer, Colonel Kenneth Royall, appealed to the US Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus. The Supreme Court met on 29 July, the first special session since 1920, to decide if President Roosevelt had the authority to deny the eight German spies a civil trial; on 31 July, the court ruled against the Germans and the military tribunal resumed on 3 August. The six spies who had not reported to the FBI were found guilty and sentenced to death and they were executed in the electric chair at the District of Columbia jail on 8 August
1942 - Convoy PQ-17 leaves Reykjavik for Archangel. It consists of 36 freighters and a tanker and is escorted by 6 destroyers and 13 smaller ships. PQ-17 will pass convoy QP-13 returning from Russia
1943 - Salvage Vessel USS Redwing sunk by explosion at Bizerte Tunisia 
1943 - At 0942, the unescorted Sebastian Cermeno was hit on the port side by two torpedoes from U-511. The torpedoes struck the after part of the #5 hold and the forward part of the #4 hold and blew off the after two hatches, destroyed the quarters of the armed guards, buckled the gun deck, disabled the engines and killed one officer and two men on watch below. A sailor who had been asleep on the #4 hatch later died of injuries. The survivors among the eight officers, 34 crewmen, 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and five passengers on board abandoned ship in five lifeboats after five minutes. Ten minutes after the hits, the ship sank quickly by the stern. Then the U-boat surfaced and questioned the survivors before leaving the area. The first torpedo had smashed the radio but distress signals were sent daily from an emergency transmitter in one of the lifeboats. The boats became separated during the first night. On 14 July, the 19 survivors in the boat of the master were picked up by the American steam merchant Theodore Parker and landed at Durban the same day. The men in the second boat were picked up by a British corvette and landed at Durban on 23 July, while the 11 survivors in another boat were picked up by an Australian destroyer and landed in Durban on 27 July after being spotted by a patrol aircraft. One boat with 16 survivors made landfall in Madagascar on 5 July and the last was towed into Durban by an Allied ship after 16 days at sea. The first engineer died of exposure in one of the lifeboats on 13 July and was buried at sea. The master David Martin Nilsson took over the command of another Liberty ship, the Jean Nicolet, which was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-8 in the Indian Ocean on 2 Jul 1944. The Japanese crew massacred most of the survivors from the ship and the master was taken prisoner but did not survive the captivity
1943 - At 1503, U-81 fired a spread of two torpedoes at the Michalios and hit her with one torpedo in the stern. The stern broke off, causing the ship to sink within two minutes three miles west of Latakia. The U-boat had missed the vessel, misidentified as the Greek steam merchant Livathos (1667 tons), at 1457 hours with a first spread of two torpedoes
1943 - RFA Abbeydale damaged by U-73 at 36.53N, 01.55E 
1943 - U-518 shot down an RAAF 10 Sqn Sunderland
1943 - U-18 encountered a Soviet submarine in the Black Sea, but neither boat attacked
1943 - U-73 was depth charged in the Mediterranean by escorts. Due to heavy damage, the boat had to return to base
1943 - U-81 was attacked by shore-based guns in the Mediterranean off Latakia (Syria)
1943 - U-518 was attacked in the North Atlantic by an RAF 201 Sqn Sunderland with four bombs. The boat was damaged so badly that it had to return to base
1943 - Minesweeper HMS Pylades launched
1943 - Corvette HMCS Trillium completed forecastle extension refit Boston MA
1943 - The Japanese issue an order for Phase II of the KE Operation, the evacuation of Kiska. The evacuation is to be accomplished in one mission by cruisers and destroyers screened by submarines
1943 - In preparation for Operation TOENAILS, the invasion of New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands on 30 June, the USN's Task Force 36 arrives in the area. TF 36 consists of two aircraft carriers, USS Saratoga & HMS Victorious. Carrier Air Group Three is in Saratoga however; Fighting Squadron Five is transferred to HMS Victorious while the RN's No. 832 Squadron is transferred to USS Saratoga. This exchange put four squadrons of Wildcat fighters on the RN ship
1944 - U-927, U-2501 commissioned
1944 - At 1558, U-19 attacked a Soviet tug convoy with torpedoes and sank the barge Barzha No 75 (approx. 1000 tons) NW of Tuapse
1944 - An accident took place during U-1018's work-up period in the Baltic on 17 June which killed 1 man and wounded 2 from its crew. [Obersteuermann Walter Nellsen]
1944 - Corvette HMS Pink hit by a Gnat from U-988 while screening Normandy landings. The corvette was towed to Portsmouth; declared a total loss and later scrapped Llanelly
1944 - Submarine USS Quillback laid down
1944 - Frigate HMAS Burdekin commissioned
1944 - Corvette HMCS Algoma completed workups & returned St John's
