Aug. 4, 2017

Making Naval Aviation History Aboard USS Gerald R. Ford

Editor's note: By now, we all know USS Gerald R. Ford's first catapult and trap was a success. We've heard from Navy leadership about the success of the program and that it was one of many historic moments that will happen upon the ship. But, we haven't heard from the pilot who made history. In our efforts to capture history as it happens, the

Aug. 2, 2017

Conservators in Action: Uncovering Secrets of the Suspected Revenge Cannon

It's never a dull day at the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Underwater Archaeology (UA) Conservation Laboratory, especially when a heavily concreted cannon from the suspected wreck site of the 14-gun naval schooner Revenge arrived on May 26, 2017. The cannon, believed to be a six-pounder, was recovered by NHHC archaeologists and divers

July 29, 2017

Remembering Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce

The founder of the Naval War College, Rear Adm. Stephen B. Luce, died of natural causes in Newport, Rhode Island at the salty age of ninety years old ... and what a wonderful life he lead! A true sailor and scholar, Luce drew from personal experience to recognize the interrelationship between professional education and practical experience in

July 28, 2017

How the 1967 Fire on USS Forrestal Improved Future U.S. Navy Damage Control Readiness

Editor's note: While on active duty, Commander Stewart wrote his U.S. Army Command and General Staff College master's thesis on "The Impact of The USS Forrestal's 1967 Fire on United States Navy Shipboard Damage Control." The thesis examined the impact of the 1967 flight deck fire on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA 59) and the two resulting

July 26, 2017

A Class Project to Invade Canada

The United States Plans Invasion of Nova Scotia, Canada: U.S. Forces to Occupy Halifax and Destroy the Pictou Coal MinesWere the title and subtitle of this article to appear as headlines in a major American newspaper today, the reaction would be shock and disbelief. After all, Canada is one of the United States' closest partners in maintaining

July 25, 2017

Farming to Feed the Forces

How did the U.S. provide fresh fruits and vegetables to 3.6 million service men and women throughout the Pacific during World War II? This may seem a trivial topic in today's day and age with steak and lobster served on carriers and fresh fruits and vegetable commonplace to most sailors, but during WWII canned vegetables, powdered milk and eggs,

July 20, 2017

Thoughts on the Navy's Future From the Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat in the World

As I stand on the quarterdeck of the great ship 'Constitution' I am often struck by the deep connections this mighty ship has with the past. She always seemed to keep turning up even after her front line service ended. Today though, I am not writing about the past so much as I am trying to think about the future, the future of the Constitution as

July 17, 2017

A Look at USS Constitution's 2015-2017 Dry Docking and Restoration

USS Constitution, America's Ship of State, entered the Charlestown Navy Yard's Dry Dock 1 the night of May 18, 2015 for a 26-month dry docking and restoration period. Over the course of the past two years the ship restorers and riggers of the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston and teams of USS Constitution crew accomplished several

July 13, 2017

In Memoriam: Admiral Powell F. Carter, Jr.

In a July 12 message to active and retired Navy flag officers, the director of the Navy staff shared news of the passing of a former U.S. Atlantic Fleet commander who began his military career as an enlisted Sailor. In his note, Vice Admiral James G. Foggo III honored the life and career of retired Admiral Powell F. Carter, who enlisted in the Navy

June 29, 2017

Naval Gunfire Support during the Invasion of Salerno, Italy

During the Allied invasion of Salerno in September of 1943, "Operation Avalanche," the U.S. Navy set a new standard for naval gunfire support (NGFS) only eclipsed by the Okinawa and Iwo Jima campaigns. NGFS, although initially shunned by Army commanders who valued stealth over softened defenses, was an invaluable asset throughout Operation