Naval History On This Day, Any Nation

[Kevin]

1 DECEMBER

 

 

1842

Execution of three crew members, Midshipman Philip Spencer (the son of Secretary of War John C. Spencer), Boatswain's Mate Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small, of USS Somers (10), Cdr. Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, for mutiny

Edited December 3, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1768 - The slave ship Fredensborg sinks off Tromøy in Norway.

1831 - Erie Canal closes for entire month due to cold weather.

1941 - British cruiser Devonshire sinks German sub Python.

[Kevin]

2 DECEMBER

 

 

1703

HMS Mortar bomb (12), Cptn. Beaumont Raymond, ran ashore on the Dutch coast. One of many R.N. ships lost in the Great Storm.

1799

HMS Racoon (16), R. Lloyd, captured French privateer lugger Vrai Decide (14) in the Channel.

1800

HMS Sir Thomas Paisley (14), Lt. Nevin, captured by Spanish gun-vessel off Ceuta.

1840

HMS Zebra (18), Robert Stopford,  wrecked off Mt. Carmel near Haifa.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire.

1941 - First Naval Armed Guard detachment (7 men under a coxswain) of World War II reports to Liberty ship, SS Dunboyne,
1944 - Two-day destroyer Battle of Ormoc Bay begins.
1965 - USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) become first nuclear-powered task unit used in combat operations with launch of air strikes near Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

[Kevin]

3 DECEMBER

 

 

1747 HMS Portsmouth storeship (24) lost near the Long Sands   1775 Lt. John Paul Jones raises the Grand Union flag on Alfred. First American flag raised over American naval vessel.    

1798 HMS Victorieuse (12), Edward Stirling Dickson, and HMS Zephyr fireship (10), took surrender of Spanish forts and took 2 brigs at Trinidad.

HMS Kingfisher (18), Lt. Frederick Maitland, wrecked on the bar at the mouth of the Tagus.

1807 HMS Curieux (18), John Sheriff (Killed in Action), engaged privateer Revanche (25) off Barbados.    

1810Capture of Lle de France (Mauritius) by the British

1811Boats of HMS Sultan (74) captured two French national vessels off Bastia, a settee (8) and a brig (6).

HMS Saldanha (36), Cptn. William Packenham, lost in Lough Swilly, Donegal . There were no survivors out of the estimated 253 aboard.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1775 - LT John Paul Jones raises the Grand Union flag on Alfred. First American flag raised over American naval vessel.
1940 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) to inspect bases acquired from Great Britain under Destroyer-for Bases agreement.

1948 - Chinese refugee ship "Kiangya" explodes in E China Sea, killing 1,100.

[Kevin]

4 DECEMBER

 

1811

Boats of HMS Sultan (74) captured two French national vessels off Bastia, a settee (8) and a brig (6).

HMS Saldanha (36), Cptn. William Packenham, lost in Lough Swilly, Donegal . There were no survivors out of the estimated 253 aboard.

1799

HMS Racoon (16), R. Lloyd, captured lugger Intrepide (16) Cptn. Saillard, in the Channel

Edited December 4, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1918 - President Woodrow Wilson sails in USS George Washington for Paris Peace Conference.
1943 - Aircraft from USS Lexington (CV-16) and USS Independence (CVL-22) attack Kwajalein Atoll, sinking four Japanese ships and damaging five others, while only three U.S. ships suffered damage.
1944 - USS Flasher (SS-249) sinks Japanese destroyer Kishinami and damages a merchant ship in South China Sea. Flasher is only U.S. submarine to sink over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping in World War II.
1983 - Aircraft from USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and USS Independence (CV-62) launch strike against anti-aircraft positions in Lebanon that fired on U.S. aircraft. Two U.S. Navy planes shot down.

[Kevin]

5 DECEMBER

 

 

1807

HMS Boreas (22), Cptn. Robert Scott, went down immediately after striking the Hannois Rocks, Guernsey.