1944 - The capture of Cherbourg is completed by US VII Corps. Operations to clear the harbor of obstructions and booby traps can now begin. In the battle for the port the Americans lost 1,800 dead and 15,000 wounded; they took 45,000 prisoners
1944 - Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-312 was commissioned at New York with LT EL Jennsen USCGR, as commanding officer. On 20 August 1944, she departed New York for Los Angeles, towing the QS-22. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area during the war at Batangas, Philippines and elsewhere. She was decommissioned 15 October 1945
1945 - Destroyer USS Samuel B Roberts laid down
1945 - Submarine HMS Thermopylae launched
1945 - Escort carrier USS Mindoro launched
1945 - Corvettes HMCS Arrowhead, Hepatica & Trillium paid off & returned to RN at Milford Haven
1945 - Corvettes HMCS Guelph & Kamloops paid off at Sorel PQ
1945 - HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, 759 RN Sqn, Corsair a/c #JS700, Lt (A) John "Jack" Joseph Feeney RCNVR, of Fredericton NB lost, crashed short of runway during ADDLs. Interred Yeovilton Churchyard RNAS Extension Somerset, UK. "ADDL's" were either Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings or Airfield Dummy Deck Landings. In other words practice carrier landing on a "real runway"
1945 - In Japan during the night of 27/28 June 29 XXI Bomber Command B-29 Superfortresses fly Mission 233, the mining of the harbors of Hagi, Kobe, and Niigata, Japan. 27th Air Force P-47s from Ie Shima Island hit shipping and a village on Kikai Island, Japan; AA from vessels downs two P-47s. Twelve other P-47s hit shipping off Kakeroma Island, while 20 more attack vessels and targets of opportunity throughout the Sakishima Archipelago. During the night of 27/28 June, five P-61 Black Widows fly intruder attacks, hitting vessels off Amami Gunto Island and Wan Airfield
1945 - USN PB4Y-2 Privateers operating from Okinawa again mine the waters off Korea
1946 - Spanish destroyer accidentally rammed & sank submarine C4 off Balearic Islands
1949 - Chinese liner Taiping collides with a collier off south China 
1950 - To support UN call to assist South Korea, Truman authorizes US naval and air operations south of 38th Parallel, Korea
1950 - RCN takes steps to put its Pacific Coast ships on a wartime footing
1960 - HM S/M Aurochs arrived Halifax for ASW training
1966 - USS Franklin D Roosevelt port call St Thomas
1970 - VAdm John Charles "Scruffy" O'Brien awarded Officer-Order of Canada
1983 - HMCS Nipigon to Destroyer Life Extension (DELEX) Program, Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd, Lauzon, PQ.
1987 - VAdm Hugh Malcolm David McNeil awarded Commander-Order of Military Merit. Capt (N) Francis Henry Stephen HOPE, Capt (N) Wilfred Gourlay D Lund awarded Officer-Order of Military Merit. PO1 Brian Carter Clark, CPO1 Gerhard Horst Mantel, PO1 John Jacob Morgan, CPO1 Michael William Slaight, CPO2 Harold Alexander Stanhope, CPO2 Ian Donald Steward, Lt (N) Charles David Tarry, CPO1 Douglas Blyth Wright awarded Member-Order of Military Merit
2003 - Buoy tender USCGC Fir delivered
2005 - Salvors expressed their disappointment as attempts to free stranded bulk Kiperousa at the weekend failed, leading them to decide to makes plans to offload the vessel's cargo. An attempt on Saturday night's high tide led to tug Smit Amandla damaging the towing bollards on the upper deck and was not able to operate at full power, the operation's salvage master Godfrey Needham said last night. Arrangements have been made with the harbor here to help with the offloading process. Tug Toto, which carried oil and sludge from Kiperousa to railway tankers in East London harbor last week, was in port yesterday being fitted with the necessary supports and struts to be able to ferry the logs from the ship to port
2005 - Northrop Grumman Corporation's Aegis guided missile destroyer Forrest Sherman successfully conducted the third-ever "super trial" last week in the Gulf of Mexico, a significant milestone that proves the ship is ready for delivery to the US Navy as scheduled in August
2005 - Following ruling barring Ten Commandments displays in courthouses, US Supreme Court rules such displays are allowed at state capitols
2005 - Maritrans Inc. announced that it joined the Russell 3000 Index as part of Russell Investment Group's reconstitution of its family of 23 US indexes on June 24, 2005. Membership in the Russell 3000, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion for Maritrans in the small-cap Russell 2000 as well as the appropriate growth and style indexes. Russell determines membership for its equity indexes primarily by objective, market capitalization rankings and style attributes. Russell indexes, which currently have $2.5 trillion in assets benchmarked to them, are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies
2005 - Toronto Port Authority officially opened the Toronto International Marine Passenger Terminal in advance of the start of service for the Toronto-Rochester fast ferry on June 30. The $10.5 million permanent facility encompasses 38,000-sq. ft. and features customs areas for vehicles and walk-on passengers, as well as an adjustable passenger bridge for loading and unloading
