SeaWaves Today in History May 20, 2008

 


 


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May 20

Cuba - Independence Day - Visiting warships Dress Ship overall. Gun salutes are fired 
EU - Maritime Day

1497 - John Cabot [Giovanni Caboto Montecataluna] c1450-1498 departs Bristol on the Matthew with a crew of about 20; his second voyage to the New World
1498 - Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut, southern India, after discovering a route via the tip of southern Africa. He was the first European to use the route around the southern end of Africa. This broke the Arab monopoly on the spice trade and heralded the arrival of the age of European exploration and trade
1506 - Christopher Columbus died in relative poverty in Spain. He just was not as rich as he would have liked to be, and not nearly as rich as the original agreement with the crown would have made him
1801 - Four warships sent to Mediterranean to protect American commerce
1815 - Commodore Stephen Decatur (Frigate Guerriere) sails with 10 ships to suppress Mediterranean pirates' raids on US shipping
1844 - USS Constitution sails from New York on round the world cruise 
1861 - North Carolina voted to secede from the Union
1902 - The United States ended its occupation of Cuba
1916 - Submarine HMS K3 launched 
1918 - Battleship USS New Mexico commissioned
1918 - Minesweeper HMC TR 31 commissioned Montreal PQ
1919 - Tug HMS Cochin launched
1919 - Submarine HMS L54 launched 
1935 - U-12 laid down
1936 - Destroyer FS Le Hardi laid down
1936 - Destroyer USS Clark commissioned
1939 - Destroyer FS Lansequenet launched
1939 - Submarine HMS Taku launched
1940 - U-403 laid down
1940 - Submarine HMS P612 launched 
1940 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Rifnes bombed & sunk off Ostend
1940 - Word having arrived that the weather was improving over Narvik, at 0330 HMS Ark Royal, in position 70.24 N, 16.10 E, dispatched nine Swordfish of 810 and 820 Squadrons (armed with 4 x 20 lb. Cooper, 4 x 25 lb. incendiary, and either 2 x 500 lb. or 4 x 250 lb. bombs). This mission exhausted the last 250-lb. GP bombs on the ship. At the same time a fighter patrol left for Narvik. At 0400, a second fighter patrol departed with orders to cover the Swordfish in their attack on the Hundallen and Sildvik. Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated drastically and the entire force had to abandon their mission and return to the ship. At 0600 a further fighter patrol was dispatched. While it managed to get to the Narvik area, the weather was atrocious and the trio was lucky to find their way back to the ship. Further flying was suspended. However, at 2101 Flag Officer Narvik informed the Vice-Admiral commanding that Bardufoss landing ground now being operational, HMS Furious should dispatch the Gladiators of 263 Squadron to shore on the 21st
1940 - Winston Churchill sends a telegram to President Roosevelt regarding his request for US destroyers. Churchill acknowledges FDR's problems in providing them but states that; "If they were here in six weeks they would play an invaluable part"
1940 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Olive commissioned
1940 - Destroyer HMS Orwell laid down
1941 - At 0458 hours on 20 May 1941, the Norman Monarch in station #91 of convoy HX-126 was torpedoed and sunk by U-94. The Harpagus in station #93 was the designated rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the whole complement of 48 men, she set course to regain the convoy. At 2320, the Harpagus, having almost regained position, was struck by two torpedoes from U-109 in the starboard side and sank very quickly about 250 miles SSE of Cape Farewell. 25 crewmembers, four gunners, three passengers and 26 survivors were lost. The master, 17 crewmembers and 22 survivors were picked up by destroyer HMS Burnham and landed at Reykjavik
1941 - At 1644, the San Felix, dispersed from Convoy OB-322, was hit by one of two torpedoes from U-111, but escaped in a rain squall with a slight list to starboard after evading a second attack by zagging. The tanker arrived in St John’s on 26 May and later returned to service
1941 - At 2124, the Javanese Prince was torpedoed & sunk by U-138 155 miles NW of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. One crewmember was lost. Destroyers HMS Faulknor, Lincoln and tug HMS Assurance, picked up the master, 45 crewmembers, eight gunners and four passengers. All survivors were transferred to the British rescue ship Toward and landed at Gourock on 28 May
