Naval History On This Day, Any Nation

[Kevin]

29th February 

 

 

1812

HMS Fly (16), Henry Higman, wrecked on the Knobber reef at the eastern end of Anholt Is. in the Kattegat.

[Kevin]

1st March

 

 

1804

HMS Weazle (16), Lt. William Layman (acting), driven ashore during a gale near Cabritta Point in Gibraltar Bay and wrecked.

1805

HMS Imogene (18) foundered on passage from the Leeward Islands.

HMS Redbridge (10), Act. Lt. Francis Blower Gibbs, foundered near Jamaica

1807

HMS Hirondelle (16), Lt  Skinner, and boats of HMS Glatton (56), Cptn. Thomas Seccombe, cut out a Turkish corvette (10) from the port of Sigri.

Edited March 3, 2014 by Kevin

[Kevin]

2nd March

 

1709

HMS Assurance (70), Cptn. Anthony Tollet,  HMS Assistance (50), Cptn. Abraham Tudor (Killed in Action), HMS Anglesea (44) and consort escorting a convoy engaged 4 French ships under commodore Duguay-Trouin off the Lizard.

1741

HMS Wolf (14), Cptn. Dandridge, wrecked on the coast of Florida

1760

HMS Tartar's Prize (28), Cptn. Thomas Baillie, wrecked in the Mediterranean.

1783

HMS Resistance (44) took French Coquette (28)

1800

HMS Nereide (38), Cptn. Frederick Watkins, captured privateer Vengeance (16)

1801

HMS Cobourg (16), Lt. Wright, captured French privateer lugger Bienvenue (14) and retook two of her prizes.

1807

HMS Pigmy (14), Lt. George M. Higginson, wrecked near Rochefort

1808

HMS Sappho (18), George Langford,  captured Danish brig Admiral Jawl (28).

HMS Cerberus (32), Cptn. W. Selby, HMS Circe (32), Cptn. Hugh Pigot, and HMS Camilla (20), Cptn. John Bowen, capture the Island of Marie Galante.

1810

Boats of HMS Cornwallis (54), Cptn. William Augustus Montagur, carried Margaretta (8) off the island of Amblaw

1811

Buonaparte levied 3,000 seamen in the three departments of the Mouths of the Elbe, the Wezer, and the Upper Ems, in discharge of their maritime conscription.

1859

Launch of paddle steamer USS Saginaw (4) at Mare Island, first Navy ship built on West Coast of U.S. 

[Kevin]

3rd March

 

 

1776

First amphibious landing operation. Continental naval squadron under Commodore Esek Hopkins lands Sailors and Marines on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, capturing urgently-needed ordnance and gunpowder. 

1801

The Battle of the West Kay. The Danish brig Lougen, Lt Cmdr Carl W. Jessen, engages British frigates HMSExperiment and HMS Arab off the West Kay at the Danish West Indies. Both frigates are forced to flee.

1824

HMS Dwarf (10), Lt. Nicholas Gould,  wrecked after ran against the Pier in Kingstown Harbour.

[Kevin]

4th March

 

 

1650

Five Dutch ships Aagtekerke jacht, Tijger frigate, Luipaard jacht, Bergen op Zoom jacht, and Juffer (flute) lost in the Far East

1653

Battle of Leghorn. Dutch fleet of 16 ships, under Commodore Johan van Galen (Mortally wounded), defeated English squadron of 6 ships, under Cptn. Henry Appleton,  attempting to break out of blockade at Leghorn and join  Cptn. Richard Badiley's 8 ships. 3 ships were captured and 2 destroyed.

1804

Boats of HMS Blenheim (90), Cptn. Thomas Graves, failed to cut out French national schooner Curieux.

1807

HMS Blanche (38), Cptn. Thomas Lavie, wrecked off Ushant.

[Kevin]

5th March

 

 

1800

HMS Phoebe (36), Cptn. Robert Barlow, captured Heureux (22).

1804

Cutter of HMS Eclair (10), Lt. Carr, cut out privateer Rose from La Hayes, Guadeloupe

[Kevin]

6th March

 

 

1740

British squadron, under Vice Admiral Edward Vernon, commences 4 day bombardment of Cartagena.

