This Day in Naval History - July 18 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1779 - In the largest prize value of the American Revolution, Commodore Abraham Whipples squadron consisting of Continental frigates USS Providence, USS Queen of France and sloop USS Ranger, captures 11 British prizes off the Newfoundland Banks sailing from Jamaica. The cargoes are worth more than $1 million. 1813 - During the War of 1812, the frigate, USS President, commanded by John Rodgers, sinks the British brig, HMS Daphne, off the Irish coast. In the next few weeks, she engages three more vessels. USS President captures the ship, HMS Eliza Swan July 24, burns the brig, HMS Alert, on July 29, and captures the bark Lion on Aug. 2. 1918 - During action in the Viller-Cottertes section, south of Soissons, France, Sgt. Matej Kocaks company is stopped by enemy gun fire from a hidden machine gun nest. While only covered by gun fire, he goes forward alone and rushes the enemy position with his bayonet, eventually driving off the enemy. Later on that same day, he organizes French colonial soldiers separated from their company and leads an attack disabling a second machine gun nest. For his extraordinary heroism on both of these occasions, he is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by both the Navy and Army. 1921 - US Army and Navy aircraft sink the ex-German cruiser, Frankfurt, in target practice as part of General Billy Mitchells aerial bombing demonstration. Three days later, ex-German battleship, Ostfriesland, is also sunk by aerial bombing. Among the notable battles during World War I that both Frankfurt and Ostfriesland participate in is the Battle of Jutland between May 32 and June 1, 1916. 1943 - German submarine (U 134) shoots down (K 47), the first and only U.S. airship lost during WW II, in the Fla. straits. In Aug. 1943, (U 134) is sunk by British aircraft. 1943 - USS Taylor (DD 468) sinks Japanese submarine (RO 107), east of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. 1966 - Gemini 10 is launched with Lt. Cmdr. John L. Young as command pilot and Michael Collins is the pilot. The mission entails 43 orbits at an altitude of 412.2 nautical miles and lasts two days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes. 1988 - Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci III approves opening the Navys Underwater Construction Teams, fleet oilers, ammunition ships and combat stores ships to women. 1990 - Cmdr. Rosemary B. Mariner becomes the first woman to command an operational aviation squadron, Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 (VAQ 34). She is one of the first women to become qualified as a Naval Aviator in 1974 and one of the first women to fly light attack aircraft. Mariner attained the rank of Captain before retiring in 1997.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:28:43 +0000
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