1941 - At 1448, 1450 & 1516, U-556 fired torpedoes at Convoy HX-126 south of Cape Farewell and sank three ships, the Darlington Court, British Security and Cockaponset. The British Security caught fire after she was hit and burned for three days until she sank in 57°14N/39°23W. The master, 48 crewmembers and four gunners were lost. The master and 40 crewmembers from the Cockaponset were picked up by the Dutch rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on 27 May. The master Charles Hurst, ten crewmembers and one gunner from the Darlington Court were picked up by the rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on 27 May. 22 crewmembers, three gunners and three passengers were lost
1941 - At 1817, the John P. Pedersen, dispersed from Convoy HX-126 the same day, was torpedoed by U-94 about 160 miles south of Greenland. One British gunner was lost and 37 survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The U-boat sank the tanker with two coup de grâce fired at 1850 & 1920. 16 survivors in one boat were picked up by the Dutch rescue ship Hontestroom on 23 May and taken to Reykjavik. Four of them joined the Norwegian Navy there, while eight continued to Gourock on board the Dutch vessel. Another three were sent to Preston, while one was briefly admitted to a hospital at Reykjavik. The other lifeboat with 21 survivors, including the master (13 Norwegians, two Dutch, two Swedish and four British) was never found
1941 - At 0453, the Norman Monarch in position #91 of Convoy HX-126 was hit on the starboard side by one of two torpedoes from U-94 and sank about 200 miles SSE of Cape Farewell. The Harpagus in station #93 was the designed rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the master, 41 crewmembers and six gunners the ship tried to rejoin the convoy, but was torpedoed and sunk by U-109. The master, 19 crewmembers and six gunners from the Norman Monarch did not survive the second sinking, the remaining 22 crewmembers were picked up by HMS Burnham & landed at Reykjavik
1941 - At 1729, the Rothermere, dispersed from Convoy HX-126 the same day, was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-98 SE of Cape Farewell. The ship sank by the stern after being hit by a coup de grâce at 1756. The master and 21 crewmembers were lost. 29 crewmembers, four gunners and one passenger were picked up by the Icelandic merchantman Bruarfoss and landed at Reykjavik
1941 - U-615, U-616 laid down
1941 - Sloop HMS Landguard commissioned
1941 - The USN's Task Force 2 consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp; heavy cruiser USS Quincy and destroyers USS Kearny and Livermore departs Bermuda for a 4,000+ mile neutrality patrol that concludes in Bermuda on 3 June. The Wasp Air Group consists of Marine Bombing Squadron Two, Fighting Squadron Seventy-One & Scouting Squadron Seventy-Two
1941 - The ninth Lake-class, USCGC Shoshone, is transferred to the RN as HMS Languard
1941 - Minesweeper HMS Widnes is badly damaged and sinks in shallow water due to a German air attack at Souda Bay on Crete. She is later salved by the Germans and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as UJ.2109
1941 - SS Rothermere (5,356 GRT), Newfoundland-registered, Anglo-Newfoundland merchantman torpedoed & sunk by U-98, Kptlt Robert Gysae, Knight's Cross, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, CO, in the North Atlantic, in position 57.48N, 041.36W. Rothermere was proceeding to England in Convoy HX-126. There were twenty-two casualties from the crew. U-98 was a Type VIIC U-boat built by Germaniawerft, at Kiel. Commissioned 12 Oct 40. U-98 conducted nine patrols & compiled a record of eleven ships sunk for a total of 59,427 tons & one ship damaged for a further 427 tons. U-98 was sunk on 15 Nov 42 in North Atlantic west of Gibraltar, in position 36.09N, 007.42W, by depth charges from destroyer HMS Wrestler. All 46 of her crewmembers were lost. The commander by this time was OLtzS Kurt Eihmann. Robert Gysae was born in 1911, at Berlin-Charlottenburg. He joined the navy in Apr 31 & his first service was in torpedo boats - he was the commander of T-107 from Oct 38 to Oct 39 & the Commander of a Torpedo-boat flotilla until Mar 40. He transferred to the U-boat arm in Apr 40. In Oct 40, at the age of 29, he commissioned U-98, & in Mar 41 set out on his first patrol with that boat. Amazingly, Gysae did not serve as a Watch Officer in boats before assuming command. BdU showed very few men such trust. After six patrols with U-98, he took over the larger Type IXD2 boat U-177. