Nov. 18, 2013

Remember the Maine, A First-of-its-Kind Warship

The Navy has a long, proud history of leading in energy innovation and change, according to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "From sail to coal to oil to nuclear and now to alternative fuels, the Navy has led the way," he said during a speech Sept. 11, 2013, to the National Defense University. Such was the case 123 years ago today, Nov. 18, 2013,

Aug. 26, 2013

The Year of the Military Woman: Women's Equality Day, August 26

This year is the Year of the Military Woman, and the Naval History and Heritage Command would like to honor all the women who serve and have served this great nation.

June 17, 2013

U.S. Navy recipients of the Medal of Honor: Korean War

Tomorrow, the Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, dedicates a Korean War display in the Pentagon. In honor of those who served and gave their life protecting freedom, today we remember the Navy Medal of Honor recipients for actions during the Korean conflict: Hospital Corpsman Third Class Edward C. Benfold; Hospital Corpsman Third Class William R.

June 14, 2013

A New Weapon in the Industrial Age: Howell Torpedo

In 1883 the United States Navy held a public contest to find new design concepts for torpedoes. After reviewing several proposals, the Navy Torpedo Board selected a design submitted by the head of the Department of Astronomy and Navigation for the U.S. Naval Academy, Lieutenant Commander John A. Howell. The Howell torpedo was initially conceived in

June 7, 2013

Midway Operational Lesson

MIDWAY'S OPERATIONAL LESSON: THE NEED FOR MORE CARRIERSThe Japanese employing six aircraft carriers at one time, as they did in the attack on Oahu on December 7, 1941, proved a radical undertaking. The U.S. Navy's carriers, by contrast, had never numbered more than two or three during infrequent maneuvers, and the war's coming in 1941 found only

June 7, 2013

Midway Tactical Lessons

Tactical Lesson of Midway: The Thach WeaveWhen the U.S. Navy entered the war in the Pacific, fighting squadron aircraft strength stood at 18 planes. Operational experience, showed that more fighters were needed, to (1) protect the carrier herself and (2) to protect the attack groups composed of dive/scout bombers and torpedo bombers. Even when

June 7, 2013

Midway Strategic Lessons

Midway's Strategic Lessons"We are actively preparing to greet our expected visitors with the kind of reception they deserve," Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, wrote to Admiral Ernest J. King, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations, on May 29, 1942, "and we will do the best we can with what

June 5, 2013

Remembering Midway

REMEMBERING MIDWAYby Captain Roy P. Gee, USN (Ret.)(The following post was written for the Battle of Midway Roundtable, in 2003. Note: CAPT Roy P. Gee passed away on December 28, 2009)Here I am, sitting at my computer, trying to recall the details of my involvement in a great naval battle that was fought 61 years ago. I'm 83 years old and as my

June 5, 2013

A Vivid Memory of Midway

A Vivid Memory of MidwayCommander Clayton E. Fisher, USN-Retby Ronald Russell(The following post is from the Battle of Midway Roundtable and originally appeared in Veterans Biographies, distributed during the annual Battle of Midway commemoration in San Francisco, June 2006)  In September 1941, upon completion of pilot training advanced carrier

June 4, 2013

Navy Cryptology and the Battle of Midway: Our Finest Hour

Navy Cryptology and the Battle of Midway: Our Finest HourA special feature of the BATTLE OF MIDWAY ROUNDTABLEby LCDR Philip H. Jacobsen, USN-Ret(Editor's note: the following is the text of an address given by LCDR Jacobsen to a gathering of Naval Security Group personnel at San Diego in 2000. It has been edited slightly for clarity and to better