Naval History On This Day, Any Nation

[st george]

1492 - Columbus' fleet leaves Gomera, Canary islands.
1622 - Spanish silver fleet disappears off Florida Keys; 1,000s die.

1776 - Hurricane hits Martinique; 100 French & Dutch ships sinks; 600 die.

1776 - 1st (failed) submarine attack (David Bushnell's "Turtle" attacks British sailboat "Eagle" in Bay of NY).
1940 - First destroyers transferred to Great Britain at Halifax, Nova Scotia, under "Destroyers-for- Bases agreement.
1944 - USS Independence (CVL-22) begins use of specially trained air group for night work. First time that a fully equipped night carrier operates with fast carrier task force.
 

Edited September 7, 2013 by st george

[Kevin]

September 7

 

 

1776

David Bushnell attempts to destroy a British Ship of the Line, HMS Asia (64), Cptn. George Vanderput, in New York harbor with his submarine American Turtle.

1798

HMS Phaeton (38), Cptn. Robert Stopford, and HMS Alison captured Flore.

1809

Boats of HMS Mercury (28), Cptn. Henry Duncan, captured French schooner Pugliese in the port of Barletta, Adriatic.

1810

Boats of HMS Dreadnought (98), Cptn. G. B. Salt, carried a French vessel.

1811

HMS Barbadoes (28), Capt. Edward Rushworh, and HMS Goshawk (16), James Lilburne, engaged seven French brigs, each armed with 3 long 24-pounders and a mortar, near the Calvados Rocks, Baie de la Seine and drove one ashore..

1834

HMS Imogene (28), Cptn. Price Blackwood, and HMS Andromache (28), Cptn. Henry Ducie Chads, engaged in the Canton River.

1864

USS Wachusett captures CSS Florida at Bahia, Brazil

Edited September 7, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1596 - Dutch fleet bombs Banten Java.

1652 - Battle of Monte Christo: Dutch fleet under J van Galen beat English.

1775 - The first prize, the British supply ship, Unity, was captured by the Continental schoonerHannah.

1860 - Excursion steamer "Lady Elgin" drowns 340 in Lake Michigan.
1942 - First air evacuation of casualties to hospital ships off shore occurs at Guadalcanal.

Edited September 7, 2013 by st george

[Kevin]

September 8

 

 

1656

Frigate squadron under Vice Ad. Sir Richard Stayner captures two treasure ships of the Spanish plate fleet off Cadiz 

1801

HMS Sylph (18), Charles Dashwood, engaged Artemise.

1811

HMS Hotspur (36), Cptn. Hon. Joscelin Percy, engaged a number of French vessels near near Calvados, Baie de la Seine , sunk one brig, drove two on shore. She grounded as she came within gun-shot  but was got off with assistance from HMS Barbadoes (28), Capt. Edward Rushworh, and HMS Goshawk (16), James Lilburne, after 4 hours under fire from the shore.

1812

HMS Laura cutter (10), Lt. Charles Newton Hunter, captured by French privateer brig Diligent off the Delaware river.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1833 - Charles Darwin departs to Buenos Aires.

1860 - Loss of steamer, "Lady Elgin".

1914 - British trader Oceanic sinks off Scotland.

1923 - In disaster at Point Honda, California, 7 destroyers run aground through faulty navigation.

[Kevin]

September 9

 

 

1754

William Bligh born at Plymouth

1796

HMS Arrogant (74), Cptn. R. Lucas, and HMS Victorious (74) engaged six French frigates.

1803

Boats of HMS Sheerness (44), Cptn. J. S. Carden, captured two chasse-marees.

1811

HMS Bucephalus (32), Capt. Charles Pelly, started a 5 day engagement with Nymphe and Midusa off Java.