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 31 Dec 42 (the 43rd presented in the U-boat force). On two long-range patrols into the Indian Ocean Gysae sank 14 ships for a total of 87,388 tons. During the second patrol he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross (the 24th presented in the U-boat force). In total, Gysae sank 25 ships for a total of 146,815 tons & damaged one ship for a further 2,588 tons, making him the 15th highest scoring U-boat ace of the war. He was prompted to KKpt on 01 Jun 43. In Oct 43, he left U-177 and in Jan 44 he became the commander of the 25th U-boat Training Flotilla. In Apr 45, he was the commander of a marinepanzerjagd regiment (a navy tank-hunter unit). After the war he joined the Bundesmarine and served for four years as a naval attaché in Washington. Robert Gysae eventually attained the rank of Flottillenadmiral (Commodore) and was the commander of the North Sea Marine Division. He retired in Mar 70. Robert Gysae died on 26 Apr 89
1941 - Destroyer USS Barton laid down
1941 - HMCS St Francis, a Town-class destroyer (ex-USS Bancroft), a Clemson-class destroyer), rescued survivors from the British freighter Starcross (4,662 GRT), which had been torpedoed in position 51.45N, 020.45W by the Italian Glauco-class submarine Otaria, LCdr Giuseppe Vocaturo, CO
1941 - Submarine HMS Graph launched 
1942 - U-465 commissioned
1942 - U-525 launched
1942 - Patrol Vessel District YP-387 sunk by collision
1942 - Admiral John S McCain, USN, in seaplane tender USS Tangier at Noumea, New Caledonia Island, assumes command as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC). This new command is established to direct the operations of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific Area
1942 - Destroyers HMCS Micmac & Nootka laid down Halifax NS
1942 - At 1839, the Norland, dispersed from Convoy ON-93, was hit near the bridge by one stern torpedo from U-108. She stopped and began shelling the periscope. The U-boat had to surface to attack the ship with the deck gun because no torpedoes were left. At 1957, Scholtz opened fire with the deck gun from a distance of 8000 meters, the tanker fired back, but the shots did not reach the U-boat and after the first hits, the tanker ceased fire at 2030. The last shells from the deck gun were fired from the distance of 1000 meters, in all 14 hits had been observed. After the crew abandoned ship in three lifeboats, the U-boat opened fire with the AA guns at 2300 until the ammunition for the 37-mm was also spent 30 minutes later. The tanker settled slowly and sank by the stern at 0158. All 48 survivors were rescued, but 14 survivors in one of the lifeboat had been picked up on 25 May near Bermuda by Polyphemus, torpedoed & sunk by U-578 two days later. All men from Norland survived the second sinking
1942 - The Sylvan Arrow was hit by a torpedo at 1321 and set on fire. 38 crewmembers and 5 of the 6 Armed Guards were picked up by USS Barney & taken to Port of Spain. 26 of them were soon repatriated on SS Robert E. Lee. The 12 others (including the master) were engaged in an attempt to salvage the ship, which was found after 3 days. A tug tried to tow the tanker in on 26. May but she began to rip apart and finally sank in the evening of 28. May in position 12.50N/67.32W. The 12 men were taken to Curacao and left aboard the Dutch freighter Crijnssen on 7 June. 3 Days later this ship was torpedoed and sunk. The master and 6 men of his crew landed together with 24 others on the Yucatan coast and were repatriated by a plane. The remaining 5 crewmembers were picked up by the steam merchant Lebore, but this ship was also torpedoed and sunk. They were picked up by USS Tattnall & landed at Cristobal
1942 - At 2200, the Darina, dispersed on 17 May from Convoy ON-93, was torpedoed and sunk by U-158 about 500 miles ESE of Bermuda. Five crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 44 crewmembers and five gunners were rescued. The boat with the master and 17 survivors were picked up by the British tanker British Ardour and landed at Charleston, South Carolina on 27 May. The boat of the chief officer was rescued after 6.5 days 150 miles SSE of Bermuda by the American merchantman Exanthia and landed at Norfolk, Virginia. The boat of the 3rd officer was rescued after six days by the Norwegian merchantman Dagrun and landed at Cape Town on 23 June
