Jan. 15, 2016

Storm Break: Curator of the Navy Recalls War's First Night 25 Years Later - Part I

Editor's Note: At the time Desert Storm began, NHHC Director Sam Cox was an active duty Lieutenant Commander, serving as an assistant intelligence officer on the staff of Vice Adm. Stan Arthur who commanded the U.S. Seventh Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command embarked on the command ship USS Blue Ridge operating in the Arabian Gulf. This is

Jan. 14, 2016

A Look at the Evolution of the U.S. Navy Destroyer

Greyhounds of the Sea.From the first U.S. destroyer commissioned in 1902 to the famous ships of World War II to the Arleigh Burke-class, the U.S. Navy's destroyers have evolved from small, fast, close-in surface combatants to multi-mission offensive and defensive warships that can operate independently or as part of strike groups. These warships

Jan. 12, 2016

A Look at the Evolution of the U.S. Navy Cruiser

Cruisers, like destroyers and frigates, are often called the "support vessels" of a battle group, but they are certainly capable of operating on their own. This multi-mission warships can not only protect fleets against aircraft, but with their sophisticated guided-missile and gunnery systems, they can take out virtually any target in the air, on

Jan. 8, 2016

Twenty Years of Navy Shipwrecks: 1996-2016

In 1996, underwater archaeology was officially incorporated into the U.S. Navy with the creation of a dedicated branch at the Naval Historical Center, which in 2008 became the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). The development of NHHC's Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) was influenced by a long list of prominent archaeological projects

Dec. 23, 2015

Reconstructing Naval History: The 3D Scanning of Royal Savage

When NHHC's Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) received the artifacts and timbers of Royal Savage this summer from the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a plan began to reconstruct the schooner based on the remaining timbers. In addition to over a thousand artifacts ranging from lead shot, rope, belt buckles, and pieces of a leather shoe, the

Dec. 22, 2015

Navy Legends: Rear Adm. Eugene Fluckey

For the continuing series on Navy Legends, we've asked you - the Sailor, veteran and reader - to offer up your favorite legends, with a reason or two as to what makes your figure a Navy legend. Is it action or attributes? Or something else? Cmdr. Eugene B. Fluckey, commanding officer of USS Barb (SS 220), wears the Navy Cross after receiving the

Dec. 21, 2015

NHHC Participates in Archaeological Survey of Suspected USS Revenge Site

Naval History and Heritage Command's Underwater Archaeology Branch participated in a follow-up survey on a suspected War of 1812 vessel off the coast of Watch Hill, R.I. Dec. 7-8, 2015. Below are photos and information about the expedition. NHHC archaeologists Blair Atcheson, Heather Brown, and George Schwarz, Ph.D., joined local divers Charlie

Dec. 14, 2015

Nautical Terms and Naval Expressions: The Holiday Edition

Now that the holiday season is officially underway, we thought we'd get into the spirit of the season by taking a look at a few nautical terms and naval expressions that remind us of the holidays. You'll be surprised by the origin of some of these widely used terms and maybe even those you've never heard before.Sugar ReportOur Sailors can't always

Dec. 10, 2015

The Story of a WWII Hero: Honoring an American Fighter Ace and Navy Cross Recipient

On Armistice Day 1943, 25 years after the end of the First World War, then Ensign Charles "Billy" Watts shot down his first enemy aircraft on his first day in combat while flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat.His Navy career started in May 1942, five months after the U.S. joined World War II, when Watts completed his second year of college at East Texas

Dec. 2, 2015

Medal of Honor recipients for Pearl Harbor attack, Dec. 7, 1941 - Part III

(Editors Note: This is the final part of a three part series blog featuring John Finn and other Medal of Honor recipients following the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor. Click here to read Part I and Part II of this blog series.)Listed below are images and the 15 citation for the Sailors who earned the Medal of Honor for actions taken during