Naval History On This Day, Any Nation

[Kevin]

September 22

 

1776

John Paul Jones in Providence sails into Canso Bay, Nova Scotia, and attacks British fishing fleet. 

1777

HMS Alert (10), Lt. John Bazely, took American brig privateer Lexington (16).

1796

HMS Amphion (32), Cptn. Israel Pellew, caught fire at Plymouth and violently exploded alongside a sheer-hulk.

1797

HMS Hermione (32) handed over to the Spanish by her mutinous crew at La Guira.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1776 - John Paul Jones in Providence sails into Canso Bay, Nova Scotia, and attacks British fishing fleet.

1914 - 1 German submarine sinks 3 British ironclads, 1,459 die.

1943 - Destroyer HMS Itchen torpedoed & sinks.

1943 - Destroyer HMS Keppel sinks U-229.
1943 - U.S. destroyers and landing craft land Australian troops at Finschhafen, New Guinea.

1958 - US nuclear sub USS Skate remains 31 days under Pole.
1989 - After Hurricane Hugo, Sailors and Marines provide assistance to Charleston, SC, through 10 October.

[Kevin]

September 23

 

 

1705

Barcelona capitulates to British.

1739

Chester and Canterbury capture Spanish Carracca ship San Joseph

1757

Squadron under Ad. Charles Knowles bombarded the Isle of Aix.

1779

John Paul Jones in Bonhomme Richard defeats HMS Serapis (44), Cptn. Richard Pearson, and American Pallasdefeats HMS Countess of Scarborough off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.

1796

HMS Pelican (18), Cptn. John Clarke Searle, engaged French Mé,dé e (40).

Edited September 23, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1835 - HMS Beagle sails to Charles Island in Galapagos archipelago.

1857 - Russian warship Leffort disappears in Finland Gulf in storm; 826 die.
1944 - Naval Task Group lands Army troops on Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands.
1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
1990 - Two Hospital ships (USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort) steam together for first time in Arabian Gulf.

[Kevin]

September 24

 

 

1695

HMS Winchester (60) foundered off Cape Florida

1757

HMS Southampton (32), Cptn. James Gilchrist, captured French Frigate Emenaude (26)

HMS Tilbury (58), Cptn. Henry Barnsley, wrecked and HMS Ferret (14) foundered off Louisburg during a hurricane

1787

Sir John Jervis and Adam Duncan promoted to Rear-Admiral.

Samuel Hood promoted Vice-Admiral of the Blue

1840

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

[st george]

1853 - 1st round-the-world trip by yacht (Cornelius Vanderbilt).

1944 - 5th Fleet carrier aircraft attack Japanese in Visayas, Philippines.
1960 - First nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), launched at Newport News, VA.

[Kevin]

September 25

 

 

1806

Rochefort squadron, Cptn. Sir Samuel Hood acting as Commodore, of 6 ships-of-the-line and a frigate, including HMS Centaur (74), Cptn. W. H. Webley, HMS Monarch (74), and HMS Mars (74), Cptn. Lukin, and HMS Revenge (74), Capt. Robert Moorsom, engaged French squadron of five frigates, Gloire (40), Indefatigable(44), Minerve (44), Armide (44) and Themis (36) and two brigs Lynx (18) and Sylphe (18) bound for the West Indies. Gloire, Indefatigable, Minerve and Armide, all crowded with troops, were taken.

1809

HMS Carieux Sloop (18), Henry George Moysey, wrecked off Petit Terre, Island of Marigalante, West Indies.

[st george]

1493 - Columbus sails with 17 ships on 2nd voyage to the Americas.

1836 - HMS Beagle anchors at St Michael.

1868 - The Imperial Russian steam frigate Alexander Neuski shipwrecks off Jutland while carrying Grand Duke Alexei of Russia.

1911 - French battleship Liberte explodes at Toulon Harbor, 285 killed.

1941 - In first successful U.S. Navy escort of convoys during World War II, Navy escort turn over HX-150 to British escorts at the Mid-Ocean Meeting Point. All ships reach port safely.

2012 - 50 Taiwanese ships clash with the Japan Coast Guard in waters off the Senkaku Islands.
 

[Kevin]

September 26

 

 

1748

Cuthbert Collingwood born in Newcastle Upon Tyne

1800

HMS Hound Sloop (16), William James Turquand, wrecked near Shetland.

1805

HMS Calcutta (50), Cptn. Daniel Woodriff, whilst escorting a convoy near the Scillies drew off a French squadron of a  three-decker and four ships-of-the-line with frigates and other vessels. She was captured by French ship-of-the-line Magnanime and frigate Armide (44) but all the convoy except 1 ship made their escape.

1814

Boats of HMS Plantagenet (74), Cptn. Robert Lloyd, and HMS Rota (38), Cptn. Somerville, covered by HMSCarnation (18), George Bentahm, repulsed by American privateer schooner General Armstrong, Cptn. Samuel C. Reid, at anchor in the road at Fayal in the Azores.

1840

Attack on Tortosa, Syria by boats of HMS Benbow (72), Cptn. Houston Stewart, HMS Carysfort (26), Cptn. Byam Martin, and HMS Zebra (18), Robert Stopford. The attack failed as the boats grounded on a reef and there were many casualties before they could be got off.

[Kevin]

no more posts from me until Monday, away for a few days

[st george]

1580 - Frances Drake completes circumnavigation of the world, sailing into Plymouth aboard the Golden Hind.

1781 - French fleet defeats British at Yorktown, VA.
1918 - USCGC Tampa lost with 118 men, probably by German submarine.

1925 - Italian sub "Sebastiano Veniero" lost off Sicily with 54 dead.
1931 - Keel laying at Newport News, VA of USS Ranger (CV-4), first ship designed and constructed as an aircraft carrier.

1934 - British liner Queen Mary is launched.

1954 - Japanese ferry boat Toya Maru sinks in Strait of Tsugaru, 1172 die.
1963 - First steam-eject launch of Polaris missile at sea off Cape Canaveral, FL (now Cape Kennedy) from USS Observation Island (EAG-154).

2002 - The overcrowded Senegalese ferry MV Joola capsizes off the coast of Gambia killing more than 1,000.

[st george]

September 27

 

 

1066 - William the Conqueror's troops set sail for England.

1778 - HMS Experiment (50) and HMS Unicorn (26) captured Continental Navy frigate Raleigh (32), John Barry, off Boston.

1803 - Calais bombarded by HMS Autumn, Samuel Jackson, and consorts.

1806 - HMS Dispatch (18), Edward Hawkins, captured French frigate Presidente (40).

1813 - HMS Bold Sloop (14), John Skekel, wrecked on Prince Edward's Island.

1840 - Sidon captured by HMS Thunderer (84) and squadron.

1840 - HMS Imogene (28) burnt while in ordinary in the covered South Dock at Plymouth. The fire started in HMS Talavera (74) and spread through the dockyard sheds and stacked timber. The fire also reached HMS Minden (74), but she was saved, and the Adelaide Gallery, where many important relics and trophies were lost.

1854 - Steamship "Arctic" sinks with 300 people on board.

1922 - Report on observations of experiments with short wave radio at Anacostia, DC, starts Navy development of radar.
1941 - Launch of first Liberty ship, SS Patrick Henry, in Baltimore, MD.

1938 - British ocean liner "Queen Elizabeth," launches at Clydebank Scotland.
1942 - Armed Guard on SS Stephen Hopkins engages German auxiliary cruiser Stier and supply ship Tannenfels. Stephen Hopkins and Stier both sink.
 

Edited September 27, 2013 by st george

[st george]

September 28

 

1528 - Spanish fleet sinks in Florida hurricane; about 380 die

1538 - Battle at Preveza: Turkish fleet under Barbarossa beats Spanish

1652 - English fleet of 68 ships,under Robert Blake, defeats Dutch fleet of 62 ships, under Vice-Admiral Witte de With, at the Battle of Kentish Knock, off the mouth of the Thames.

1799 - HMS Blanche (32), Cptn. John Ayscough, wrecked after grounding several times in the Texel.

1799 - HMS Fox (18), Lt. James Woolridge, wrecked in St. George's Sound, Gulf of Mexico. The crew were stranded on the reef for 32 days.

1805 - Nelson joins Collingwood in blockading Cadiz.

1807 - HMS Louisa (14), Lt. Joseph Hoy, engaged French privateer Le Marsouin (14).

1810 - Boats of HMS Rambler (14), Robert Hall, defeated French Dragoons and took a privateer in the river at Barbate that they were protecting.

1822 - Sloop-of-war USS Peacock (22), Cdr. Cassis, captures 5 pirate vessels at Funda Bay.

1850 - Congress outlaws flogging on US Navy ships.

1944 - Marines occupy islands in Palaus under cover of naval aircraft and gunfire support.
1964 - First deployment of Polaris A-3 missile on USS Daniel Webster (SSBN 626) from Charleston, SC.