1811

HMS Thistle (8), Lt. George M'Pherson, wrecked near New York

1822

USS Enterprise captures four pirate ships in Gulf of Mexico

1862

USS Monitor departs New York for Hampton Roads, VA  

[Kevin]

7th March

 

 

1665

HMS London (64) blew up in an accident and sank in the Thames estuary.

1762

HMS Milford (28), Cptn. Robert Mann (Killed in Action), took privateer La Gloire (16) in the Bay of Biscay

1778

HMS Yarmouth (64), Cptn. Vincent, was engaged by Continental frigate Randolph (32), Cptn. Nicholas Biddle, which exploded, killing all but 4 of her 315 man crew.

1795

HMS Berwick (74), Cptn. Littlejohn (Killed in Action) captured by French fleet off Cap Corse, Mediterranean.

1804

Boats of HMS Inconstant (36), Cptn. Edward Sterling Dickson, cut out a ship at Goree.

1810

Cuthbert Collingwood died.

1814

American privateer Mars destroyed at Sandy Hook.

[Kevin]

From today

 

 

Divers discover amazingly preserved shipwreck of HMS London on bottom of Thames

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1049256/Pictured-Divers-discover-amazingly-preserved-shipwreck-HMS-London-Thames.html

[Kevin]

8th March

 

 

1748

British squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Knowles reduced Port Louis, Hispaniola.

1794

HMS Convert (36) wrecked on the Grand Caymanes, West Indies.

1796

HMS Orpheus (32) engaged Banda batteries: Banda Isles taken.

1806

Boats of HMS Egyptienne (40), Cptn. Charles Paget, cut out French privateer frigate Alcide (48) from the harbour of Muros

1808

HMS San Fiorenzo (38), Cptn. George Nicholas Hardinge (Killed in Action), captured Piemontaise (50), Cptn. Epron, in the Gulf of Mannar

1854

Commodore Matthew Perry opens treaty negotiations with Japan

1862

Ironclad ram CSS Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress

[flying_dutchman2]

March 8

 

1945 - Phyllis Daley becomes first African-American Ensign, Navy Nurse Corps

1958 - Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is decommissioned, leaving the Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1895.

1965 - Seventh Fleet lands first major Marine units in South Vietnam at Danang

 

WWII

1940 - Mar 8, Fri. --

War again comes to the Americas: Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine stops German freighter Hannover in Mona Passage, off the coast of the Dominican Republic, at which point the merchantman's crew sets fire to the ship and abandons her. Boarding party from British light cruiser HMS Dunedin, however, saves Hannover from destruction. Conflicting representations by British and German diplomats as to Hannover's exact position prompt the Dominican government to drop the question of violation of territorial waters (see 24 May). Hannover will ultimately be converted into the escort carrier HMS Audacity. The effort expended to capture Hannover, however, allows German freighters Mimi Horn and Seattle to escape the Caribbean and make a break for Germany.

Mimi Horn is scuttled to avoid capture in Denmark Strait on 28 March; Seattle is lost during the early phases of the invasion of Norway on 8-9 April.

 

 

1942 - March 8, Sun.

Pacific

Japanese naval force (Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi) occupies Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.

Japanese occupy Rangoon, Burma.

 

Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Wellington, New Zealand.

 

Atlantic

Net tender Mulberry (YN-22) rescues 14 survivors from U.S. freighter Cardonia, sunk by German submarine U-126 the day before.

 

Coast Guard cutter Calypso (WPC-104) rescues 54 survivors from Brazilian steamship Arabutan, sinks their lifeboats as a hazard to navigation, and transports the men to Little Creek, Virginia.

 

1943 - 8 February, Mon.

Pacific

Operation KE: Japanese destroyer force (Rear Admiral Hashimoto Shintaro) completes the evacuation of 1,796 troops from Guadalcanal.

Submarine Tunny (SS-282) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kusuyama Maru off southwest coast of Formosa about 55 miles west of Takao, 22°40'N, 119°12'E.

 

Japanese cargo ship Shotoku Maru is sunk by storm near Hinomizaki, Honshu, 35°26'N, 132°38'E.

 

Atlantic

During continued efforts by German submarines against SC 118, U-608 unsuccessfully attacks destroyer Schenck (DD-159).

 

Swiss freighter Caritasi rescues 14 survivors of U.S. freighter Charles C. Pinckney, sunk on 28 January 1943 by U-514; eight of the 27-man Armed Guard survive their ordeal, as do six merchant sailors.