1942 - At 2019, the Eocene in Convoy AT-46 was torpedoed and sunk by U-431 near Sollum. The master, 34 crewmembers, six gunners and two army engineers were picked up by armed trawler HMS Cocker and landed at Tobruk
1942 - At 0758, the unescorted and unarmed Halo was hit by two torpedoes from U-506 about 50 miles from the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, while proceeding on a rapidly changing zigzag pattern at 10.4 knots. The first torpedo struck on the starboard side under the bridge and completely destroyed this part of the ship. The second hit aft of the bridge but forward of the engine room. The second explosion broke the ship in two and ignited the cargo. The tanker plunged bow first with her propeller still turning and sank within three minutes. 23 men of the crew of eight officers and 34 men managed to leave the ship, but only one raft was left, the four lifeboats and three other rafts were destroyed by the explosions and fire. The survivors huddled together clinging to wreckage in the water near the sunken ship throughout the night and the next day. The oil on the surface burned for six hours. Two men cling to a half-burned raft and stayed on it for seven days without food or water. They were then picked up by the British tanker Orina and taken to New Orleans. The other survivors in the water began dying from exposure and injuries. On the third day wreckage ascended from the tanker and the seven remaining survivors tied boards together with strips of canvas torn from their life preservers. Crude oil also floated free forming a layer four inches thick. Five days after the sinking, the Mexican Oaxaca picked up the three remaining survivors, but one of these men died at sea. The two men arrived at a hospital in Tampico on 28 May, but one men died 30 minutes after arriving. Thus, only one officer and two crewmen survived the sinking
1942 - At 1908, the unescorted George Calvert on her maiden voyage was torpedoed by U-753 about 50 miles off the Northwest coast of Cuba, while proceeding on a zigzag course at 11 knots after she had left a small convoy about eleven miles off the Dry Tortugas. The torpedo struck the #3 hold about five or six feet below the waterline. A second torpedo struck 20 feet forward of the stern. This torpedo exploded the magazine, blew the stern gun overboard and killed three armed guards. The most of the eight officers, 33 men and ten armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. At 1003, a third torpedo hit amidships and broke the ship in half, causing her to sink immediately. Some of the survivors were questioned by U-753, asking the name of the ship, her tonnage and cargo. The lifeboats reached shore about six hours later but waited to land at Dimas, Cuba, the next day
1942 - Submarine USS Kingfish commissioned
1943 - Minesweeper HMS Widnes sunk by German aircraft in Souda Bay. Raised and repaired by the Germans and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as UJ 2109. Sunk off Kalymnos by destroyers HMS Jervis & Penn 17 October 1943
1943 - U-258 sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 55.18N, 27.49W, by depth charges from an RAF 120 Sqn Liberator. 49 dead (all hands lost)
1943 - U-985, U-986 launched
1943 - U-313, U-979 commissioned
1943 - U-1023, U-1024 laid down
1943 - The Benakat left Cape Town in a coastal convoy which was formed in the Table Bay, but left after three days to continue her voyage on the prescribed route to the destination. On 14 May the Admiralty radioed a new course. At 0728 on 20 May a torpedo struck her from U-197 on the starboard side, just before the bridge. The explosion caused very heavy damage, wrecked the starboard lifeboat and destroyed the starboard machinegun-platform, injuring the first and fourth mate (not seriously). After the hit no electric power was left, so the distress signal could only be send a few times. The ship began to list to starboard, and with some difficulty the crew succeeded in boarding the three remaining lifeboats and rowed away. About 20 minutes later a second torpedo hit the Benakat on the starboard side and broke her in two. The bow section sank and the stern remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and fired with the deck gun at the port side of the vessel until the stern sank
1943 - Minesweeper HMS Fantome is mined during clearance operations off Cape Bon and has her stern blown off. She is towed back to Bizerta, but found to be beyond repair and paid off as a constructive loss. There is one casualty but 36 survive
1943 - The US Tenth Fleet was established, headquartered in Washington, D.C., under command of Adm. Ernest J. King. The role of Tenth Fleet was to coordinate American anti-submarine operations in Atlantic. Rear Admiral Francis S. Low, King's Assistant Chief of Staff (Anti-submarine), was appointed Chief of Staff Tenth Fleet. All anti-submarine resources from US Fleet headquarters were transferred intact to the Commander Tenth Fleet. Admiral King retained command in order to direct asset allocation between commands in the Atlantic. He also did this to take the lead in the struggle with the US Army Air Corps over control of squadrons assigned to anti-submarine duty. General George C. Marshall wished Army very long-range and long-range squadrons to be commanded by an army general officer and to create a Coastal Air Command under the command of the Army Air Corps, headed by Lieutenant General McNarney. King was adamantly opposed to this arrangement and carried on an active struggle to gain control over long-range, land-based aircraft for naval uses. Eventually, the US Army Air Corps withdrew from anti-submarine patrols and transferred its aircraft to the USN. By Nov 43, the transfer of aircraft had been completed and all anti-submarine operations were the exclusive responsibility of Tenth Fleet. Rear-Admiral A.R. McCann relieved Admiral Low as Chief of Staff in Jan 45. Admiral King retained command of Tenth Fleet until it was dissolved on 15 Jun 45
1943 - Due to incorrect operation of her Otway log (speed measuring device) submarine HMS Untamed begins to flood and settles in 160 feet of water off Sanda Island on the West Coast of Scotland. Due to delays in escape attempts, and incorrect flood valve assembly, none are able to escape and the entire 36-man crew is poisoned by CO2. Untamed was eventually raised and recommissioned as HMS Vitality, finally being broken up in March 1946
1943 - Destroyer HMCS Columbia completed refit Saint John NB & assigned to Western Local Escort Force
1943 - Frigate USS Annapolis laid down
1943 - Destroyer escorts USS Barber & Greiner launched
1943 - Frigate USS Belfast launched
1943 - Frigates HMS Gardiner, Goodall, Goodson & Gore laid down
1943 - Destroyer HMS St James laid down
1943 - Boom defense vessel HMS Bartizan launched
1943 - Minesweepers HMS Florizel & Foam launched
1943 - Escort carrier HMS Nairana launched
1943 - Frigate HMS Tees launched
1944 - Aircraft from the carriers USS Essex and Wasp continue their attacks on Marcus Island in the North Pacific but bad weather halts operations. Meanwhile, aircraft from the light aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto, which has been positioned to the NW of Marcus as a screen, sink a Japanese guardboat
1944 - Three light cruisers and eight destroyers (USN Task Group 53.18) bombard Japanese installations on Alu, Poporang and Morgusia Islands in the Shortland Islands off the south end of Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands
1944 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Wyoming mined & sunk off Harwich
1944 - U-1057, U-1131 commissioned
1944 - U-2504 laid down
1944 - Aircraft carrier HMS Warrior launched Belfast NI
1944 - Minesweeper HMS Regulus commissioned
1944 - Tug HMCS Atwood assigned as ASW training vessel at Halifax & Pictou NS
1944 - Destroyer USS John A Bole laid down
1944 - Submarine USS Sea Poacher launched
1944 - Destroyer escort USS Walton launched
1944 - Destroyer minelayer USS Shea launched
1944 - Destroyers USS Taussig & Wren commissioned
1944 - Escort carrier USS Bismark Sea commissioned
1944 - Submarine USS Baya commissioned
1944 - Frigate HMCS La Hulloise commissioned
1944 - Submarine HMS Supreme commissioned
1944 - Aircraft carrier HMS Pioneer launched
1944 - Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-363 was commissioned at Sturgeon Bay, WI with LT R. A. McCaffery, USCGR, as commanding officer. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area, including Leyte, Mindoro, Parang, etc., during the war. 