 

 

 

[Patrick Haw]

September 29

 

1758 - Horatio Nelson born at the rectory at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk

Edited September 29, 2013 by Patrick Haw

[st george]

480   - Battle of Salamis: The Greek fleet under Themistocles defeats the Persian fleet under Xerxes I.

1795 - HMS Southampton (32) engaged Vestale.

1803 - Boats of HMS Antelope (50), Commodore Sir Sidney Smith, reconnoitre the enemy fleet in the Texel. At daylight they were pursued by two schooners and five rowing gun vessels and, when the latter became separated, they attacked and sank one before the cutters could reach them.

1803 - HMS Leda (38), Cptn. Robert Honeyman, drove ashore 2 gun-vessels off Boulogne.

1808 - HMS Maria gun brig, Lieut. James Bennett (Killed in Action), captured by French corvette Departement des Landes (22) off Point Antigua, Grand Terre, Guadeloupe. The French ran her on shore and left her a wreck.

1812 - HMS Barbadoes (28),  Cptn. Thomas Huskisson, and 2 of the convoy she was escorting wrecked on Sable Island, Bermuda.

1812 - Capture of 4 French vessels at Valencia by HMS Minstrel (18), John Strutt Peyton.

1812 - Attack on Mittau, Riga by flotilla of Russian and British gunboats.

1829 - USS Hornet (20) lost in gale of Tampico, Mexico.

1853 - Emigrant ship "Annie Jane" sinks off Scotland, drowning 348.

1911 - Gun magazine of French battleship Liberte explodes.

1944 - USS Narwhal (SS-167) evacuates 81 Allied prisoners of war that survived sinking of Japanese Shinyo Maru from Sindangan Bay, Mindanao.
1959 - USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) with Helicopter Squadron 6 and other 7th Fleet units begin 6 days of disaster relief to Nagoya, Japan, after Typhoon Vera.

[st george]

September 30

 

1659 - Robinson Crusoe is shipwrecked (according to Daniel Defoe).

1780 - HMS Pearl (32), Cptn George Montagu, took French frigate Esperance (28) off Bermuda.

1814 - HMS Crane Sloop (18), Robert Standly, foundered in the West Indies with the loss of all hands.

1822 - HMS Eliza tender (1) engaged two pirates off Guajaba and took one Firme Union (5).

1944 - USS Nautilus (SS-168) lands supplies and evacuates some people from Panay, Philipppine Islands.
1946 - U.S. Government announces that U.S. Navy units would be permanently stationed in the Mediterranean to carry out American policy and diplomacy.
1954 - Commissioning at Groton, CT, of USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world's first nuclear-powered ship
1968 - Battleship New Jersey arrives off Vietnam.

[Kevin]

1780

HMS Pearl (32), Cptn George Montagu, took French frigate Esperance (28) off Bermuda.

1800

U.S. concludes treaty of peace with France, ending Quasi War with France. 

1814

HMS Crane Sloop (18), Robert Standly, foundered in the West Indies with the loss of all hands.

1822

HMS Eliza tender (1) engaged two pirates off Guajaba and took one Firme Union (5).

[Kevin]

October 1

 

 

01 October

1746

HMS Exeter (58) and consorts captured and burnt Ardent.

 

1748

Battle of Havana. British Caribbean squadron under Charles Knowles engaged a Spanish squadron Don Andres Reggio near Havana. After a number of aborted attacks, the British succeeded in driving the Spanish back to their harbour after capturing the Conquistador and running the vice-admiral's ship Africa on shore where she was blown up by her own crew after being totally dismasted and made helpless. Both commanders were reprimanded by their respective commands for their conduct during the engagement.

 

1800

U.S. Schooner Experiment captures French Schooner Diana.

 

1808

HMS Cruizer (18), Lt. (act. Cdr.) Thomas Well, captured a Danish gun brig (10).

 

1811

A fire broke out in Greenwich Hospital, which consumed the infirmary, but no lives were lost.

02 October

1758

HMS Lizard (28) took Duc d'Hanovre off Brest.

 

1776

HMS Cruizer (8), Cdr. Francis Parry, was burnt off the coast of South Carolina.

 

1786

Augustus Keppel died

 

1804

Devonshire, Cdr. Joseph Edmuns of HMS Fury, used as explosion vessel employed against French shipping in the Boulogne Roads. HMS Providence fireship was also used.

 

1805

HMS Barracouta Schooner (4), Lt. J. Orchard, ran on shore on Jordan Key on the south side of Cuba

 

1806

Boats of HMS Minerva (32), Cptn. George Ralph Collier, at Ons Island, took Spanish gunboat No. 
2 commanded by Lt. Don Jesse Lopez.