1808

HMS Crescent (36), Cptn. John Temple, wrecked on the coast of Jutland, in a heavy gale.

1812

HMS Plumper (14), Lt. Josias Bray, lost on a ledge of rocks near Dipper Harbour, New Brunswick

1830

HMS Thetis (46), Cptn. Samuel Burgess, wrecked on Cabo Frio, South America.

1843

Launching of USS Michigan at Erie, Penn., America's first iron-hulled warship, as well as first prefabricated ship.

Edited December 5, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1941 - USS Lexington (CV-2) sails with Task Force 12 to ferry Marine aircraft to Midway, leaving no carriers at Pearl Harbor.

[Kevin]

6 DECEMBER

 

 

1804

HMS Morne Fortunee (6), Lt. John Dale, wrecked on Atwood Cay (Samana Cay) to the NE of Crooked Island in the Bahamas.

1807

British squadron captured Dutch vessels at Java, &c.

Edited December 6, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1901 - First report of Ship Model Basin at Washington Navy Yard issued by Naval Constructor David W. Taylor who designed the basin. First facility of this type in U.S. to test hull shapes.
1917 - German submarine torpedoes sink USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) off England.

1917 - French munition ship "Mont Blanc" explodes in Halifax.
 

[Kevin]

7 DECEMBER

 

 

1721

HMS Hind (20) wrecked on the Channel Islands

1776

Fire in Portsmouth Dockyard.

1798

HMS Perdrix (22), Cptn. William Charles Fahie, captured Armee d'Italie.

HMS Colossus (74), Cptn George Murray, drifted onto a shelf of rocks known as Southern Wells near the island of Sampson, Scilly Isles, after her cables parted in a gale.

1800

HMS Nile (12), Lt. George Argles, and HMS Lurcher (12) captured a 9 ship convoy near St. Gildas.

1810

HMS Rinaldo (10), James Anderson, captured French lugger Maraudeur (14) off Dover.

1817

William Bligh died

[st george]

1872 - HMS Challenger sets sail on 3½ year world oceanographic cruise.

1917 - Four U.S. battleships arrive at Scapa Flow taking on the role of the British Grand Fleet's Sixth Battle Squadron. Include USS Delaware (BB-28), USS Florida (BB-30), New York (BB-34), and USS Wyoming (BB-32).
1941 - Japanese carrier aircraft attack U.S. Pacific Fleet based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
1944 - Seventh Fleet forces land Army troops on shore of Ormoc Bay. Kamikazes attack Task Force, damaging several U.S. Navy ships.

[Kevin]

8 DECEMBER

 

 

1669

Inconclusive action between Mary Rose and consorts and 7 Algerine Men-of-War, off Cadiz.

1693

HMS St. Albans (50) wrecked off Kinsale.

1811

The French privateer la Courageux, captured by HMS Rhin (38) Cptn. Charles Malcolm.

1812

HMS Fearless (12), Lt. Henry Lord Richards, wrecked on rocks off St. Sebastian.

1817

HMS Martin Sloop (18), Andrew Mitchell, wrecked on Western coast of Ireland.

1828

HMS Ariel (10), Lt. James Figg, supposedly foundered near Sable Island,off Nova Scotia.

1846

USS Somers (10), Lt. Raphael Semmes, capsized and sank in a sudden storm while chasing a blockade runner off Vera Cruz.

[st george]

1914 - British & German fleets battle at Falkland Island.

1941 - US declares war on Japan.
1941 - USS Wake (PR-3), a river gunboat moored at Shanghai, is only U.S. vessel to surrender during World War II.
1942 - Eight PT boats (PT 36, PT 37, PT 40, PT 43, PT 44, PT 48, PT 59, and PT 109) turn back 8 Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Japanese forces on Guadalcanal.

[Kevin]

9 DECEMBER

 

1707

HMS Margate (24) wrecked off Cartagena

1806

HMS Adder Gun Brig (12), Lt. Molyneux Shuldham, driven aground on the French coast and captured.