1841

First iron ship authorized by Congress 

Edited September 9, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1825 - USS Brandywine sails for France to carry the Marquis de Lafayette home after his year long visit to America.
1841 - First iron ship authorized by Congress.
1940 - Navy awards contracts for 210 ships, including 12 carriers and 7 battleships.
1943 - Operation Avalanche, Western Naval Task Force under VADM Hewitt, USN, lands Allied forces at Salerno, Italy

1943 - 15 German JU-88's sink Italian flag ship Rome.
1944 - Fifth Fleet carrier aircraft begin air strikes on Japanese shipping and facilities at Mindanao, Philippines.

[Kevin]

September 10

 

 

1778

French frigate Junon (32), Cptn. Vicomte de Beaumont, captured the HMS Fox (28), Cptn. Hon. Thomas Windsor (Killed in Action), off Brest

1807

HMS Explosion Bomb (10), Edward Ellicot, wrecked on a reef near Sandy Island, Heligoland.

1811

Boats of HMS Victory (100) Cptn. George Honey, captured Danish gunboats

1813

In Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry defeats British squadron, HMS Detroit and 5 consorts captured.

1814

Start of attack on Baltimore by a British squadron under Vice Ad. Sir Alexander Cochrane.

1840

Bombardment of Beyrout by a British squadron under Admiral Robert Stopford.

Edited September 10, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1813 - In Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, flying his "Don't give up the ship" flag, defeats British squadron and says: "We have met the enemy and they are ours..."

1905 - Japanese battleship Mikasa explodes.
1925 - Submarine R-4 rescues crew of PN-9 10 miles from their destination of Hawaii. (See also September 1)

1943 - Italian fleet anchors at Malta.

[Kevin]

September 11

 

 

1696

HMS Sapphire (32) sunk by the French off Bay of Bulls, Newfoundland.

1751

HMS Fox (24) foundered during a hurricane off Jamaica

1781

HMS Richmond (32), Cptn. Charles Hudson, and HMS Iris (28), Cptn. George Dawson, having been ordered to enter the Chesapeake and cut away the buoys left when the French slipped their cables, were taken when the fleet under the Comte de Grasse returned as they were completing the task.

HMS Terrible (74) was burnt as unseaworthy due to damage received at the Battle of the Capes.

 

1782

HMS Warwick (50) and HMS Lion (64) took L'Aigle (40) French frigate.

1800

Curacoa capitulated to British.

1809

HMS Diana cutter (10), Lt. William Kempthorne, captured Dutch brig Zephyr (14) off the island of Celebes.

1810

Boats of HMS Africaine (38), Cptn. Robert Corbett, engaged a French schooner up a small creek on the Ile Ronde, Mauritius  Although they boarded her, she had to be abandoned when soldiers on the banks killed two men and wounded sixteen.

1814

In Battle of Lake Champlain, American squadron under Commodore Thomas Macdonough, USS Saratoga(26), USS Eagle (20), USS Ticonderago (17), USS Preble (7) and 10 gun boats defeats a British Squadron,of HMS Confiance (36), Cptn. George Downie (Killed in Action) , HMS Linnet (16), Cptn. Daniel Pring, HMS Chubb(10) and HMS Finch (8) all taken.

1840

Attack on castle of Gebail by HMS Carysfort (26), Cptn. Byam Martin, and consorts.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1814 - In Battle of Lake Champlain, Commodore Thomas Macdonough defeats a British Squadron.

1939 - British submarine Triton torpedoes British submarine Oxley.
1939 - Bear (AG-29) is commissioned by the U.S. Navy for Antarctic operations under command of RADM Richard Byrd, USN (Ret.).
1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces order to the Navy to "shoot on sight" vessels threatening U.S. shipping or ships under U.S. escort.

1943 - Last German Q/pirate ship sinks near Easter Island.
1943 - Italian Navy surrenders to Allies.
2002 - The "Don't Tread on Me" First Navy Jack is flown by Navy ships marking the first anniversary of the terrorists attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

[Kevin]

September 12

 

 

1758

HMS Shrewsbury (74), Cptn. Hugh Palliser, drove French frigate Calypso ashore off Brest.

1780

HMS Vestal (28), Cptn. George Keppel, accompanied by HMS Fairy (14) took American privateer Phoenix (16).