 

 

1944 - 8 March, Wed. --

Pacific

Japanese planes bomb Eniwetok, Engebi Island, destroying ammunition, petroleum products and distillation units but leaving airstrip undamaged.

Submarine Lapon (SS-260), in attack on Japanese convoy southeast of Hong Kong, damages merchant cargo ship Toyokuni Maru in South China Sea, 19°21'N, 116°09'E; merchant cargo ship Nicherei Maru takes the damaged freighter in tow (see 9 March).

 

British submarine HMS Sea Rover, in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Sh_bu Maru in Strait of Malacca, 03°38'N, 99°12'E.

 

PBY sinks Japanese fishing boat No.5 Ebisu Maru off Tadji, 03°10'S, 142°13'E.

 

USAAF P-38s sink Japanese fishing boat No.38 Taigyo Maru off Aitape.

 

U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat No.2 Nanshu Maru off Duke of York Isle, St. George Channel, 04°12'S, 152°30'E.

 

Mediterranean

U.S. freighter Virginia Dare, irreparably damaged by Allied mine on 6 March off Tunis, breaks up after encountering heavy weather; she is subsequently written off as a total loss.

 

 

1945 - 8 March, Thu. --

General

Inter-American Conference, in session at Mexico City since 21 February 1945, ends.

Europe

Submarine chaser PC-564 engages German minesweepers M 412, M 432, M 442 and M 452 and nine smaller craft off Chaussey. The Germans are bound for the port of Granville, France (see 9 March).

 

Pacific

Covered lighter YF-926, being towed to Pearl Harbor, T.H., founders in heavy weather and sinks.

 

USAAF aircraft sink Japanese landing ship T.143 off Formosa, 23°35'N, 121°35'E.

 

Japanese guardboat No.3 Daikoku Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft east of Ogari Jima.

 

Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyo Maru is sunk by aircraft off Hankow, China.

 

USAAF aircraft (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship I shima Maru, 22°34'N, 114°53'E.

 

USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.69 southeast of Hainan Island 19°02'N, 111°50'E (see 16 March).

 

Navy PBMs bomb Japanese convoy, sinking cargo vessel No.21 Yusen Maru off Chinman Tao, 24°27'N, 118°19'E.

 

USAAF B-24s (10th Air Force) attack Japanese shipping in Andaman Sea, sinking cargo vessel Hoyo Maru, 13°00'N, 98°00'E.

 

USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Hong Kong, sinking guardboat Hyushin Maru off St. John Island 21°42'N, 112°44'E.

 

USAAF P-51s (14th Air Force) attack Japanese shipping in the Yangtze, off Hankow, sinking cargo vessel Toyo Maru (ex-Chinese Tang Yang), 30°33'N, 114°17'E.

 

Japanese cargo vessel Kwan-Shan Maru is sunk by mine off Kiangyin, China, 31°55'N, 120°16'E.

Edited March 8, 2014 by flying_dutchman2

[Kevin]

9th March

 

 

1778

HMS Ariadne (20), Cptn. Pringle, and HMS Ceres (18), Cptn. Dacres, took American frigate Alfred (20) off the Bahamas. Her consort Raleigh escaped.

HMS Victory's first captain Sir John Lindsay took command of her

1796

Boats of HMS Barfleur (98), Cptn. James Dacres, Vice Ad. Sir Wm. Waldegrave, HMS Egmont (74), Cptn. John Sutton, HMS Bombay Castle (74) with two other 74s, brought out the captured British frigate Nemesis(28),  French ship-corvette Sardine (18)and brig-corvette Postillon from the neutral port of Tunis.

1797

HMS San Fiorenzo (38), Cptn. Sir H. Burrard Neale, and HMS Nymphe (36) captured French frigate Resistance(40) and corvette Constance (22) off Brest.

1847

Commodore David Connor USN leads successful amphibious assault near Vera Cruz, Mexico

1862

First battle between ironclads, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads

Edited March 9, 2014 by Kevin

[flying_dutchman2]

March 9

 

1454 - Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer (America).

1500 - Pedro Cabral departs with 13 ships to India.

1798 - Appointment of first surgeon U.S. Navy, George Balfour.

1914 - Test of wind tunnel at Washington Navy Yard.