1809

HMS Redpole (10), Colin M'Donald, captured Grand Rodeur (16), Cptn. J. G. Huret, south of Beachy Head.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1938 - Prototype shipboard radar, designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory, is installed on USS New York (BB-34).
1941 - USS Swordfish (SS-193) makes initial U.S. submarine attack on Japanese ship.
 

[tony]

1660- HMS ASSURANCE sank at Woolwich

 

Tony

 

current build Mayflower

[Kevin]

10 DECEMBER

 

1803

HMS Avenger Sloop (16), Francis Jackson Snell, lost running on sand bank at the mouth of the River Jade, Heligoland.

HMS Shannon (36), Cptn. Edward Leverson Gower, wrecked near La Hogue and burnt to avoid capture.

1808

HMS Jupiter (50), Cptn. Henry Edward Reginald Baker, wrecked on reef of rocks in Vigo Bay.

1810

HMS Rosario (10), Booty Harvey, captured French privateer lugger Mameloucke (16), Nobez Lawrence, off Dungeness.

1813

HMS Alphea schooner (10), Lt. Thomas William Jones, engaged French privateer Renard (14) but blew up with all hands.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1652 - Sea battle at Dungeness. Admiral Maarten Tromp beats English fleet.

1941 - Battleship HMS Prince of Wales sinks off Singapore.
1941 - Aircraft from USS Enterprise attack and sink Japanese Submarine I-70 north of Hawaiian Islands. A participant in the Pearl Harbor Attack, I-70 is the first Japanese combatant ship sunk during World War II.
1979 - First Poseidon submarine configured with Trident missiles, USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) completes initial deterrent patrol.
1982 - USS Ohio (SSBN-726), first Trident-Class submarine, returns from first deterrent patrol.

[Kevin]

11 DECEMBER

 

1796

HMS Leda (38) foundered by upsetting in a heavy gale, lat. 38° 8´ long. 17° 40´

1779

HMS North (18) lost in a storm off Halifax, Nova Scotia

1799

HMS Tremendous and HMS Adamant (50), Cptn. William Hotham, drove ashore French frigate Preneuse (44), Cptn. L'Hermite, ashore about three miles from Port Louis, Mauritius. She struck and was boarded and set on fire by the ships boats. Shortly afterwards she blew up.

1807

HMS Grasshopper (18), Thomas Searle, captured Spanish brig San Josef (12), Don Antonio de Torres Teniento de Navaro, off Cape Palos.

1811

HMS Fancy (12), Lt. Alexander Sinclair, foundered in the Baltic during a violent gale with the loss of all hands.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1620 - 103 Mayflower pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock.

1888 - French Panama Canal Company fails.
1893 - 11 fishing ships wash up at Wadden Sea, 22 killed.

1954 - First supercarrier of 59,630 tons, USS Forrestal (CVA-59), launched at Newport News, VA.

[Kevin]

12 DECEMBER

 

 

 

1705

HMS Looe (32) wrecked Scatchwell Bay, Isle of Wight.

1724

Samuel Hood born at Butleigh, Somerset.

1777

HMS Mercury (20), Cptn. James Montagu, wrecked near New York.

1779

HMS Salisbury (50), Cptn. Charles Inglis, took Spanish private ship of war San Carlos (50), Don Juan Antonio Zaveletta, off Porto del Sall, Bay of Honduras.

1782

HMS Mediator (40), Cptn. James Luttrell,engaged enemy line of 3 French and 2 American ships, L'Eugene(36), Cptn. Baudin,  Menagere (26), Cptn. de Foligne, Dauphin Royal (28),  Alexander (24) Cptn. Gregory, and a brig (14), in the Bay of Biscay. Alexander and Menagere were taken.

1808

HMS Circe (32), Cptn. Francis Augustus Collier, and consorts captured and destroyed Cygne (16) and 2 schooners over 2 days off St. Pierre, Martinique.

1810

HMS Entreprenante' (10), Lt. Peter Williams, repulsed four French privateers off the coast of Spain.