 

1817

HMS Julia Brig (16), Jenkin Jones, wrecked off Tristan d'Acunha, coast of Africa.

 

1840

Removal of gunpowder from Beyrout by parties from HMS Hastings (72), Cptn. John Lawrence, and HMSEdinburgh (74)

[Kevin]

October 2

 

 

1758

HMS Lizard (28) took Duc d'Hanovre off Brest.

 

1776

HMS Cruizer (8), Cdr. Francis Parry, was burnt off the coast of South Carolina.

 

1786

Augustus Keppel died

 

1804

Devonshire, Cdr. Joseph Edmuns of HMS Fury, used as explosion vessel employed against French shipping in the Boulogne Roads. HMS Providence fireship was also used.

 

1805

HMS Barracouta Schooner (4), Lt. J. Orchard, ran on shore on Jordan Key on the south side of Cuba

 

1806

Boats of HMS Minerva (32), Cptn. George Ralph Collier, at Ons Island, took Spanish gunboat No. 
2 commanded by Lt. Don Jesse Lopez.

 

1817

HMS Julia Brig (16), Jenkin Jones, wrecked off Tristan d'Acunha, coast of Africa.

 

1840

Removal of gunpowder from Beyrout by parties from HMS Hastings (72), Cptn. John Lawrence, and HMSEdinburgh (74)

Edited October 2, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1799 - Establishment of Washington Navy Yard.

1836 - Darwin returns to England aboard HMS Beagle (after 5 years).

1901 - 1st Royal Naval submarine launched at Barrow.

1939 - Foreign ministers of countries of the Western Hemisphere agree to establish a neutrality zone around the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North and South America to be enforced by the U. S. Navy.

2005 - The Ethan Allen capsizes on Lake George in upstate New York while on a pleasure cruise. And twenty elderly passengers die.  

[Kevin]

October 3

 

 

 

1778

HMS Mary (3) lost in Plymouth sound

1796

HMS Narcissus (20), Cptn. Percy Fraser, wrecked off New Providence.

1799

HMS Speedy (14), Jahleel Brenton, chased Spanish coasters on shore in a bay to the east of Cape Trafalgar.

1808

HMS Carnation (18), Cptn. Charles Mars Gregory (Killed in Action), captured by La Palinure (16), off Martinique.

[st george]

1921 - USS Olympia sails for France to bring home the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

1928 - French sun "Ondine" sinks returning to Toulon, drowning 42.

1955 - Soviet battleship "Novorossiisk" strikes WW II mine in Baltic Sea.
1955 - USS Saipan (CVL-48) begins disaster relief at Tampico, Mexico rescuing people and delivering supplies. Operations ends 10 October.

[Kevin]

October 4

 

 

 

1710

Danish fleet of 26 ships, under General Admiral Count Gyldenløve, engaged Swedish fleet of 21 ships, underAdmiral Wachtmeister, in Køge Bay, just south of Copenhagen. It was a Danish victory although their ship-of-the-line Dannebrog, Cptn Iver Huitfeldt (Killed in Action), blew up.

1741

HMS Trial (14) scuttled as unfit for service

1744

Loss of the HMS Victory (100), Cptn. Samuel Faulkner. Admiral Sir John Balchen and 1,100 men lost. 

1780

including HMS Thunderer (74),  HMS Phoenix (44), HMS Barbadoes (14)  foundered in the West Indies. 13 Royal Navy ships foundered in the great hurricane over 8 days. 

1797

HMS Alexandrian schooner (6), Lt. William Wood Senhouse, captured rench privateer schooner Epicharis (8) off Barbadoes

Edited October 6, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1363 - End of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the Chinese rebel forces of Zhu Yuanzhang defeat that of his rival, Chen Youliang, in one of the largest naval battles in history.

1821 - LT Robert F. Stockton sails from Boston for Africa to carry out his orders to help stop the international slave trade.
1976 - USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938) rescues 7 survivors of a Finnish motor craft that sank in the Baltic Sea.
1991 - USS Arkansas, USS Sioux, USS Aubrey Fitch and Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX rescue personnel on merchant ships in three different rescue operations in the Arabian Sea.
 

[Kevin]

October 5

 

 

1762

Capture of Manila by British forces under Rear Ad. Samuel Cornish

1780

HMS Stirling Castle (64), HMS Scarborough (22) and HMS Victor (10),  foundered in the West Indies.13 Royal Navy ships foundered in the great hurricane over 8 days. 

