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This Day in History: SS Gulfamerica targeted
On this day in 1942, SS Gulfamerica slowly sinks off the coast of Florida. She’d just been torpedoed by a German U-boat. She sank slowly...
tara
Apr 13, 20233 min read
This Day in History: USS Jacob Jones torpedoed
On this day in 1917, the destroyer USS Jacob Jones is torpedoed as she travels near the Isles of Scilly. Jacob Jones would be the first...
tara
Dec 6, 20223 min read
This Day in History: USS Archerfish's big hit
On this day in 1944, the submarine USS Archerfish lingers near wreckage of the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano. The American crew soon...
tara
Nov 30, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The first ships in “Washington’s Navy”
On this day in 1775, George Washington directs Nicolson Broughton to take command of the first ship in Washington’s Navy. The war had...
tara
Sep 2, 20222 min read
This Day in History: USS Memphis is wrecked by a massive tidal wave
On this day in 1916, a U.S. Navy armored cruiser is wrecked by a massive tidal wave. USS Memphis was effectively destroyed and dozens of...
tara
Aug 29, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Survivors of USS Indianapolis rescued
On this day in 1945, the last survivors of the USS Indianapolis are pulled from the Pacific Ocean. They’d been there since a Japanese...
tara
Aug 3, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Captain Silas Talbot
On this day in 1813, a former captain of the Continental Navy passes away. Silas Talbot also served in the United States Navy as the...
tara
Jun 30, 20223 min read
This Day in History: A tragic end for one of America’s early war heroes
On this day in 1807, USS Chesapeake limps back into Hampton Roads. Just one day earlier, she’d been involved in a disastrous...
tara
Jun 23, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The Chesapeake–Leopard affair
On this day in 1807, a British Royal Navy officer boards an American ship, looking for deserters. The humiliating affair ended when the...
tara
Jun 22, 20223 min read
This Day in History: German U-boats near Rhode Island
On this day in 1945, Americans destroy a German submarine near Point Judith, Rhode Island. That submarine, U-853, had torpedoed an...
tara
May 6, 20223 min read
This Day in History: HMS Bolton captured
On this day in 1776, a fledgling Continental Navy captures HMS Bolton. She was the second British ship to be captured in only two days....
tara
Apr 5, 20222 min read
This Day in History: The survivors of USS Leopold
On this day in 1944, survivors of USS Leopold arrive in Ireland. Their ship had been torpedoed late on March 9, and they’d been left in...
tara
Mar 11, 20223 min read
This Day in History: USS Leopold's forgotten struggle in the Atlantic
On this day in 1944, the last survivor of USS Leopold is pulled from a frigid Atlantic Ocean. Amazingly, 28 men had survived—for hours—in...
tara
Mar 10, 20223 min read
This Day in History: A Confederate sub sinks USS Housatonic
On this day in 1864, a Confederate submarine torpedoes and sinks USS Housatonic. The H.L. Hunley changed naval warfare forever. It was...
tara
Feb 17, 20223 min read
This Day in History: USS Maine explodes at Havana
On this day in 1898, USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor. To this day, no one knows exactly why the warship was destroyed. But at the...
tara
Feb 15, 20223 min read
This Day in History: Birth of the United States Coast Guard
On this day in 1915, two agencies are consolidated into a new United States Coast Guard. Wait. If the Coast Guard began as late as...
tara
Jan 28, 20223 min read
This Day in History: HMT Rohna: “World War II’s Secret Tragedy”
On this day in 1943, HMT Rohna is attacked. Her demise would be called “World War II’s Secret Tragedy.” More than 1,000 American troops...
tara
Nov 26, 20213 min read
This Day in History: SS Fort Lee's survivors
On this day in 1944, survivors of SS Fort Lee are rescued. The American tanker had been torpedoed by a German submarine a full week...
tara
Nov 9, 20213 min read
This Day in History: The 12-year-old who served in World War II
On this day in 1942, a 12-year-old distinguishes himself in combat. Yes, you read that correctly: A 12-year-old fought in World War II....
tara
Nov 6, 20213 min read
This Day in History: SS Fort Lee torpedoed
On this day in 1944, American tanker SS Fort Lee is torpedoed by Germans. Our military took risks during World War II, and we often hear...
tara
Nov 2, 20213 min read
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