1945 - Japanese kamikazes are active off Okinawa - - The destroyer USS Thatcher is struck by a kamikaze which passed down her port side, climbed steeply, did a wingover and dived in the ship striking aft of the bridge. The ship had a 6x9-foot hole between the keel and the bilge. With 14 killed or missing and 53 wounded, the stricken ship limped into Kerama Retto. - The destroyer escort USS John C. Butler is attacked by six kamikazes just before sunset; five are shot down and the sixth strikes the mast damaging the mast and the antennas. - The high-speed transport USS Chase shoots down a kamikaze but the aircraft splashes 10 yards from the ship and the explosion of the two bombs carried by the aircraft rip the ship's hull open, flooding the engine and fire rooms. With her steering gear jammed at hard left rudder, Chase drove off another suicide plane. Listing so badly as to be in danger of capsizing, Chase was kept afloat by her crew and towed into Kerama Retto for repairs. - The high-speed transport USS Register is attacked by four kamikazes at 1925 hours; two are shot down but one attacking from ahead, began a low, gliding run in an attempt to crash the bridge. Passing down the port side, the kamikaze was deflected overboard by the kingpost, which buckled and crashed over No. 3 40-mm gun mount, wounding 12 of the crew, including the gun captain, and causing considerable damage to the hull. The fourth plane though damaged, escaped. - The tank landing ship USS LST-808 is also damaged by a kamikaze
1953 - Destroyer HMCS Cayuga commences three day ASW exercise with a USN submarine
1953 - Minesweeper HMCS Ungava launched Lauzon PQ
1959 - Frigate HMCS Cap de la Madeleine recommissioned after modernization
1967 - LS Roy Rol McCorriston RCN, while assisting in the repair of a private boat when a flash fire occurred. The flames trapped the owner, who was in the cabin. With complete disregard for his personal safety, McCorriston entered the cabin & pulled the owner to safety, only to have him make a dash for the water, some 100 yards distant. Realizing the consequence of this action, he seized the man & rolling on the rocky ground, removed the burning jacket & smothered the remaining flames with his own body & bare hands, thereby saving the man who suffered 2nd & 3rd degree burns, from further injury
1969 - USS Bon Homme Richard port call Subic Bay
1970 - Submarine HMS Superb ordered from Vickers Barrow
1971 - USS Ranger port call Subic Bay
1975 - USS Coral Sea port call Subic Bay
1975 - USS Midway port call Subic Bay 
1975 - USS Enterprise completed Vietnam deployment
2003 - MV Cape Hudson laid up Oakland CA RRF
2003 - Former USNS Indomitable renamed NOAA Ship McArthur II
2004 - Gibbs & Cox, Inc announced that it has signed a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia to support the Project SEA 4000 Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program
2005 - RV Le Lampsilis commissioned at the University of Quebec at Three Rivers in a ceremony held at 1400. Built by Chantier Naval Matane Inc, Lampsilis will used to study 8,000 years of St Lawrence River natural history
2005 - The Navy held a dedication ceremony for the Coso Rock Art National Historic Landmark at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. The designation as a National Historic Landmark is the highest recognition the United States can give to a property. The ceremony honored more than 250,000 pre-historic rock art drawings preserved at the naval base and the many partnerships between the Navy at China Lake, other government agencies and the local community that have helped preserve, protect and provide access to the site
2005 - The Coast Guard airlifted a 30-year-old man from a 270-foot vessel ten miles off Coos Bay OR. At 1311, Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend OR received a call from the master of the fish processing vessel Seattle Enterprise requesting medical assistance for a 30-year old crewmember. The man was reportedly struck in the head and was semi-conscious. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend was launched to medevac the man. The helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer to the Seattle Enterprise and the man was then safely hoisted into the helicopter. The weather conditions at the time of the medevac were 23 mph winds and eight-foot swells. The injured crewmember was then flown to Coos Bay 
