Naval History

1. Naval History By LPO McStravick

2. 13 Oct 1775 • The Continental Congress authorized the outfitting of a ten-gun warship. • Marking the beginning of the Continental Navy

3. 3 Dec 1775 • Lt. John Paul Jones first XO of a man-of-war of the Continental Navy.

4. 3-4 Mar 1776 • Commodore Esek Hopkins lead a Continental squadron defeating the British at Nassau in the Bahamas. • First amphibious assault by American Marines commanded by Capt. Samuel Nicholas.

5. 7 Sep 1776 • Sgt. Ezra Lee, Continental Army, made the first “submarine” attack on a warship. • Unsuccessfully placing a charge on a British war ship from the submersible named the “Turtle.”

6. 24 Apr 1778 • John Paul Jones in command of the sloop Ranger defeats and captures the sloop HMS Drake.

7. 23 Sep 1780 • John Paul Jones commanding the Bonhomme Richard rejected the British surrender with “I have not yet begun to fight!” • His ship sank, but they were able to capture the frigate HMS Serapis.

8. 30 Apr 1798 • The Department of the Navy is first established.

9. 18 Jun 1798 • Benjamin Stoddert, first secretary of the Navy.

10. 21 Aug 1862 • The Monitor was the Navy’s first armored ship, New Ironsides.

11. 1 May 1898 • “You may fire when ready, Gridley.” • Commodore George Dewey’s words to his flagships captain where the Asiatic Squadron defeated the Spanish in Manila Bay.

12. 12 Oct 1900 • SS1 Holland first submarine commissioned in the U.S. Navy. • 19 May 1902-DD5 Decatur Navy’s first active destroyer was commissioned.

13. 20 Mar 1922 • A former coal-carrier, the Jupiter, was converted into the USS Langley CV1 to become the Navy’s first aircraft carrier.

14. 7 Dec 1941 • Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor killing 2008 Navy men and inflecting serve damage on the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

15. 4-8 May 1942 • Battle of the Coral Sea was fought resulting in the end of Japanese advances in the South Pacific. • First Naval battle fought only by aircraft and opposing fleets never saw one another.

16. 4-6 Jun 1942 • Battle of Midway ended Japanese initiative in the Pacific with the sinking of four of their carriers.

17. 6 Jun 1944 • Nearly 2500 U.S. Navy ships and craft take part in the Allies invasion of Normandy. • The largest amphibious assault in history.

18. 2 Sep 1945 • Japan surrenders aboard the USS Missouri BB63.

19. Mission statement of the United States Navy • The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

20. Sea Power • World prosperity and security depends on free use of the seas. Markets crave security and our vital interests are best served by a stable global system. • 70% of the world is water, 80% of the world lives within a few hundred miles of the oceans and 90% of our commerce sails across it.