May 2, 2022

A Frigate Battle through Enemy Eyes

During the War of 1812, USS United States, one of six original frigates of the U.S. Navy, defeated and captured HMS Macedonian. Samuel Leech, a seaman aboard Macedonian, later described in vivid and gruesome detail what it was like to be on the losing end of a battle with an American warship.

Nov. 16, 2021

A Unique Artifact Goes Virtual: Digitizing NR-1’s Control Room

It’s a challenge museums will always face: fulfilling our missions means collecting more artifacts than we have room to display. The advent of online platforms like social media, websites, and photo-sharing sites has substantially increased virtual access to artifact collections, to the delight of curators and educators. But there’s a catch —

May 6, 2021

The Establishment of NECC

Fifteen years ago, on January 13, 2006, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) formally stood up as the Navy's Type Commander (TYCOM) for expeditionary forces.

Dec. 18, 2020

On the 50th Anniversary of First Flight, 14 Important Moments in the Life of the Tomcat

An air-to-air right side view of two Fighter Squadron 124 (VF-124) F-14 Tomcat aircraft. Advancements during the Cold War in Soviet long-range patrol and bomber aircraft dictated a requirement for a fleet defense fighter that could engage high-altitude bombers from well beyond visual range. The iconic F-14 was Grumman's answer. Continuing the

Dec. 11, 2020

The Loss of USS Saginaw

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the loss of the USS Saginaw and the tremendous voyage of five of her crew to seek help for their stranded shipmates. The USS Saginaw, the first ship built at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, was a side paddlewheel steamer. Commissioned in January of 1860, she spent the majority of her career in the Pacific.

Sept. 23, 2020

USS Thresher - What We Learned From Loss

The tragic loss of USS Thresher remains a pivotal moment in U.S. submarine operations, safety and culture.USS Thresher (SSN 593) got underway with 129 crew and shipyard personnel aboard for her post availability sea trials from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on April 9th, 1963, accompanied by the Submarine Rescue Ship Skylark (ASR-20). The first day of

Sept. 8, 2020

From Cafeteria to Conservation Lab: NHHC's Conservation Branch at Five Years

190814-N-HP188-0049 RICHMOND, Va. (August 14, 2019) Karl Knauer, a conservator at the Collection Management Facility, Naval History and Heritage Command, applies a customized sealant as part of the conservation process for a Vietnamese watercraft cal...

June 17, 2020

Twenty Years of Fostering Research on Naval Heritage: The NHHC Permitting Program

Caption: Blair Atcheson and George Schwarz, underwater archaeologists with NHHC, prepare a magnetometer to survey the potential USS Revenge wreck on Dec. 7, 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Heather Brown/Released)...

June 4, 2020

The Importance of Getting Navy Artifacts To the Public

You may have noticed that USS Reno (CL 96), named in honor of the city in Nevada, has garnered national attention this week regarding a World War II ensign and pennant that is on display at City Hall in Reno, Nev. The 48-star ensign, along with a commissioning pennant and the ship's bell have been on loan to the City of Reno from the Naval History

June 3, 2020

Great Lake: The Fascinating History of NNSY's World War II Aircraft Carrier USS Lake Champlain

Photos Courtesy of Marcus Robbins, Shipyard HistorianBefore it became a facility dedicated to maintenance and modernization almost 70 years ago, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) used to build ships. In the case of World War II, sometimes 27,000-ton ones.June 3 will mark the 75th anniversary of commissioning the NNSY aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain