June 29, 2017

Allied Minesweeping Operations during Operation Avalanche

Minesweeping operations are an often overlooked chapter of Operation Avalanche, the 1943 invasion of Salerno. Minefields in the Gulf of Salerno were first detected by HMS Shakespeare (P221), a British beacon submarine active in the area since August 29, 1943.[1] Using magnetic detection devices, the submarine located a plethora of German "V" and

June 26, 2017

UC-97: Forgotten WWI History in an Unexpected Place - Lake Michigan

Storms had churned the water the night before. The sky was overcast, significantly cutting the ambient light below the surface. And the remote operating vehicle (ROV) malfunctioned, leaving only a difficult-to-control drop camera as the means to positively identify the sonar contact below the workboat of A and T Recovery. After much trial and

June 14, 2017

19th Century Naval Shipyard Innovation

As the Navy transitioned from wooden sailing vessels to a steam powered fleet, three major innovations - steam power, marine railways, and the shiphouse - changed the tone and development of shipyards during the 19th century. Each of these now seemingly simplistic innovations helped the Navy progress from a few small yards into a global system of

June 9, 2017

Dedication of the "Ward" Room at the Pentagon

WASHINGTON - Director of Navy Staff Vice Adm. G. James Foggo III held a dedication ceremony for a conference room at the Pentagon, June 6. Used to host major meetings for the Navy within the Pentagon, the room was dedicated to honor both Cmdr. James Ward, the first U.S. Navy officer killed in the Civil War, and Rear Adm. William W. Outerbridge,

June 9, 2017

The Traditions of Ship Commissionings

The Navy's use of the word "commission" means the placing of a ship in active service. The commissioning ceremony is one of the most significant milestones in the life of a ship as it marks her acceptance as a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy. Brought to life after ship naming, keel laying, christening and launching,

June 7, 2017

Naval History of Massachusetts

As one of the original 13 colonies, the history of state of Massachusetts is as old as the United States itself.Did you know that Alexander Graham Bell, the man who invented the telephone, first demonstrated its use in Boston in 1876? Did you know Massachusetts is home to America's first lighthouse, the country's first college? Even the first

June 2, 2017

The Battle of Midway Still Teaches the Value of Intelligence, Decisive Action

Heavy smoke rolls from stack of the USS Yorktown after the aircraft carrier was damaged heavily by Japanese aircraft June 4 in The Battle of Midway...

May 31, 2017

Innovation and Victory at the Battle of Midway

When I take a look at the arc of history in the Pacific, in particular the history of the Pacific Fleet, one of the things I find most compelling is the immense shift that took place at the Battle of Midway. For decades prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, our Navy was centered around our battleships. By the time we fought at Midway just six months

May 26, 2017

NHHC Recovers Cannon from possible Revenge Wreck Site

The Naval History and Heritage Command's (NHHC) Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) returned to Rhode Island this week in order to recover a cannon from the suspected wreck site of the 14-gun naval schooner Revenge, which struck a reef and sank off Watch Hill in 1811. Captained by then-Lt. Oliver Hazard Perry, on Jan. 9, 1811, she encountered thick

May 26, 2017

100 Years of Underway Replenishments

Everyone likes "firsts."These moments represent transformation and progress and change our understanding about what we are capable of. The Navy also keeps track of its "firsts." One "first" of great pride deals with the underway refueling of a United States warship, an operation that the Navy would later perfect during World War II. Underway