2005 - Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy successfully completed its humanitarian assistance mission and is now sailing east toward her homeport of San Diego, having provided medical care to more than 8,000 residents of Papua New Guinea
2005 - A coalition effort involving ships from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 150, under the Coalition Forces Maritime Component Command, led to the seizure of more than 4,200 pounds of hashish here in international waters May 20. USS Kauffman had been tracking the motor vessel Al Naveed before boarding the vessel. The boarding team discovered the drugs hidden behind a false bulkhead. Once the boarding team spotted what appeared to be a false bulkhead with hidden cargo behind it, they investigated further. The crew gained access to the hidden cargo and discovered 96 large bags of hashish. Kauffman is deployed in the region to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO sets the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO denies international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. MSO pressurizes the maritime environment by using coalition ships to detect, deter and deny illegal use of the high seas. Kauffman is stationed in the Arabian Sea as a part of this coalition effort. Because the ship was in the area, Kauffman was able to rapidly respond to intelligence and began tracking Al Naveed in conjunction with the German frigate FGS Karlsruhe
2005 - Spain orders a fifth F-100 series frigate equipped with Aegis
2005 - Thieves have stolen the official vehicle of First Sea Lord Sir Alan West, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed. The Range Rover was taken from outside Sir Alan's home in Chelsea, west London, in broad daylight
2006 - As part of a program to continue preparation to join in NATO Operation Active Endeavour, Russian  Frigate Pitliviy under the Command of Capt (2nd Rank) Sergey Tronev, anchored off  Nisida Island in order to conduct a coordination visit at Allied Maritime Component Command Headquarters Naples
2006 - The Irving Johnson, one of two Official Tallships of the City of Los Angeles, is being re-commissioned after months of repairs for damage sustained when the boat ran aground in Ventura County. The re-commissioning ceremony will take place at Berth 78 in the Port of Los Angeles
2006 - Chinese rescue ship "Nanhaijiu 111" has rescued 97 Vietnamese fishermen in the sea areas of the Dongsha Islands, in the South China Sea - but more 18 have died and more than 200 are still missing, the China Rescue and Savage Bureau (CRSB) announced on Saturday afternoon. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam on Friday that 12 Vietnamese fishing boats and 356 fishermen were in danger after running out of oil and water. According to orders from the CRSB, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau of China immediately sent "Nanhaijiu 111" to the site and it arrived at Dongsha at 0333. It found 97 fishermen alive and 18 dead. It promptly provided oil, drinking water, food and drugs to three fishing boats. The fishing boats resumed the capability to sail independently and they joined the Chinese ship to search for the other fishing boats
2006 - A Coast Guard rescue boat from Station Woods Hole, Mass. safely escorted a 15-foot pleasure craft into Great Harbor in Woods Hole at 2200. A Good Samaritan boater called the Coast Guard reporting that a boat with five people aboard had run aground near Pine Island. Station Woods Hole launched a 22-foot rescue boat, which arrived on scene at 2055 and found the vessel aground in shallow water. By transferring three of the five boat passengers to the Good Samaritan vessel, the grounded boat could be refloated. Upon being refloated, the Coast Guard escorted the vessel into Woods Hole. No injuries were reported
2006 - A Good Samaritan rescued a boater after his 16-foot sailing vessel capsized near Bridgeport at 1800. Josh Anns, 22, a Fairfield resident, attempted to swim to shore after he was unable to right his vessel after it capsized. Denis Hazba, a Bridgeport native, was on his own boat nearby when he noticed the overturned vessel. Hazba made a distress call via marine band radio to the Coast Guard at 1810 after briefly looking for the operator of the overturned vessel in the surrounding water. Hazba then turned down his radio in an attempt to listen for the victim. He soon heard a voice and spotted the victim within seconds. Hazba safely brought Anns aboard his boat. Anns immediately hugged his rescuer before he collapsed from exhaustion. Hazba wrapped him in a blanket and began to administer first aid. A rescue crew from Station New Haven was immediately diverted when the distress call was made arriving on scene within five minutes, just after Anns was pulled from the water. The crew transferred him to their rescue boat and continued administering first aid. He was rushed to the Bridgeport ferry pier where emergency medical personnel were waiting. Anns was taken to Saint Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport in stable condition. Fortunately, Anns was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident
2006 - A man is missing after he fell off his vessel near the highway-528 bridge on -the Banana River in Port Canaveral, Fla., today at about 2000. Raymond Robertson, 41, of Merritt Island, Fla., was attempting to repair the engine on his boat when fell overboard. His friends attempted to reach him but couldn't because the vessel's engine was disabled. The current pulled the Robertson away from his boat, and he hasn't been seen since. The people Robertson was boating with were able to paddle the boat ashore and notify rescue coordinators via 911
2006 - A Coast Guard boatcrew rescued five fishermen after their vessel capsized off the coast of Florida, about 11 miles south of Pensacola Pass
2006 - Commissioning ceremony for Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron (NCWRON) 4 at Hospital Point Park at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va. The pennant of commissioning was broken by the squadron’s first commanding officer, Cmdr. James Campbell, who ordered his Sailors to man their fighting positions and “bring the squadron to life.” NCWRON 4 is the seventh NCWRON, the first active-duty unit on the east coast, and is comprised of a Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit, Inshore Boat Units (IBU) 41, 42, 43 and staff
2007 - 82-year-old man died & son rescued by USCG about 1515 after their boat capsized near the Hog Island #2 buoy in Buzzard's Bay, Mass
2007 - Following a deadly attack on an aid ship in the waters off Somalia, the UN World Food Program (WFP) today appealed for international action against piracy, warning that it is seriously threatening relief deliveries to the country
2007 - At least two youths are in custody after being involved in making a hoax call to Belfast Coastguard, which initiated a search for two missing people in a dinghy
2007 - A cargo ship from North Korea docked in Burma in what was believed the be the first port call by a ship from the communist nation since the two countries agreed last month to resume diplomatic relations. Kang Nam I docked at Thilawa port, 30 kilometers south of Rangoon, said witnesses who asked not to be named for fear of breaching security regulations
2007 - Pakistan's Navy acquired three Fokker aircraft from national carrier PIA along with spares for USD 1.2 million. The aircraft acquired from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would be cannibalised to support other Fokker aircraft in the Pakistani Navy's inventory
2008 - USCG RADM James Watson and Assistant Inspector General Anne Richards l testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety
2008 - ICGS Sankalp commissioned at Goa




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Sources: Colton Shipping Report, NOAA, MARAD, Marine Digest, Leo Pettipas, Kommersant, Samuel Loring Morison, Frank Pierce Young, Navy Times, Naval Institute Proceedings, www.uboat.net, Andrew Etherington, John Nicholas, US Naval Historical Center, Ministry of Defense, US Coast Guard, Thomas N. Carlson, Jack Arrowsmith, Allan Snowie, Ken Hansen, Andy Barber, John Weiss, Jack McKillop, Bernard de Neumann, Sympatico Today in History, Washington History Link, Lloyds List, Fairplay, New York Times, I-Newswire and other news sources in the public domain. Additions, submissions and corrections are always welcomed.
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