1792

Trial of some of the Bounty mutineers at Portsmouth.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1624 - 1st submarine tested (London).
1944 - 5th Fleet carrier aircraft begin 3-day attack on Japanese shipping and facilities in Visayas, Philippines.
1952 - USS Coral Sea (CVB-43) took Marshall Josip Tito for a one-day cruise in the Adriatic Sea where he was shown flight operations.
1961 - Navy task force sails to aid the Galveston area after hurricane Carla hits Texas.

1941 - 1st German ship in WW II captured by US ship. Coast Guard Cutter USS Northland captures the German vessel Busko.
 

Edited September 12, 2013 by st george

[Kevin]

September 13

 

 

1782

Grand attack upon Gibraltar by the Spaniards. 

1799

HMS Arrow (28), N. Portlock, and HMS Wolverine (16), William Bolton, captured Batavian Draak (24) and Gier(14)anchored under the island of Ulie at the entrance to the Texel. Draak turned out to be a sheer hulk so Cptn. Bolton burnt her.

1801

HMS Lark (16), Lt. Johnstone, captured Spanish privateer schooner Esperance, within the Portillo Reefs, Cuba.

British attack on Porto Ferrajo, Elba.

1803

 HMS Cerberus (32), Cptn. W. Selby and consorts bombard Granville.

1810

HMS Africaine  (38), Cptn. Robert Corbett (Killed in Action), taken by Astree (38) and Iphigenie (38), but re-taken by HMS Boadicea (38), Cptn. Josias Rowley.

[st george]

1814 - British bombardment of Fort McHenry inspires the Star Spangled Banner.

1861 - 1st naval battle of Civil War, Union frigate "Colorado" sinks privateer "Judah" off Pensacola, Fla.
1906 - Sailors and Marines from USS Denver land in Havana at the request of the Cuban government to preserve order during a revolution.
1985 - Commander Middle East Force orders escort of Military Sealift Ships in Persian Gulf because of Iranian seizure of merchant vessels.

[Kevin]

September 14

 

 

 

1779

HMS Pearl (32), Cptn George Montagu, took Spanish frigate Santa Monica (32) off the Western Islands.

1803

Dieppe bombarded by HMS Immortalite (42), Cptn. Edward William Campbell Owen, and bombs HMS Perseusand HMS Explosion, Cptn. Paul.

1806

HMS Bellisle (74), Cptn. William Hargood, HMS Bellona (74), Cptn. John Erskine Douglas, and HMS Melampus(36), Cptn. Stephen Poyntz, drove Impetueux (74), Cptn. le Veyer aground some 35 miles off Cape Henry. They took off the crew and set fire to her.

1840

Batroun captured by HMS Hastings (72), Cptn. John Lawrence, HMS Carysfort (26), Cptn. Byam Martin, and HMS Cyclops.

[st george]

1716 - 1st lighthouse in American colonies lit (Boston Harbor).

1899 - Gunboat Concord and monitor Monterey capture two insurgent schooners at Aparri, Philippine Islands.

1926 -  British, American and French warships battle for control of the Yangtse River following bombardment of foreign vessels by the Chinese.
1939 - Atlantic Squadron Neutrality Patrol ships deploy.

[Kevin]

September 15

 

 

1747

HMS Lyme (24) foundered in the Atlantic

1806

HMS Anson (64), Cptn. Charles Lydiard, engaged French Foudroyant (80)

1808

French frigate Canonniere (44), Cptn. Bourayne, captured HMS Laurel (22), Cptn. J. C. Woolcombe, off Port Louis in Mauritius.

1814

HMS Hermes (20), Cptn. Hon. William Henry Percy, and HMS Sophie (18), Cptn. Lockyer, engaged Fort Bowyer on Mobile Point. Consorts HMS Carron, and HMS Childers (18), J. B. Umfreville, did not engage. Whilst withdrawing, Hermes, with all her rigging shot away, was unmanageable and grounded with her stern to the fort. Boats of the squadron took off the crew and she was set on fire, subsequently exploding. 