 

WWII

Saturday, March 9, 1940

The unescorted British steam merchant Borthwick was torpedoed and sunk by the U-14, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Wohlfarth, north of Zeebrugge off the Belgian coast. Of the ship’s complement, all 21 survived and were picked up by the Flushing pilot boat Loodsboot No.9. The 1,097 ton Borthwick was carrying general cargo and was bound for Leith, Scotland.

 

The British steam merchant Akeld was torpedoed and sunk by the U-14 north of Zeebrugge. All of the ship’s complement of 12 died. The 643 ton Akeld was carrying general cargo and was bound for Newcastle, England.

 

The British steam merchant Abbotsford was torpedoed and sunk by the U-14 north of Zeebrugge. All of the ship’s complement of 19 died. The 1,585 ton Abbotsford was carrying steel and flax and was bound for Grangemouth, Scotland.

 

The neutral Irish steam trawler Leukos was torpedoed and sunk by the U-38, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe, in the fishing grounds in Donegal Bay near Dublin, Ireland.

 

The Greek steam merchant P. Margaronis was torpedoed and sunk by the U-28, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günter Kuhnke, southwest of Lands End, near the English Channel. All of the ship’s complement of 30 died. The 4,979 ton P. Margaronis was carrying ballast and was bound for Canada.

 

Sunday, March 9, 1941

The minesweeping trawler HMS Gulfoss (FY 710) struck a mine and sank in the English Channel east of Hastings.

 

 

Tuesday, March 9, 1943

Sailing with Convoy SC-121, the Norwegian motor merchant Bonneville was torpedoed and sunk by the U-405, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Rolf-Heinrich Hopmann, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 36 died and 7 survivors were picked up by the rescue ship Melrose Abbey. The 4,665 ton Bonneville was carrying general cargo, explosives and a landing craft as deck cargo and was headed for Liverpool, England.

 

Sailing with Convoy SC-121, the American steam merchant Malantic was torpedoed and sunk by the U-409, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 25 died and 22 survivors reached land by lifeboat. The 3,837 ton Malantic was carrying ammunition, bombs and general cargo and was headed for Liverpool, England.

 

Sailing with Convoy SC-121, the British motor tanker Rosewood was torpedoed and sunk by the U-409 in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 42 died. The 5,989 ton Rosewood was carrying fuel oil and was headed for Clyde, United Kingdom.

 

A straggler from Convoy SC-121, the Swedish steam merchant Milos was torpedoed and sunk by the U-530, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Kurt Lange, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 30 died. The 3,058 ton Milos was carrying general cargo, including steel and lumber and was headed for Grimsby, England.

 

Sailing with Convoy BT-6, the British motor merchant Kelvinbank was torpedoed and sunk by the U-510, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Karl Neitzel, about 200 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 28 died and 32 survivors were picked up by the American steam merchant George G. Meade. The 3,872 ton Kelvinbank was carrying ballast and was headed for Macoris, Cuba.

 

A straggler from Convoy RA-53, the American steam merchant Puerto Rican was torpedoed and sunk by the U-586, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Esch, about 100 miles northeast of Iceland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 64 died and 1 survivor were picked up by the ASW trawler HMS St. Elstan (FY 240). The 6,076 ton Puerto Rican was carrying ore and was headed for the United States.

 

 

Thursday, March 9, 1944

While escorting convoy CU-16 the destroyer escort USS Leopold (DE 319) was torpedoed and sunk by the U-255, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Erich Harms, approximately 400 miles south of Iceland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 171 died and 28 survivors were picked up by the destroyer escort USS Joyce (DE 317).

[Kevin]

10th March

 

 

1705

A French squadron of 14 ships, under Rear Admiral Jean-Bernard Desjeans, blockading Gibraltar engaged by a combined British, Dutch and Portugese fleet, under Sir  John Leake, off Marbella. HMS Revenge (70), Sir Thomas Dilkes, took Arrogant (60) and two more French line-of-battle ships were taken and two driven ashore where they were burnt.

1783

Last Naval action of the American Revolution. Continental frigate Alliance (36), departed Havana with companion ship Due de Lauzun carrying money for Congress. South of Cape Canaveral, Florida, she sighted three enemy warships closing in. To protect Due de Lauzen, Barry placed Alliance between the vessel and HMS Sibyl (28), Cptn. James Vashon. After being damaged in battle, Sibyl returned to enemy warships that had not joined in the battle.