2005 - Managers and hull and machinery surveyors for the general cargo ship CEC Copenhagen are still investigating the causes of an accident involving naval vessels in Bangladesh's Chittagong port on Monday. Denmark-based CEC Ship Management could not confirm reports that three Bangladesh naval vessels had been damaged in the incident, saying it was too early to provide details of what had happened. Managing director Hans Froholdt confirmed that 2000-built, Bahamas-flagged CEC Copenhagen had sustained minor damage in a "minor incident", adding that the company was working closely with the local authorities. There were no crew injuries, nor was there a threat of pollution, nor damage to the ship's cargo of containers. Reuters reports following the accident quoted ship agents Orient Express Line as saying that the CEC Copenhagen might have suffered a mechanical failure and that it was raining and the channel had strong current when the mishap occurred. The vessel's managers could not confirm that one of the naval ships involved had also been involved in a multiple collision in Chittagong in 2003. At that time there were warnings that the presence of Bangladesh naval vessels in the harbor posed a serious threat to the safety of shipping in the channel and the ships should be removed
2005 - Algeria resumes UK LNG shipments after an interruption of 40 years, the Algerian press reports. The 138,000 cubic meter LNG carrier will be the first LNG vessel to call at the new LNG terminal at the UK's Isle of Grain. This is the first shipment in a 20-year gas-supply contract signed between Algeria's energy group Sonatrach and BP. Shipments of Algerian gas to the UK were initiated in the early 1960's with the pioneer LNG ships Methane Princess and Methane Progress but were suspended thereafter. The Berge Arzew is jointly owned by Algeria's energy group Sonatrach and Bergesen, and operated by the Hyproc Shipping Company. This vessel, together with as yet unnamed similar tonnage, will be trading on regular shuttles between the Algerian gas ports of Arzew and Bethioua, and the Isle of Grain facility. The Berge Arzew is likely to berth within the next two to three days
2005 - A USS Essex sailor died Monday from complications following an accident on the ship during training at sea. Petty Officer 2nd Class Sevy R. Romain, 26, of Brooklyn NY was pronounced dead at Naval Hospital Okinawa
2005 - The diesel-electric submarine Sindugosh of the Indian Navy, which was modernized at the Zvezdochka defense wharves of Severodvinsk, has sailed out into the Barents Sea for trials
2005 - Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) unanimously decided this week to close the Illex squid fishery north of parallel 39º 40' South, in the South Atlantic
2005 - Chilean Defense Secretary Jaime Ravinet denied that the coming revelation of an alleged Chilean interest in attacking Argentina following the 1982 Falklands’ conflict, according to a British historian, could cause a rift between Buenos Aires and Santiago. The book to be launched this week, “The official history of the Falklands’ Campaign” written by war historian Lawrence Freedman, who had access to classified documents and took him eight years, already has triggered controversy on all sides involved. Last week the Argentine press revealed that Chilean president Ricardo Lagos contacted Argentine president Nestor Kirchner to advance contents of the book, such as the General Augusto Pinochet administration involvement providing significant information on Argentine military movements to London. Mr. Ravinet said the exchange between both government houses had the purpose of anticipating controversial events, but underlined that bilateral relations were excellent and there should be no surprises or ill feelings
2006 - Archaeologists to investigate a wreck reported to be that of a German warship previously said to have been salvaged and scrapped. Records claim destroyer V81, which was at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, was raised in 1937 after foundering off the Caithness coast 85 years ago
2006 - USCG holds public open houses (27 & 28 June) to further the environmental review process on a proposal by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to replace the Goethals Bridge that connects Staten Island NY to Elizabeth NJ
2006 - USCG Rear Admiral Paul Higgins will testify before the House Government Reform National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee on violence against women in the military
2006 - Fisheries Service of central coastal Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa province is working on a plan to turn Nha Phu lagoon into a marine reserve.  Under a 2007-09 program, mangrove forest and species of ornamental fish will be developed while more fields for aquaculture will be zoned off. Located in Ninh Hoa district, the 100 sq. km Nha Phu lagoon boasts a chain of islands, beautiful beaches and several resorts. The biggest island in the lagoon is Hon Lao, named after its javelin shape. It's also called "Monkey Island" because of thousands of monkeys inhabiting the place. 