[st george]

1620 - Mayflower departs from Plymouth England with 102 pilgrims.

1835 - HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin onboard reaches Galapagos Islands.

1931 - British naval fleet mutinies at Invergordon over pay cuts.

1942 - US aircraft carrier Wasp torpedoed at Guadalcanal.

1944 - British bombers hit Tirpitz with Tallboy bombs.

1966 - 1st British nuclear sub HMS Resolution launched.

[Kevin]

September 16

 

 

1762

HMS Humber (44) wrecked on Hazeboro Sands

1776

HMS Savage (8) wrecked at Louisburg, Nova Scotia.

1782

HMS Glorieux (74), Cptn. Hon. T. Cadogan, foundered and HMS Ramillies (74) burnt after being damaged in a hurricane off Newfoundland

1813

Boats of HMS Swallow (18), Edward Reynolds Sibly, took French government transport Guerriere (4) close to Port d'Anzo (Anzio).

Edited September 17, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1922 - Commander Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey.
1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off CA coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile.
1966 - USS Oriskany helicopters rescue 44-men crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong.

[Kevin]

September 17

 

1797

HMS Pelican (18), Lt. Thomas White (Act.), destroyed French privateer Trompeur (12) off St. Domingo.

1807

HMS Barbara (10), Lt. Edward D'Arcy, captured by privateer General Ernouf (14).

1812

Boats of HMS Eagle (74), Cptn. Charles Rowley, capture 2 gunboats and 15 vessels laden with oil and destroy 6 gunboats off the mouths of the Po.

1840

Caiffa captured by HMS Castor (26), Cptn. Edward Collier, and HMS Pique (36), Cptn. Robert Boxer.

1861

Union landing party from USS Massachusetts takes possession of Ship Island south of New Orleans, LA.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1598 - Netherland sailors discover Mauritius.

1819 - First whaling ship arrives in Hawaii.

1835 - Charles Darwins lands on Chatham Galapagos-archipelago.

1861 - Union landing party from USS Massachusetts takes possession of Ship Island south of New Orleans, LA. This was the headquarters for ADM David Farragut's Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron.
1944 - Navy Task Force lands Army troops on Angaur, Palau Islands supported by Navy carrier aircraft and shore bombardment.

1956 - Norman Buckley has smashed the World Water Speed Record in his motorboat, Miss Windermere III at an average speed of over 79mph on Lake Windermere.

2012 - China dispatches 1,000 fishing boats to Senkaku Islands.

[Kevin]

September 18

 

 

1666

Capture of the French Rubis (60) by British squadron under Ad. Sir Thomas Allin.

1740

Departure from St. Helens of Commodore George Anson on voyage of circumnavigation on board HMS Centurion(60) with HMS Gloucester (50), HMS Severn (48), Cptn. Hon. Edward Legge, HMS Pearl (42), Cptn. Matthew Mitchell, HMS Wager (24), Cptn. Dandy Kidd, the sloop HMS Trial, Cdr. Francis Holburne, and two storeships,Anna and Industry.

1743

HMS Bridgewater (24), Cptn. William Fielding, lost off Newfoundland

1804

HMS Centurion (50), Cptn. J. Lind (Lt. J. E. Phillips Acting for part of the action as Lind was ashore), engaged French Marengo (74), Rear- Admiral Linois, Atalante (40) and Semillante (36) in Vizagapatam Road

1810

HMS Ceylon (38), Cptn. Charles Gordon, taken by French Venus (44), Commodore Hamelin, and Victor (16) off Mauritius.

HMS Boadicea (38), Cptn. Josias Rowley, HMS Otter (18), Cptn. James Tompkinson, and HMS Staunch (14) Lt. Benjamin Street, took French Venus (44), Commodore Hamelin, and retook HMS Ceylon (38).

1812

Capture of 8 armed and 18 merchant vessels by boats of HMS Bacchante (38), Cptn. William Hoste, off the coast of Apulia.

