SeaWaves Today in History May 31, 2009 South Africa - Republic Day. Visiting warships Dress Ship overall. Gun salutes are fired. Portugal - Navy Day. 1577 - Martin Frobisher c1539-1594 sails from Harwich with a fleet of 15 ships to build a settlement at Frobisher Bay and mine the 'gold' ore found a year earlier. He will discover Hudson Strait; the 2,000 tons of 'gold' ore he mines will prove to be worthless pyrites, and used to pave the streets of London 1790 - Alferez Manuel Quimper explores Strait of Juan de Fuca; claims area for Spain on Aug 1 1831 - James Ross discovers Bellot Strait dividing Somerset Island from mainland of Boothia Peninsula; the northernmost point of the North American continent 1847 - William James Pirrie, Lord Pirrie of Belfast 1847-1924 shipbuilder, was born on this day at Quebec City; dies at sea June 7, 1924. Pirrie controlled the largest ship-yard in the world and built the liner Titanic 1866 - John O'Neill 1834-1878 leads about 800 Fenian raiders across the Niagara River at Buffalo to threaten Canadian garrisons, occupy Fort Erie, capture the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railroad and cut telegraph lines. The Fenians were dedicated to freeing Ireland from the English, by force if necessary 1883 - French fleet under Pierre begins siege of Tamatave, Madagascar 1889 - In a river valley in central Pennsylvania, heavy rain and a neglected dam lead to a catastrophe in which 2,209 people die and a prosperous city, Johnstown, is nearly wiped off the face of the earth in what became known as the Johnstown Flood 1900 - Sailors and Marines from USS Newark & Oregon arrive at Peking, China with other Sailors and Marines from Britain, France, Russia, Italy and Japan to protect US and foreign diplomatic legations from the Boxers 1902 - Treaty of Vereeniging ends Boer War 1906 - Submarine HMS B10 completed 1916 - Cruiser HNLMS Java laid down 1916 - Submarine HMS K6 launched 1916 - Submarine HMS K7 launched 1916 - Battle of Jutland. The largest-ever battleship action took place in the North Sea off Jutland. 151 British warships, including 28 Dreadnought battleships and nine battlecruisers, fought 96 German warships, including 22 battleships and 5 battlecruisers 1916 - Ordered, Contract 602-G, Group 1, Submarines, (Identical to Contract 602-E) Italy H1-H2 for Italian Navy, Canadian Vickers Montreal, PQ, Italian H-Class Characteristics - (1) Displacement - Surfaced 364 tons Dived 434 tons; (2) Length 150 ft 3.5 in; (3) Beam 15 ft 9 in; (4) Internal Dia. 15 ft; (5) Draught 12 ft 4 in; (6) Drive Twin screw, direct diesel drive and electric motors; (7) Engines Twin 8 cyl, 4 cycle 480 bhp NLSECO diesels; (8) Main motors Twin 320 HP Electro Dynamic. (9) Periscopes (a) Main periscope in control room, (b) Navigating periscope in conning tower; (10) Crew 2 officers, 6 C&POs, 20 men; (11) Max diving depth 200 ft; (12) Battery 120 cells in 2 tanks, Gould or Exide; (13) Speed (a) Surface 13 kts, (b) Dived 10 kts; (14) Range (a) Surface 2,800 NM @ 11 kts, (b) Dived 130 NM @ 2 kts; (15) Torpedo tubes Bow 4 x 21-inch with guides to accept 17.7-in; (16) torpedoes Reloads 4 forward; (17) Gun Single 47 mm light gun aft of the conning tower. Laid down Jan 1916, 10 months to complete build. Commissioned Halifax 27 Nov 1916. (Note - dates are correct of Order, Vickers began building the submarines in advance of the contracts being concluded. Possibly a "diplomatic" agreement that covered this situation. All of the Italian Boats had - Improved Conning tower Periscope Bearings; Improved Periscopes; Larger T/Tube main drains; Liners to accommodate the smaller Italian, 17.7" Torpedo; Larger (but fewer) HP Air bottles; H3-H8, had no Fessenden signal gear; they were fitted with Sperry Gyro and Radio from the outset. In the final 6 submarines, a Hydraulically operated telescopic Radio Mast was fitted at the rear on the Fin structure and a small Gun platform was installed aft of the Fin to take a 6-Pdr gun. This was replaced by a heavier MG for the boats that survived into WW II 1918 - Minesweepers HMC TR 21 & TR 22 commissioned Montreal PQ 1918 - Submarine HMS L16 completed 1918 - Destroyer HMS Venomous laid down 1919 - Destroyers USS Herndon & Dallas launched 1919 - Destroyer HMS Kellett launched 1919 - USN NC-4's, commanded by AC Read, transatlantic flight ends at Plymouth, England 1927 - Submarine HMS Otus laid down 1927 - Heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra launched 1927 - Submarine FS Eurycide launched 1928 - Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk commissioned 1928 - Destroyer HNLMS Van Ghent commissioned 1930 - Submarines HNLMS K XIV & K XV laid down 1934 - Submarine HMS Shark launched 1937 - Minesweeper HNLMS Abraham Van Der Hulst launched 1937 - Germany and Italy, withdrew from the nonintervention patrol after bombing of the Deutschland by Loyalist planes. German warships bombarded Spanish City of Almeria 1937 - German Lieutenant Colonel Joachim Breithhaupt places a wreath at the American Legion Chapel, Naval Air Station Lakehurst NJ on Memorial Day. The wreath was laid in memory of those who lost their lives in the crashes of the airships Hindenburg, Macon (12 February 1935) and Akron (4 April 1933) 1938 - Destroyer HMS Havelock laid down 1938 - Destroyers USS O'Brien & Walke laid down 1938 - Tanker SS Santee laid down (later escort carrier) 1938 - Boom defense vessel HMS Barfair launched 1938 - Sloop HMS Egret launched 1939 - Light cruiser HMS Fiji launched 1940 - Patrol vessel HMCS Moose (ex-US yacht Cleopatra) commissioned 1940 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Blackthorn commissioned 1940 - Destroyers USS Nicholson & Wilkes launched 1940 - President Roosevelt asked Congress for "acceleration and development of our military and naval needs as measured in both machines and men" 1940 - River Class destroyers HMCS St Laurent, Restigouche & Skeena arrived at Devonport and were assigned Western Approaches Command 1940 - Yachts Cleopatra and Conseco purchased by RCN and were converted to patrol craft HMCS Moose and Otter respectively in Quebec City 1940 - 68,014 men were evacuated from Dunkirk today. This will be the most successful day of Operation Dynamo. General Gort returns to the UK after turning over command to General Alexander. In the air over Dunkirk the RAF loses 28 fighters, and claims 28 German fighters. French destroyer Sirocco is sunk 1940 - U-13 is believed sunk by sloop HMS Weston off Lowestoft 1940 - Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats start returning to the Western Approaches. As they do, one of the first 'Flower' class corvettes, HMS Arabis, attacks one of their number in defense of a Gibraltar/UK convoy. With the closure of the Mediterranean to Allied shipping, the trade routes around Africa and the ports to sustain them take on a new importance. Particularly vital is the West African base at Freetown Sierra Leone. Losses - 10 ships of 55,000 tons. Merchant Shipping War - Losses. 90 ships of 231,000 tons 1940 - Destroyer FS Sirocco sunk off Dunkirk by German MTBs S-23 and S-26 1940 - U-13 sunk in the North Sea north of Newcastle, in position 52.26N, 02.02E, by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Weston. 26 survivors (No casualties) 1940 - At 1402, the Orangemoor in Convoy HGF-31 was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-101 and sank within a short time southwest of Roches Doures. 18 crewmembers were lost. The master and 21 crewmembers were picked up by the Brandenburg and landed at London 1941 - Corvette HMCS Sudbury launched Kingston ON 1941 - Soviet submarine SC-411 launched 1941 - Tug HMS Dart commissioned 1941 - Sloop HMS Gorleston (ex-USCGC Itasca) commissioned 1941 - Commodore L.W. Murray RCN was appointed Commander of the Newfoundland Escort Force, later the Mid-Ocean Escort Force. He reported directly to the British Commander-in Chief, Western Approaches, Admiral Sir Percy Noble 1941 - The voyage of the SS Dunera, a troopship which sailed to Australia last July with 2,700 internees aboard, has led to the court martial of their British Army escort, including the commanding officer, after repeated questions in parliament. After the ship reached Australia in September, it was reported that the internees, most of them Jews who had fled from Hitler, has been brutally searched; their luggage had been confiscated and ripped open with bayonets, their valuable removed and never returned by their army guards. They themselves were confined below deck during the two-month journey in squalid conditions. Some were physically assaulted. One jumped overboard. The court martial found three men guilty, including Major William Patrick Scott, the CO, who was severely reprimanded. His regimental sergeant major was jailed for 12 months. The voyage was the worst incident of several