1796

HMS Phaeton (38), Cptn. Hon. Robert Stopford, captured Bonne Citoyenne (20) off Cape Finisterre

1800

HMS Repulse (64), Cptn. John Alms, struck a sunken rock off Ushant.

[Kevin]

11th March

 

 

1778

Continental frigate Boston (24), Cptn. Samuel Tucker, captured the British ship Martha in the North Atlantic

1787

Horatio Nelson marries Frances Misbet at Nevis. Prince William Henry gave the bride away.

1835

HMS Jackdaw (4), Lt. Cdr. Edward Barnett, wrecked on uncharted reef off Old Providence.

1846

HMS Osprey (18), Frederick Patten, wrecked off False Hoklanga, New Zealand.

[flying_dutchman2]

March 11

 

 

1935 - Birth of Naval Security Group when OP-20G became the Communications Security Group

1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Lend-Lease Act

1942 - In a PT boat, LCDR John Bulkeley leaves the Philippines to take General Douglas MacArthur to Australia

1945 - Use of first Navy landing craft to cross Rhine River at Bad Neuenahr

1965 - Market Time patrols begin off South Vietnam coast

 

WWII - 1940

Mar 11, Mon. --

U.S. freighter Exmoor, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities since 9 March, is released.

 

1941 - •Mar 11, Tue.

United States

Congress passes Lend-Lease Act; "cash and carry" provisions of Neutrality Act of 1939 are changed to permit transfer of munitions to Allies. Although criticized by isolationists, the Act proves to be the primary means by which the United States will provide Great Britain, the USSR, and other belligerents with war material, food, and financial aid without the U.S. having to enter combat.

 

1942 - March 11, Wed.

Pacific

Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur and Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell depart Luzon, with their respective staffs, in motor torpedo boats PT-32, PT-34, PT-35, and PT-41, bound for Mindanao. For his role in the evacuation, as well as other operations in the Philippines since the start of hostilities, Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley, Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, will receive the Medal of Honor (see 13 March).

Submarine Pollack (SS-180), operating in the East China Sea about 270 miles east of Shanghai, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fukushu Maru, 30°53'N, 126°20'E and passenger-cargo ship Baikal Maru, 31°00'N, 126°32'E.

 

U.S. passenger ship Mount McKinley is stranded off Unimak Island, Aleutians; wrecked subsequently by heavy seas, the ship will be written off as a total loss.

 

Atlantic

Unarmed U.S. freighter Texan is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-126 about 40 miles east of Nuevitas, Cuba, 21°32'N, 76°24'W; Cuban fishing boat Yoyo rescues survivors.

 

Unarmed U.S. freighter Caribsea is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-158 about 14 miles east of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 34°40'N, 76°10'W; U.S. freighter Norlindo rescues survivors.

 

Coastal minesweeper AMc-202, at 40°32'N, 71°40'W, rescues seven survivors from Brazilian steamship Cayru, sunk by German submarine U-94 on 9 March, and transports them to New London, Connecticut.

 

 

1944 - 11 March, Sat. --

Pacific

Japanese submarine RO-110 is sunk by Indian Navy sloop HMIS Jumna and Australian minesweepers HMAS Ipswich and HMAS Launceston 17 miles south of Vizagapatam, 17°25'N, 83°21'E.

Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tsukikawa Maru, west of Halmahera Island, 01°25'S, 128°14'E. Japanese minelayer Wakatake and army aircraft carry out ineffective counterattack on Bowfin, which attacks, unsuccessfully, Asaka Maru, which is rescuing Tsukikawa Maru's survivors.

 

Japanese cargo ship Daitoku Maru is sunk in collision with cargo ship No.6 Daiboshi Maru in the Sea of Japan, 40°10'N, 137°41'E.

 

Mediterranean

Commander Cruiser Division 8 breaks flag in French light cruiser Emile Bertin and takes operational command of Emile Bertin, Gloire, Georges Leygues, and Duguay-Trouin for training purposes (see 24 March1944).

 

USAAF aircraft sink German submarines U-380 and U-410, Toulon, France.

