By Cecilia Sequeira, Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division The state of Delaware was the first of 13 states to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787, giving rise to its moniker: “the first state.” Thomas Jefferson described it by another name: “the diamond state.”  The …

By Lt. Cmdr. Roger Young, Commanding Officer of USS Firebolt (PC 10) April 24, 2004 The sun is setting on an April night in Bahrain. U.S. 5th Fleet ships are conducting typical maritime security operations in the region. But tonight, April 24, 2004, is anything but typical. USS Firebolt (PC …

By Shanna Daniel, Archaeological Conservator, Underwater Archaeology Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command Many have been waiting for an update from our last blog post about the ongoing efforts to conserve a cannon recovered from the suspected wreck site of the 14-gun U.S. naval schooner Revenge.  Well, the wait is over!  …

By Dave Werner, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs Few ships can claim a history like that of USS Helena (CL 50). Her distinguished and storied World War II service began at Pearl Harbor and ended in a heroic and determined rescue seemingly too dramatic to be true. In between, she …

  By André B. Sobocinski, Historian, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery In 1936, “Our Navy” correspondent Mary McElliott was given special access to the hospital ship USS Relief (AH 1). She would marvel over its design and capabilities writing, “If you are accustomed to thinking of a hospital …