[st george]

1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Costa Rica on his 4th & last voyage.

1936 - Squadron 40-T, based in the Mediterranean, established to protect U.S. interests and citizens around Iberian peninsula throughout the Spanish Civil War.
1941 - U.S. Navy ships escort eastbound British trans-Atlantic convoy for first time (Convoy HX-150). Although the U.S. Navy ships joined HX-150, which left port escorted by British ships on 16th, on night of 17 September, the official escort duty began on 18th.

1944 - British submarine Tradewind torpedoes Junyo Maru: 5,600 killed.

[Kevin]

September 19

 

1700

HMS Carlisle (48), Cptn. Francis Dove, blew up by an unknown accident in the Downs while the captain was on shore. All the crew on board were lost. 

[st george]

1559 - 5 Spanish ships sinks in storm off Tampa, about 600 die.

1833 - Charles Darwin visits Guardia del Monte, Argentina.

1957 - Bathyscaph Trieste, in a dive sponsored by the Office of Naval Research in the Mediterranean, reaches record depth of 2 miles.
1992 - Joint Task Force Marianas stands down after providing assistance to Guam after Typhoon Omar.

[Kevin]

September 20

 

 

1709

HMS Plymouth (60), Cptn. Jonas Hanway, captured French Ariadne (40)

1746

First day of Admiral Richard Lestock's attempt to capture of the French East India company's dockyard at L'Orient. 

1799

HMS Rattlesnake (16), Lt. William Fothergill (Acting as Lt. Samuel Gooch commanding was ashore), and armed storeship HMS Camel (26), John Lee, engaged French frigate Freueuse (46) in Algoa Bay

1803

HMS Princess Augusta cutter (8), Lt. J. W. Scott (Killed in Action), repulsed Dutch cutters Union and Wraak. 45 miles N. E. of Texel.

1811

Buonaparte being off Boulogne, ordered seven armed praams to attack HMS Naiad (38), Cptn. Philip Carteret, but they were all repulsed, and compelled to seek shelter under their batteries.

1839

Thomas Masterman Hardy died.

[st george]

1519 - Ferdinand Magellan starts 1st successful circumnavigation of world.

1797 - US frigate Constitution (Old Ironsides) launched in Boston.

1906 - Cunard Line's RMS Mauretania is launched at the Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson shipyard in Newcastle, England.

1967 - British liner Queen Elizabeth II launched at Clydebank Scotland.

[Kevin]

September 21

 

1742

HMS Tilbury (60), Cptn. Digby Dent (2), burnt by accident off Hispaniola.

1759

Adam Duncan promoted commander into HMS Royal Exchange

1779

HMS Suffolk (74) and squadron took Fortunle, Blanche and Elise.

1782

HMS Centaur (74) foundered in severe gale off Newfoundland banks.

1809

HMS Raisonnable (64), Cptn. Josias Rowley,  and consorts took St. Paul, Bourbon.

1811

HMS Naiad (38), Cptn. Philip Carteret, with HMS Redpole (10), Colin M'Donald, HMS Rinaldo (10), James Anderson, HMS Castilian (18), David Braimer, and HMS Viper (4), Lt. Edward A. D'Arcy, again attacked off Boulogne but the enemy fled as before, leaving one praam Ville de Lyon (12), M. Barbaudin, taken by Naiad.

1813

HMS Goshawk Sloop (16), Hon. William John Napier, wrecked to the eastward of the Mole Head, Barcelona.

1858

Sloop Niagara departs Charleston, SC, for Liberia with African slaves rescued from slave ship.

 

 

 

st geoges contribution is

 

1923 - Asiatic Fleet completes mission of aiding earthquake victims in Japan.

1944 - Aircraft from 12 carriers commence 2-day attack against Japanese ships and airfields on Luzon, Philippine Islands.

1954 - 1st nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, commissioned under Commander Eugene P. Wilkinson
1984 - Mid East Force begins escort of U.S. flagged vessels in Persian Gulf.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Kevin