 

 

1945 - 11 March, Sun. --

Europe

LCVPs (TG 122.5.1) go into action 200 miles from the sea, sailors assisting in erecting and maintaining an army pontoon bridge at the Remagen bridgehead. Navy support of the army's crossing the Rhine River proves invaluable and adds greatly to the successful invasion of the enemy's homeland.

USAAF heavy bombers (Eighth Air Force) sink German submarines U-2515 and U-2530 during raid on Hamburg, Germany.

 

PB4Y-1 (VPB 103) sinks German submarine U-681 southwest of the Scilly Islands, 49°53'N, 06°31'W.

 

Pacific

Army troops landed on 10 March take Zamboanga, Mindanao

 

Japanese land attack planes [FRANCES], flying direct from Kanoya, Japan, attack U.S. fleet anchorage at Ulithi; one FRANCES damages carrier Randolph (CV-15), 10°01'N, 139°40'E, another crashes into Sorlen Island. Salvage vessel Current (ARS-22) is damaged by collision with Randolph during fire-fighting operations.

 

Submarine Segundo (SS-398) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Shori Maru off Shori Island southern Korea, 34°25'N, 127°54'E.

 

PBM-3D (VPB 28) attacks Japanese convoy in South China Sea, sinking water carrier Wayo Maru about 40 miles southeast of Macao, 21°31'N, 112°28'E.

 

USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese shipping off Tourane, French Indochina, sinking motor sailships Kinsei Maru, Namikiri Maru and No.3 Hinode Maru.

 

Japanese merchant trawler Koko Maru is sunk by USAAF mine in Yangtze River, 31°22'N, 121°34'E.

[Kevin]

12th March

 

 

1672

Sir Robert Holmes' Action against Dutch Smyrna merchant convoy and escorts.

1704

British squadron of HMS Kent (70), HMS Bedford (70), Sir Thomas Hardy, and HMS Antelope (50), Cptn. Thomas Legge, under Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Dilkes engaged and captured three Spanish ships Porto Coeli(60), Santa Teresa (60) and the merchant frigate San Nicolas (24) 

1809

HMS Topaze (38), Cptn. A. J. Griffiths, engaged Danae and Flora.

1814

HMS Primrose (18), Charles Phillott, engaged by mistake a British brig packet Duke of Marlborough, Cptn. Bull, off Cape Finisterre.

[The Ships Cat]

 On this day 1664 Samuel Pepys (Navy board) knowing very little of ships or ship construction applies himself to learning one of the things that would one day enable him to professionalise the Royal Navy.

 

12th. March 1664

...Mr. Stacy with some company of pretty women, I took him aside to a room by ourselves, and there talked with him about the several sorts of tarrs, and so by and by parted, and I walked home and there late at the office, and so home to supper and to bed.

 

One year later he's concerned with the corruption and mismanagement in the Navy...

 

12th. March 1665

...By and by comes in my Lord, and he and I to talke of many things in the Navy, one from another, in general, to see how the greatest things are committed to very ordinary men, as to parts and experience, to do; among others, my Lord Barkeley.

 

And two years later we see the affects of the mishandling of the Navy which Pepys so much wished to change graphically demonstrated.

 

12th. March 1667

 ...This day a poor seaman, almost starved for want of food, lay in our yard a-dying. I sent him half-a-crown, and we ordered his ticket to be paid.

[flying_dutchman2]

March 12

 

1594 - Company of Distant established for business on East-Indies

1642 - Abel Tasman is 1st European in New Zealand

1917 - All American merchant ships to be armed in war zones

1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt designates Admiral Ernest J. King to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations, as well as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet to which he was appointed on 30 December 1941.

1956 - In first overseas deployment of Navy missile squadron, VA-83 left on USS Intrepid

[Kevin]

13th March

 

 

1761

HMS Vengeance (28), Cptn. Gamaliel Nightingale, took Entreprenant (26).

1780

HMS Alexander (74) and HMS Courageux (74), Cptn. Charles Feilding, took Monsieur.

1793

HMS Scourge (14), William Stap, captured richly laden French ship Sans Culotte.

1795

HMS Lively (32), Cptn. George Burlton, captured Tourterelle (28), Cptn. Guillaume S. A. Montalan, off Ushant

1797

HMS Viper captured Virgen Maria del Carmen

HMS Plymouth captured Amitie.