1811

French lugger, le Brave (16), captured by HMS Desiree (36), Cptn. Arthur Farquhar.

1823

HMS Arab Sloop (18), Cdr. William Holmes, wrecked off Belmullett, near Broadhaven in the west of Ireland.

1862

Confederate torpedo (mine) sinks USS Cairo in Yazoo River.

Edited December 12, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1937 - Japanese aircraft shell & sink US gunboat Panay on Yangtze River in China. (Japan apologized & eventually paid US $2.2M in reparations)

[Kevin]

13 DECEMBER

 

1775

Continental Congress provides for the construction of 5 ships of 32 guns, 5 ships of 28 guns, and 3 ships of 24 guns

1796

HMS Terpsichore (32), Cptn. Bowen, captured French frigate Vestale (36) Cptn. Foucaud (Killed in Action), off Cadiz.

1806

HMS Halcyon (16), Henry Whitmarsh Pearse, captured Neptune.

1809

Boats of HMS Thetis (38), HMS Pultusk, Cptn. Elliot,  HMS Achates, and HMS Bacchus took Nisus at Basse Terre, Guadaloupe.

HMS Junon (36), Cptn. John Shortland, captured and destroyed by the French frigates Renommee (40),Clorinde (40), Loire (20) and Seine (20).

1810

Boats of HMS Kent (74), Cptn. Thomas Rogers, HMS Ajax (74), Cptn. Robert Waller Otway, HMS Cambrian(40), Cptn. Francis William Fane, HMS Sparrowhawk (18) Cptn. James Pringle and HMS Minstrel (18), Cptn. Colin Campbell took and destroyed a convoy inside the mole of Palamos of a national ketch (14), two xebecs (3) and eight merchant vessels.

1814

Five U.S. gun-boats and a sloop captured over 2 days in Lake Borgne.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Kevin

[st george]

1577 - Sir Francis Drake sets sail from England to go around world.

1642 - New Zealand discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.

1775 - Continental Congress provides for the construction of 5 ships of 32 guns, 5 ships of 28 guns, and 3 ships of 24 guns.

1816 - Patent for a dry dock issued to John Adamson, Boston.

1833 - HMS Beagle arrives in Port Deseado, Patagonia.

1939 - Battle of the River Plate - 3 British cruisers vs German pocket battleship Graf Spee.

1941 - U-81 torpedoes British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

1944 - Japanese kamikaze crashes into US cruiser Nashville, kills 138.

[Kevin]

14 DECEMBER

 

1775

Thomas Cochrane born

1798

HMS Ambuscade (32), Cptn. Henry Jenkins, captured by French frigate Bayonnaise (32) in the Bay of Biscay.

1809

HMS Melampus (36), Cptn. Edward Hawker, captured brig corvette Bearnaise (16), Lt. Montbazen.

HMS Defender Brig (14), Lt. John George Nops, wrecked near Folkestone.

1814

British squadron, under Admiral Cochrane, captures U.S. gunboats, under Lt. Jones, in Battle of Lake Borgne, LA.

1822

HMS Racehorse (18), William Suckling, wrecked on Langness, the S. E. point of the Isle of Man.

[st george]

1600 - Olivier van Noort sinks Spanish galleon San Diego at Bay of Manila, 350 die.

1941 - Premier Winston Churchill travels to US on board HMS Duke of York.

1941 - U-557 torpedoes British cruiser Galatea.

[Kevin]

15 DECEMBER

 

 

1708

HMS Cruizer (24) wrecked in the Azores.

1778

Battle of St. Lucia. British squadron of 7 ships, under Samuel Barrington, engaged French Squadron of 12 ships, under Comte d'Estaing.

1790

William Bligh promoted to Captain.

1803

HMS Suffisante (14), Gilbert Heathcote, wrecked off Spike Island in Cork Harbour.

1808

HMS Flying Fish Schooner (12), Lt. J. G. Goodwin, wrecked on reef to eastward of Point Salines, St. Domingo.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Kevin