1793

HMS Bedford (74), HMS Captain (74), Cptn. Reeve, and HMS Speedy (14), Charles Cunningham, captured frigateModeste (36) and two armed tartans at Genoa.

1799

HMS Ferret (12) engaged Spanish privateer.

1804

HMS Indefatigable (44), Commodore Graham Moore, HMS Lively (38), Cptn. Sir Graham Eden Hamond, HMS Medusa (32), Captain John Gore, and HMS Amphion (32), Captain Samuel Sutton, take three Spanish frigatesMedea (40), Cptn. Francisco de Piedrola y Verdugo, Fama (34), Cptn Miguel Zapiain y Valladares, and Santa Clara(34), Cptn. Aleson y Bueno, and a fourth, Mercedes (36), Cptn. Jose Manuel De Goicoa y Labarthad, blows up S. W. of Cape St. Mary. The 4 ships, under Rear Admiral Don Jose Bustamante y Guerra, had been carrying treasure:- $1,307,634 in silver with wool, bars of tin and pigs of copper belonging to the King; $1, 859,216 in silver dollars, $1,119,658 in gold and 150,011 gold ingots belonging to merchants, and seal skins and oil belonging to the Marine Company.

1805

HMS Princess Charlotte (38), Cptn. George Tobin, recaptured Cyane off Tobago.

1813

Rear Admiral Fremantle commences blockade of Trieste with HMS Milford (74), Cptn. J. D. Markland, HMS Eagle(74) and smaller ships

1863

Confederate David seriously damages USS New Ironsides with a spar torpedo off Charleston, South Carolina.

Edited October 6, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

610 - Heraclius' fleet takes Constantinople.

1862 - Federal fleet occupies Galveston, Texas.

1863 - Confederate David seriously damages USS New Ironsides with a spar torpedo off Charleston, South Carolina.

[Kevin]

October 6

 

 

 

1779

HMS Quebec (32), Cptn. George Farmer (Killed in Action), engaged French frigate La Surveillante (40), off Ushant, but her sails caught fire and she blew up. Accompanying cutter HMS Rambler (10), Lt. George, engaged a French cutter Expedition but it bore away with Rambler too shattered to follow.

[st george]

1918 - US ship Otranto sinks between Scotland & Ireland, 425 die.
1940 - Fourth group of 8 U.S. destroyers involved in Destroyers for Bases Deal are turned over to British authorities at Halifax, Canada.
1943 - In night Battle of Vella Lavella, 3 U.S. destroyers attack 9 Japanese destroyers to stop evacuation of Japanese troops from Vella Lavella., Solomon Islands.
1958 - USS Seawolf (SSN-575) completes record submerged run of 60 days, logging over 13,700 nautical miles.
1962 - Commissioning of USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25), first nuclear-powered frigate.
1987 - Destruction of 3 Iranian small boats.

2002 - The French oil tanker Limburg is bombed off Yemen.
2007 - Jason Lewis completes the self-powered trip to circumnavigate the globe which he had begun from Greenwich, London in July, 1994 .

Edited October 6, 2013 by st george

[st george]

October 7

 

1571 - Battle at Lepanto: Saint League (Spain & Italy) destroys Turkish fleet.

1816 - 1st double decked steamboat, Washington, arrives in New Orleans.

1864 - USS Washusett captures Confederate raider CSS Florida in harbor of Bahia, Brazil.

1955 - Aircraft carrier USS Saratoga launched at Brooklyn.

1985 - Four Palestinian terrorists members of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), the terrorist wing of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) board the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in order to hijack the luxury liner and it's passengers.
2001 - Operation Enduring Freedom begins with carrier air strikes, and ship and submarine Tomahamk strikes.

[Kevin]

1711

HMS Feversham (32), Cptn. Robert Paston, wrecked off Cape Breton

1769

 HMS Endeavour, Lt. James Cook, arrived at New Zealand.

1795

Off Cape St.-Vincent the HMS Fortitude (74),  HMS Bedford (74), Cptn. Augustus Montgomery, HMS Lutine, HMSTisiphone and Censeur (jury-rigged and armed en flute), with their convoy sighted a large French squadron, which sailed in chase. In the subsequent exchange the Censeur was recaptured by the French along with 30 ships of the convoy, the rest continuing their passage to England.

1807

Boats of HMS Porcupine (22), Cptn. Hon. Henry Duncan, cut out Italian gunboat Safo, Ensign Antonio Ghega, from tthe harbour of Zupaino, Adriatic.

1864

USS Washusett captures Confederate raider CSS Florida in harbor of Bahia, Brazil.