which followed a series of decisions between 12 May and 26 June 1940 to intern anyone from Germany, Austria and Italy who was in Britain, although the great majority were eager to help the war against Hitler. All were out into transit camps - on racecourses, at holiday camps, in a derelict mill - until transferred to camps and boarding houses on the Isle of Man. At a peak there were 27,000 in custody. Four ships left for Canada including the SS Arandora Star, sunk by a U-boat with the loss of 175 Germans and 486 Italians. Soon afterwards the tide of opinion turned in favor of the internees. In a Commons debate wholesale internment was denounced as callous and called a "bespattered page in our history". Over 15,000 internees have been released and more will be, including many from the Dunera 1941 - HMCS Trail departed Esquimalt for Halifax 1941 - British-Iraqi armistice signed at Baghdad 1941 - Germans conquer Crete. The last British contingent is evacuated from Sphakia, Crete 1941 - U-69 torpedoes MV Sangara in Accra 1941 - Battle of the Atlantic - Merchant Shipping Losses in European waters - 99 ships of 101,000 tons. Merchant shipping losses in the Mediterranean - 19 ships of 71,000 tons. Losses in the Atlantic - 60 ships of 336,000 tons, 1 battlecruiser, 1 destroyer and 1 armed merchant cruiser. Bismarck and U-110 1941 - The US Navy's Task Group 1 consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, heavy cruiser USS Vincennes and destroyers USS Sampson & Gwin begin a 4,500+ mile neutrality patrol voyage which concludes at Hampton Roads, Virginia on 12 June. The Yorktown Air Group consists of Fighting Squadron Forty-One, Scouting Squadrons Forty-One and Forty Two and Torpedo Squadron Five 1941 - U-219, U-617 laid down 1941 - U-502 commissioned 1941 - U-435 launched 1941 - At 0313, the unescorted Clan MacDougall was torpedoed by U-106 north of the Cape Verde Islands. The vessel was sunk by a coup de grâce at 0345. Two crewmembers were lost. The master, 74 crewmembers and ten gunners landed at St Antonio, Cape Verde Islands 1941 - At 0739, the Sire, dispersed from convoy OB-320, was hit on the starboard side in the bow by one torpedo from U-107 and sank after 10 minutes WSW of Freetown. Three crewmembers were lost. The master and 45 crewmembers were picked up by HMS Marguerite & landed at Freetown on 6 June 1941 - Gravelines, a straggler from Convoy HX-127, was torpedoed by U-147 NW of Bloody Foreland and broke in two. The master and 10 crewmembers died. 23 crewmembers and two gunners were picked up by sloop HMS Deptford and landed at Liverpool. The afterpart of the Gravelines sank and the forepart was towed to the Clyde and beached at Kames Bay on 3 June. The vessel was declared a total loss and was broken up in Rothesay in 1942 1941 - At 0515, the Holmsteinn was sunk by gunfire by U-204 NNW of Dyrafjord, Iceland. No survivors from crew of four 1941 - At 0024, the unescorted Rinda was hit by two torpedoes from U-38 off Liberia. The torpedoes struck at hatch #4 and #5 and blew off the funnel and the entire after deck. Four men on deck and the master and another seaman on the bridge were killed. The survivors attempted to lower the lifeboats but the ship sank before they were free and the men were pulled down by the suction, drowning some of them. Only one lifeboat with one man hanging on to it and four rafts floated free. A few survivors righted the boat and picked up others during the night in the light of burning cotton. Finally, it contained 18 survivors (four of them badly burned) and set sail for Freetown. On 1 June, they were picked up by HMS Pict after being located by aircraft and taken to Freetown, where the wounded men were taken to a hospital ship. Bernt Gustavsen, who had been seriously burnt, stayed in the hospital for 11 months after the sinking. He then joined the Norwegian Navy and died when KNM Montbretia was torpedoed and sunk by U-262 on 18 Nov 1942. Among the survivors of Rinda was also the cat that was found swimming in the ocean by the lifeboat during the night. She remained on board the armed trawler that rescued the survivors and was renamed Rinda 1941 - At 0025, U-69 fired one torpedo at the Sangara lying at anchor in the roads of Accra (arrived on 30 May). She sank by the stern in 33 feet of water with her bow still visible above the water. The master was the only casualty. At 2110 hours on 12 Aug 