1804

HMS Emerald (36), Cptn James O'Bryen, and  armed sloop Fort Diamond, Thomas Forrest, cut out privateer schooner Mozambique (10), Citizen Vallentes, from under the battery at Seron, Martinique

1806

HMS London (90) and HMS Amazon (38) captured Marengo (80), Rear Ad. Linois, and Belle Poule (40) supported by Rear Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren's squadron in the Atlantic.

1808

HMS Emerald (36), Frederick Lewis Maitland, took French corvette Apropos (12) in Vivero harbour but had to blow her up after she went aground under fire.

1811

Battle of Lissa. Cptn. William Hoste with 3 frigates and one 22 gun ship defeated a Franco-Venetian squadron of 6 frigates and 6 smaller vessels under Bernard Dubourdieu

[Kevin]

14th March

 

 

1704

HMS Seahorse (24) wrecked off Jamaica

1757

Admiral John Byng executed by firing squad on the forecastle of HMS Monarch in the Solent

1779

HMS Rattlesnake (10) took Fenelon.

1790

William Bligh arrived back in Britain after Bounty Mutiny.

1795

Battle of Genoa. British-Neapolitan fleet of 14 ships, under Vice Admiral Hotham, defeated French fleet of 13 ships, under Rear Admiral Pierre Martin. French ships Ça Ira (84) and Censeur were captured. HMS Illustrious(74), Cptn. Thomas Lennox Frederick was too badly damaged and was set on fire.

1804

HMS Drake (14), Lt. Samuel W. King, captured two prizes off Englishman's Head in Guadeloupe.

1808

The Danish brig Lougen (20), Lt. Peter F. Wulff, engaged the British brig HMS Childers (16), William H. Dillon, away after several hours of battle, off Hitterø in Norway .

1823

John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent died

1863 

R.Adm. Farragut's squadron of 7 ships forces way up Mississippi River to support Union troops at Vicksburg and Baton Rouge

[Kevin]

15th March

 

 

1759

HMS Aeolus (32), Cptn. John Elliot, took Mignone (20)

1793

HMS Syren (32) engaged batteries at Moordyke.

1807

Boats of HMS Camus cut out six merchantmen.

1808

Start of 6 day engagement between HMS Terpsichore (28), Cptn. William Augustus Montague, and French frigate Semillante (40), Cptn. Motard, off Ceylon

1809

Boats of HMS Arethusa (38), Cptn. Robert Mends, carried the batteries and destroyed the gunsat Lequito.

[Kevin]

16th March

 

 

1781

Battle of Cape Henry. A British squadron of 8 ships, under Vice Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot, engaged a French squadron of 7 ships, under Cptn. Des Touches.

1782

HMS Success (32), Cptn. Charles Maurice Pole, took Spanish frigate Santa Catalina (34), Don Jacen, off Cape Spartel.  She was set her on fire when other enemy ships closed.

1801

HMS  Invincible (74), Cptn. John Rennie, wrecked on Hasborough Sands, near Yarmouth.

[Kevin]

17th March

 

 

1796

HMS Diamond (38), Cptn. Sir Sidney Smith,  HMS Liberty (14), Lt. George M'Kinley, and HMS Aristocrat(12), Lt. Abraham Gossett, took and destroyed enemy vessls at Port Spergni.

1800

HMS Queen Charlotte (100) Cptn. Andrew Todd, caught fire and blew up off the island of Cabrera

1804

HMS Penguin (16), G. Morris, drove aground French privateer schooner  Renommee, Citizen Renaud, on the bar at Senegal. She was set on fire and destroyed by the ships boats on the 24th.

1806

Boats of HMS Pique (14), Charles Bayne Hodgson Ross, captured Spanish armed schooner Santa Clara off Ocoa Bay

1807

British disembarkation at Alexandria.

1864

The Danish Blockade Squadron in the eastern part of the Baltic, composed of the Ship-of-the-line Skjold, the frigate Sjaelland and the corvettes Hejmdal and Thor, under Rear Ad. Carl E. van Dockum, fire at and drive away the Prussian frigate Arcona, the corvette Nymphe, the paddle steamer Loreley and 5 steam gunboats, under Kapitän zur See Jachmann, off Swinemünde.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Kevin

[Kevin]

18th March

 

 

1736

HMS Biddeford (20) foundered off Flamborough Head. 