Khanh Hoa province is also home to Ran Trao, another locally managed marine reserve in Van Ninh district
2006 - Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, born in 1949, was elected Prime Minister by the Vietnamese National Assembly 
2006 - Aker Yards, Langsten is to build a 121.5 m x 26 m Construction Vessel for Farstad, based on the Rolls-Royce design; UT 761 CD. Vessel scheduled for delivery from Aker Yards, Langsten in the fourth quarter of 2008. The vessel will after delivery enter into a long-term charter with Saipem UK Ltd. The vessel is specially designed for plough duties in connection with pipe laying of oil and gas pipes offshore. The vessel will have a bollard pull of more than 350 tons, and all equipment necessary to support the most challenging operations and environments worldwide
2006 - Keppel FELS Limited has expanded its facilities with a new site at Shipyard Crescent, Jurong, located in western Singapore. Keppel FELS has leased this site from the Jurong Town Corporation for a period of 12 years. Rent payable under the Master Lease Agreement is S$1.3 million per annum. Measuring approximately nine hectares, the facility is expected to be operational by August 2006. The principal business activities are to undertake fabrication work for newbuilding projects secured by Keppel FELS, as well as for the mooring and repair of rigs
2006 - NOAA issued three key documents that support the critical international naval exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) while carefully protecting marine life. These documents enable naval forces from eight nations gathering this week in Pearl Harbor to begin RIMPAC 2006
2006 - Rocking the Boat, Inc., a non-profit boatbuilding and on-water education program based out of the southwest Bronx, will name its 20-foot powerboat the Grassroots.org in recognition of that organization's recent contribution
2006 - Omega Navigation Enterprises, Inc. announced it has taken delivery of its third product tanker, its first Handymax (Ice Class 1A) double hull product tanker, Aris, to be renamed Omega Prince. The ship is a Handymax (Ice Class 1A, IMO II & III) double hull product tanker of 36,680 dwt built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea in 2006. The acquisition was funded in part from the net proceeds of the Company's initial public offering and in part from debt under a senior secured credit facility provided by HSH-Nordbank AG. Omega Prince is employed under a long term time charter to D/S Norden A/S (Norden) until June 2009 at a daily time charter hire rate of $21,000 with profit sharing during the months of January through April of each year of the time charter pursuant to which Omega Navigation will be paid, of 25% of any earnings of the vessel in excess of $27,000 per day. The Company has granted Norden an option to extend the charter for an additional period of 12 months at a minimum daily time charter hire rate of $24,000. The Company has selected VShips as the vessel's technical manager
2006 - Workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard are preparing to transplant the nose of a soon-to-be-retired submarine, USS Honolulu, onto USS San Francisco, which ran into an undersea mountain in 2005
2006 - The Coast Guard responded to a call that a 759-foot container ship had struck a pier in Commencement Bay at the Pierce County Terminal. Sector Seattle ordered the Italian-flagged Aphrodite to anchor in Elliott Bay for an examination of damages by the Coast Guard Port State Control officers and vessel class society. Coast Guard Port State Control officers and the vessel class society reported that there was no reportable damage to the port or the ship. An investigation into the cause of the accident is pending
2006 - A Bainbridge Island Police Department fire response vessel, a Seattle Fire Department vessel, and four Coast Guard vessels were dispatched in the vicinity of Bainbridge Island after a 911 call reported a burning vessel. At approximately 1630 Coast Guard Sector Seattle received a report that a 44-foot cabin cruiser was on fire near Bainbridge Island. The Bainbridge Police Department dispatched their vessel Marine 81 on scene and quickly put out the flames. The Seattle Fire Department's Chief Seattle fireboat was also on scene providing support and assisted with fighting the fire. Four Coast Guard vessels set up a 300-foot safety zone perimeter around the burning boat. One man and two dogs escaped the burning boat aboard a dinghy and were picked up by the Coast Guard
2006 - USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG) entered the US 3rd Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) June 27, after spending the majority of a successful 2006 deployment in the US 7th Fleet AOR. While in the 7th Fleet AOR, ALCSG participated in exercises such as Foal Eagle and Valiant Shield
2006 - A Russian submarine sank off the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Ekho Moskvy reported. The vessel was being towed to China for scrapping. Passing the Kuriles, the sub gave a lurch and started to sink. The crew decided to return to the port of Petropavlovsk, but could not lead the sub to the shore. The vessel sank with no persons onboard
2007 - The Amica Insurance Tall Ships Rhode Island 2007 begins at Newport RI
2007 - United States completed the process to become a member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
2007 - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair resigned
2007 - The Coast Guard assisted a Seabrook NH native after his 33-foot sailboat became engulfed in flames near Plum Island, Mass
2008 - Capitaine de corvette Christine Allain relieved capitaine de corvette Claire Pothier in command of aviso Commandant Bouan at Toulon
2008 - Giampaolo Di Paola replaced Canadian Gen. Ray Henault as head of NATO's Military Committee. Henault retired after serving his three-year term
2008 - Capt. Rick Breckenridge turns over command of Submarine Squadron 4 to Capt. Robert Clark II, in a change-of-command ceremony at New London CT
2008 - Cdr Steve Waddell assumed command of frigate HMCS Charlottetown





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