1941, the Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli fired a torpedo at the bow of Sangara but missed. On 1 Apr 1943, the wreck of Sangara was sold to two locally based engineers for the sum of 500 pounds Stirling, was refloated and towed to Lagos roads, but it was not clear what should happen with her and she was then towed to Douala at the mouth of the Cameroon River where the cargo was salvaged and sold. Much later Elder Dempster repurchased the ship and towed her back to Lagos where a berth had been prepared just above Wilmot Point. After the war’s end, the engines were overhauled, all woodwork fittings were renewed and the torpedo damage repaired. In 1946, Sanagara was towed from Lagos to the Middle Docks, South Shields by the tug Seaman. At a speed of 2.5 knots they were underway for 62 days. After permanent repairs the ship returned to service in 1947. On 14 Sep, 1960, she was sold to British Iron & Steel Corporation and arrived three days later at Preston for scrapping 1942 - Destroyer USS Capps launched 1942 - Light cruiser USS Savannah laid down 1942 - US Battleships Colorado and Maryland sail to San Francisco to reinforce the Pacific Fleet 1942 - Japanese submarines HIJMS I-22, HIJMS I-24 and HIJMS I-27, each launch a Type A midget submarine which penetrates the harbor defenses of Sydney, Australia. The three midget submarines, which are all lost, fire torpedoes that miss the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29), sink the accommodation ship HMAS Kuttabul and damage the Dutch submarine HNMS K 9 beyond economical repair 1942 - Japanese submarine HIJMS I-10 again launches a Yokosuka E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane, Allied Code Name "Glen," to fly a reconnaissance mission over Diego Suarez, Madagascar for the second day 1942 - A Panamanian freighter is sunk by the German submarine U-107 in the Caribbean 1942 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the USAAF's 7th Air Force on detached service at Midway Island begin search operations. US Navy PBY Catalinas concentrate their searches to the NE from which the Japanese invasion fleet is expected to approach from 1942 - At 0140, the unescorted Liverpool Packet was torpedoed and sunk by U-432 15 miles west of Seal Island, Nova Scotia. Two crewmembers were lost. The master and 18 crewmembers landed at Seal Island, near Cape Sable 1942 - The unescorted Fred W Green was sunk by gunfire by U-506 SE of Bermuda. Four crewmembers and one gunner were lost. Destroyer USS Ludlow picked up the master, 32 crewmembers and three gunners 1943 - Minesweeper USS Adopt commissioned 1943 - Destroyer USS Chauncey commissioned 1943 - Submarine USS Bonefish commissioned 1943 - Destroyer escorts USS Stewart, Robert E Peary, Harold C Thomas, Charles Lawrence commissioned 1943 - Corvette HMS Amberly Castle laid down 1943 - Destroyer escort USS Harmon laid down 1943 - Submarine USS Pipefish laid down 1943 - Destroyers HMS Myngs & Zenith launched 1943 - Corvette INS Gondwana (ex-HMS Burnet) launched 1943 - Destroyer HMCS Saskatchewan (ex-HMS Fortune) commissioned 1943 - Escort carrier HMS Emperor (ex-USS Pybus) commissioned 1943 - Frigate HMCS Stettler laid down Montreal PQ 1943 - Admiral Godfroy in command of the immobilized French warships at Alexandria announced that he would join the United Nations with his forces 1943 - Lorraine returned to Free French forces 1943 - Egyptian Cabinet voted to resume diplomatic relations with Russia 1943 - The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-24 is getting ready to sail in an attempt to rescue personnel from Attu Island. The sub approaches the entrance to Chichagof Harbor three times in early June and then sails for Kiska Island 1943 - U-440 sunk in the North Atlantic NW of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45.38N, 13.04W, by depth charges from an RAF 201 Sqn Sunderland. 46 dead (all hands lost) 1943 - U-563 sunk in the Bay of Biscay SW of Brest, in position 46.35N, 10.40W, by depth charges from RAF 58 & 228 Sqn Halifaxes & an RAAF 10 Sqn Sunderland 1943 - U-1272 laid down 1944 - Submarine HMS Alaric laid down 1944 - HMS Sickle left for a patrol in the northern Aegean 1944 - HMS Ultor sinks the German guard vessel FCi 01 with gunfire off Cassis, southern France 1944 - Destroyer USS Ault commissioned 1944 - Minesweeper USS Bombard commissioned 1944 - Destroyer escort USS Jesse Rutherford commissioned 1944 - Tug HMCS Glenevis laid down Owen Sound ON 1944 - USS England sinks Japanese submarine HIJMS RO-105 200 miles NNW of Kavieng on New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago. England is assisted by the destroyers USS McCord & Hazelwood and destroyer escorts USS George, Raby & Spangler. This is the sixth submarine involved in Operation "NA" sunk by USS England 1944 - U-289 (Type VIIC) Sunk in the Barents Sea SW of Bear Island, Norway, in position 73.32N, 00.28E, by depth charges from destroyer HMS Milne. 