1757

HMS Greenwich (50), Cptn. Robert Rodham, taken by French Squadron of 8 large vessels off  Cape Cabron.

1799

HMS Telegraph (16), Lt. James Andrew Worth, captured French privateer brig Hirondelle (16) off the Isle of Bas

1813

Battery at Carri, to the west of Marseilles, destroyed by boats of HMS Undaunted (38), Cptn. Thomas Ussher

Edited March 18, 2014 by Kevin

[Kevin]

19th March

 

 

1779

HMS Arethusa (32), Cptn. Samuel Marshall, wrecked off Ushant

[Kevin]

20th March

 

 

1780

HMS Lion (64), Cptn. William Cornwallis, HMS Bristol (50) and HMS Janus (44) chased by M. de la Motte Piquet, who had four 74 gun ships and two frigates, off Monte Christi, St. Domingo.

1796

HMS Anson (64), HMS Galatea (32), Cptn. Richard Keats,  and consorts under Sir John Borlase Warren engaged with French convoy captured L'Etoile (30), one of five French frigates in escort of a provision fleet of 70 sail.

1801

St Bartholomew capitulated to British under Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth.

1809

Boats of HMS Arethusa (38), Cptn. Robert Mends, destroyed batteries at Baigno and Paissance.

[Kevin]

21th March

 

 

21 March

1796

HMS Leviathan (74), Cptn. J. T. Duckworth, HMS Swiftsure (74) and HMS Africa (64), Cptn. Robert Home, bombarded Leogane, San Domingo

 

1800

HMS Petrel (16), Francis William Austen, drove 2 armed vessels ashore and captured Ligurienne (16) in the Bay of Marseilles

 

1806

Boats of HMS Colpoys (14), Thomas Ussher, cut out 3 Spanish luggers, Santa Buena Ventura (2), San Antonio (2) and San Real, from the port of Avilles.

 

1807

Alexandria capitulated to British.

 

1813

Boats of HMS Blazer  (14), Lt. Francis Banks, and HMS Brevdrageren, Lt. Thomas Baker Devon, took Danish gunboats Jonge Troutman (5), Lt. Lutkin, and Liebe (5), Lt. Writt, in the River Elbe

[Kevin]

22nd March

 

 

1797

HMS Hermione (32), Cptn. Pigot, destroyed vessels at Porto Rico.

1798

HMS Canada (38), Commodore Sir John Borlase Warren, HMS Phaeton (38), Cptn. Robert Stopford, and HMSAnson (38) engaged Charente (36) off the Gironde

1801

Boats of HMS Andromache (32), Cptn. Robert Laurie,and HMS Cleopatra (32), Cptn. Israel Pellew, attack a convoy of 30 vessels protected by 3 gun vessels in the Bay of Levita, Cuba.

1808

HMS Aigle (36), Cptn. George Wolfe, engaged off Ile de Croix by batteries  forced 1 of 2 frigates,  Furieuse (40), ashore.

The Battle of Sjællands Odde. Danish Prinds Christian Frederik (74), Cmdr. Carl W. Jessen, engaged English squadron of HMS Stately (64), Commodore George Parker, HMS Nassau  and 3 frigates. She grounded outside Odden harbor, was set on fire and exploded.

1810

Start of campaign by HMS Magnificent (74), Cptn. G. Eyre, HMS Montagu (74), Cptn. Moubray, HMS Belle Poule (38), Cptn. James Brisbane, HMS Leonidas (36), Cptn. Anselm John Griffiths, and HMS Imogene (16), Thomas Garth, which captured Santa Maura.

1813

HMS Captain (hulk) caught fire in the Hamoaze, Plymouth and sank the next day after burning to the waterline.

Two French vessels taken at Vasto by boats of HMS Havannah (36), Cptn. Hon. George Cadogan.

1820

Commodore Stephen Decatur dies after duel with Cptn. James Barron 

Edited March 23, 2014 by Kevin

[Kevin]

23rd March

 

 

1804

HMS Osprey (18), George Younghusband, engaged French privateer Egyptienne (36), M. Placiard

1805

Boats of HMS Stork (18), George Le Geyt, cut out Dutch privateer Antelope and a brig from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

1815

USS Hornet (20), James Lawrence, captures HMS Penguin (18), James Dickinson, off Tristan da Cuhna