51 dead (all crew lost) 1944 - HMCS Mayflower and Rimouski departed Oban to escort Normandy blockships 1944 - U-2323 launched 1944 - U-289 sunk in the Barents Sea SW of Bear Island, Norway, in position 73.32N, 00.28E, by depth charges from destroyer HMS Milne. 51 dead (all hands lost) 1944 - U-1278 commissioned 1944 - Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-180 was commissioned. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area. She was decommissioned on 18 October 1945. 1945 - Minesweeper HMCS Beech Lake launched Port Carling ON 1945 - Destroyer USS Shelton laid down 1945 - Frigate HMCS Poundmaker commenced tropicalization refit Lunenburg NS 1945 - HMCS Loch Alvie arrived in the Clyde with Convoy RA 67 1945 - HMCS Mayflower paid off and returned to RN at Grandmouth, Scotland 1945 - Mines previously laid by B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF's Twentieth Air Force sink a Japanese cargo ship and damage a gunboat, two army cargo ships and a freighter. Another cargo ship is damaged but sinks after being towed into harbor 1948 - The order establishing the Israel Defense Forces, issued by Prime Minister and Minister of Defense David Ben Gurion three days earlier, takes effect. All active soldiers are required to be sworn in by the Prime Minister: "I am hereby sworn and obligated, on my honor, to always be loyal to the State of Israel, to her laws and her duly authorized government; to take upon myself unconditionally and without limit the burden of the discipline of the Israel Defense Forces; to obey all orders and instructions given by the duly authorized commanders; to dedicate all my strength and even to sacrifice my life in defense of the homeland and the freedom of Israel" 1952 - Submarine HMS Alcide departed Halifax following ASW training 1953 - Submarine HMS Andrew departed Halifax following ASW training 1954 - Destroyer HMCS Cayuga returned Sasebo from Tomi Wan 1956 - The first flight of a CS2F-1 Tracker a/c was conducted this date in Ontario by de Havilland test pilots 1957 - VF 870 Banshee a/c #126313(side number 104) crashed on McNabs Island southwest of Shearwater after the starboard wing separated at the hinge point. Lt (P) Derek Armstrong Prout RCN was lost in the accident. The Banshee fleet, including those of VF 871 that were on detachment at CJATC Rivers for armament training, was temporarily grounded. The ensuing investigation, which involved the RCAF Quality Control Laboratory in Ottawa, disclosed that there had been a failure of the forward wing stub fitting, and that corresponding parts in other aircraft were also defective. It is fortunate indeed that no other lives were lost in the second-hand Banshees before the flaw was rectified 1958 - US performs nuclear test at Bikini Island (atmospheric tests) 1964 - Frigate HMCyS Mahasena (ex-HMCS Orkney) paid off 1966 - USS Hancock port call Hong Kong 1968 - USS Bon Homme Richard port call Subic Bay 1997 - MCDV HMCS Moncton laid down Halifax NS 2004 - Landing ship HMS Bulwark commences sea trials at Barrow 2004 - Italian Navy transferred tug Proteo to the Bulgarian Navy, where it will serve under the same name. Proteo portrayed a two-funneled German destroyer in the movie “U-571” 2005 - The latest Annual Report of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is published. The report reviews the MAIB's work in 2004 and contains a statistical breakdown of the near 1500 accidents and incidents that were reported during the year. The broad range of factors behind such incidents means it is difficult to focus attention on any particular trends, but the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Stephen Meyer has highlighted two areas of concern in the report. Fatigue / safe working hours: The results of a 2004 study undertaken by the MAIB highlighted how working hours and fatigue are a major casual factor in collisions and groundings. A main area of concern are dry cargo vessels working in short sea trade, where poor manning levels have led to serious fatigue and a resultant deterioration in the concentration and judgement of officers on the watch. Fishing Vessels: The report also notes that the percentage of the UK fishing fleet lost each year has remained broadly steady for the past 10 years. Later this year, the MAIB will be publishing a set of recommendations aimed at improving standards of safety on fishing vessels to try to bring down this percentage 2005 - CPO2 Sidney Smith honored with the Meritorious Service Cross for his selfless act that helped put out a fire in HMCS Ottawa. Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson will present CPO2 Smith with the medal at a ceremony in Ottawa, an award that recognizes individuals for outstanding professionalism and bringing honor to the Canadian Forces. CPO2 Smith says he was just doing his job. While sailing in balmy seas off the coast of Mexico one August night two years ago, fire broke out in Ottawa, and black smoke soon billowed from the ship. The flames reached so high Cdr John Gardam, commanding officer at the time, says he could see them shooting 15 feet out the funnel. Inside the engine compartment temperatures soared to a scorching 65 degrees Celsius. CPO2 Smith, chief engineer on board, volunteered to lead the firefighting efforts. Although no one was seriously hurt in the fire, 18 sailors suffered heat exhaustion, one received a minor head cut, and two were treated for smoke inhalation. A board of inquiry is still working on the report that will explain how the fire started; the damage was estimated at $20 million 2005 - India's largest naval base INS Kadamba commissioned by Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi here. The first phase of Project Seabird, the naval base, arguably Asia's most advanced and the country's first with a ship-lift facility, cost about Rs 1026 crore and can accommodate 11 ships including and aircraft carrier. "With the commissioning of this Naval base the Navy will fulfill the responsibility of defending the country and safegaurding the exclusive economic zone," the Defense Minister said. With this commissioning an important milestone has been achieved and the dream of the visionary Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has been fulfilled, he said. INS Kadama developed at Karwar, a natural harbor in Karnataka, is to house some of the Navy's most potent weapons - destroyers, stealth frigates and possibly even the soon-to-be acquired Scorpene submarines 2005 - Lucienne Robillard, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, announced on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the signing of a grant agreement with the municipality of Lanoraie. The grant will enable the municipality to extend the launching ramp situated near the municipal wharf, on the shore of the St. Lawrence River 2005 - Lucienne Robillard, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, announced on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the signing of a grant agreement with the municipality of Champlain. The grant will enable the municipality to carry out repairs to the municipal wharf and launching ramp situated on the shore of the St. Lawrence River 2005 - Jean-C. Lapierre, Minister of Transport announced, on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, a federal investment of $1.1 million for repairs and improvements to several fishing harbors in the Magdalen Islands 2005 - Jean-C. Lapierre, Minister of Transport announced, on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, a federal investment of $1.5 million for repairs and improvements to several fishing harbors in the Gaspé Peninsula. 2005 - Jean-C. Lapierre, Minister of Transport announced, on behalf of Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, a federal investment of $700,000 for repairs to fishing harbors on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River. 2005 - An RTM-7P NATO Sea Sparrow training missile fired against a BQM-74E aerial drone launched from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. This is the first live test of the NATO Sea Sparrow weapons system aboard the ship. Reagan is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean conducting Combat System Ship’s Qualifications Trials (CSSQT) 2005 - The Coast Guard cited the operator of a 17-foot pleasure craft with negligent operations Monday after he unlawfully crossed the Siuslaw River bar near Florence, Ore. At 0525 the Coast Guard issued a restriction that prohibited recreational boats and un-inspected passenger vessels from crossing the bar because of hazardous conditions. The rough bar warning light was turned on and repeated broadcasts on VHF radio channel 22A were made to notify vessels in the area of the dangerous conditions. At 0730 the Morning Rising was observed crossing the river bar by crewmembers at Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River. At 0853 after conditions further deteriorated, the station launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat to ensure the vessel could safely return across the bar. The Morning Rising was located by the motor lifeboat crew and escorted safely back across the river bar. Upon reaching shore, a dockside safety inspection was conducted and the operator was cited with negligent operation for crossing a restricted bar and for having expired flares and expired fire extinguishers 2005 - Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (TEN) today announced the signing of a second Aframax newbuilding tanker H/N 1334 from Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Eng. Co. Ltd for delivery in August 2007. H/N 1334 is a uniquely designed double hull tanker, with a carrying capacity of 105,000 dwt and is sistership to H/N 1328 that TEN is currently building at the same yard. This new contract replaces the contract for H/N 1224 that was sold in April 2005 realizing a capital gain of $10.5 million 2005 - The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved two applications under Section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended. Oglebay Norton Marine Services Company, LLC, Cleveland, OH has received approval to sell the 9,589-gross-ton cargo vessel Joseph H. Frantz to International Marine Salvage, Inc., a Canadian corporation, for scrapping in Canada. The vessel was built in 1924 in River Rouge, MI. Vane Line Bunkering, Inc., Baltimore MD has received approval to sell the 2,674-gross-ton tank barge, VB 40 to Porteadoes del Noroeste S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Mexican registry and flag. The vessel was built in 1970 in Houston TX 2005 - Pirates armed with AK-47 assault rifles attacked the crew of a supertanker waiting to load crude at Iraq's Basra oil terminal before making off with cash, an ocean crime watchdog says 2006 - MARAD sold two obsolete vessels in its Beaumont Reserve Fleet for recycling. Southern Scrap Material Company, LLC (SSMC), of New Orleans, LA, has purchased two vessels, Allison Lykes and Mallory Lykes, both located in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX, for $50,000 apiece. Both vessels are cargo ships built in the mid-1960s. The two ships are scheduled to leave the fleet site for New Orleans the last week of June 2006 - Destroyer HMS Edinburgh and frigate FGS Hessen meet at site of the Battle of Jutland. A short service of commemoration and to lay wreaths in memory of the sailors lost by both sides 2006 - Teekay Shipping Corporation announced that Mr. James R. Clark was elected to its Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of its shareholders held in London. Mr. C. Sean Day and Dr. Ian Blackburne were also re-elected at the meeting for further terms on Teekay's Board 2006 - A former Soviet aircraft carrier was auctioned off Wednesday in the Chinese town of Shenzhen for 128 million yuan ($16 mln). The aircraft carrier Minsk was sold to the Chinese company Citic Shenzhen, which pledged not to take it outside the limits of the province and expressed the hope that the investment would be profitable 2007 - While snowing, PSG Sibbald was drydocked at ASMAR Magallanes, thereby starting the scheduled docking period according to the Careening Plan 2007. Repairs will be carried out until August 28 and consider, among others, tank inspection, careening and maintenance of mechanic, electronic and electric equipment 2007 - Navy Rear Adm. (Selectee) Jeffrey A Wieringa nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Arlington. 2007 - Cdr Keith A Willis relieved Cdr Gregory P Hitchen as commanding officer USCGC Tahoma 2008 - Philippine Navy captured 15 suspected sea marauders allegedly extorting fishing boats operating off Sulu 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