On This Day

[John Brown]

Here’s an idea for a thread that could run continuously and give every member, regardless of their depth of knowledge in naval history, the chance to make regular posts to the forum. Each day members can add a ‘diary’ entry of a naval event that occurred on the same day 68 years before. It need not relate to a major event but must have taken place on that very same date 68 years ago. Nor need the entry be in great detail and members can include as much or as little information as they wish.

Before posting, members should check that are not duplicating a previous one for the same day. Although we don’t want duplicate posts there is nothing to stop members taking the subject from a ‘diary entry’ and expanding upon it in another section. Please give credit to the original poster for planting the seed.

I’m sure this will appeal to regular posters but, as I have said, hopefully it will encourage the less active members to make additional contributions.

Let’s see how it goes and I will start us off with the first post for 17th March 1940:

The destroyer HMS Intrepid accidentally collided with and sank the British Trawler ‘Ocean Drift’. Eight survivors from the trawler were rescued by Intrepid but two were missing presumed drowned. The Destroyer proceeded to Invergordon where emergency repairs were carried out to her stern.

The submarine U38 sank the Danish Steamer ‘Argentine’ in the North Sea.



Who’s next?


Regards…John

[astraltrader]

Very good idea JB - you have my support with this!

[astraltrader]

On the Armed Merchant Cruiser Mooltan, a sailor named J.Murray was reported as missing presumed killed on Sunday 17th March 1940.
No futher details.

[kc]

Good idea JB.

I have tried it before, way back in August, but there are a lot more members now.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174

Hopefully it can take off now.

[John Brown]

Thanks KC

Sorry, I wasn't trying to hijack your idea. However, looking at them, the formats are quite different although on a similar theme so I don't feel quite so quilty now:o


regards...John

[herakles]

OK, OK, it's not the navy. But it is the sea!

Today:

Supertanker Torrey Canyon has run aground on rocks between Land's End and the Scilly Isles and is leaking its cargo of oil into the sea.

[John Brown]

Well done Herk

The Old Torry Canyon. Was that really 68 years ago? Seems like only about 40 to me:)

Seriously though, if members feel this would be better as 'This day in history' rather than 'This day 68 years ago' then that's fine with me. I appreciate that confining the thread to WW2 might be a bit restrictive.

My offering for the day is:

18th March 1940: The Dutch trawler 'Protinus' was sunk by German aircraft near Middle Rough Bank near Ijmuiden.

[Odin]

I would prefer to have this day in history, so that we can cover other conflicts. Otherwise we will be possibly struggling (I was yesterday)

For example - World War I

On 18th March 1915 the British and French naval attack on the Narrows at Dardanelles was repulsed. HMS Irresistible and HMS Ocean were sunk by mines together with the French ship Bouvet. Also HMS Inflexible was damaged.

Some better news on the same day HMS Dreadnought rammed and sank the German U29 in the North Sea.

[herakles]

Of course! Today is a public holiday in Cannakale Turkey. The day Turkey beat the Royal Navy. It's celebrated every year.

And of course it was just this that caused the ill fated landings on the Peninsula to be put into practice a month later.

I would prefer a "This Day in History!"

[John Brown]

That's Fine.

'This Day In History' it is then!


Regards...John

[Batstiger]

Torrey Canyon, 41 years to the day.

HMS Pelican launched 18/03/1916 sold for scrapping Nov 1921.

HMS Pelargonium launched 18/03/1918 Sold 1921 (no pic sorry)

HMS Hardy launched 18/03/1943 torpedoed 30/01/1944.

[John Brown]

Different sources give slightly different dates for the sinking of these three American ships by U Boats.

City Of Memphis

Illinois

Vigilancia


The most common date however appears to be 18th March 1917.

[astraltrader]

Has it now been decided to go with this day in history - rather than with JB`s original suggestion?

I personally favour Johns original suggestion because firstly it makes it harder to find out about a specific day in a specific year which makes the research element more challenging and secondly to pick a day in History means that after a year we would start to repeat ourselves.

However I am happy to go with the flow. As it was JB`s idea then I think we should leave it up to him which one of the two we will adopt.

Over to you sir!

[John Brown]

Terry

I decided to make it 'This day in history' and posted to that effect earlier today. I agree with your comments about the more challenging research aspect for the seasoned posters. However, one of my reasons for starting this thread was to encourage less active members to join in and post. I suppose therefore, the easier it is for them to find material, the more likely they are to contribute.

Perhaps the challenge for all of us will be, as you say, in a years time when we strive not to repeat ourselves.

Regards....John

[kc]

My vote would be for a concept wider than WW2, for the reasons already mentioned - it makes it easier for people to post - and for a more selfish reason, which I will explain.

It would be nice to be able to take snippets from this thread and display them on the given day in future, and that would mean on a front page display box / ticker, or something to that effect. At the moment we are working extremely hard to optimise our servers to keep ahead of increasing demand, so bits and pieces like this will have to wait for now, but threads like this sow the seeds of bigger things in the future. (and save me a lot of work compiling them if they are already in one place :))

[astraltrader]

OK Kc - so a day in history it is, Sir!

[herakles]

And not just WW2!

[herakles]

On this day 19 March 1982:

A group of Argentines have landed at the British colony of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic and planted their nation's flag.

About 50 Argentines are reported to have arrived at Leith Harbour, on South Georgia, about 1,400 miles east of the Falklands archipelago off the Argentine coast.
(This was the start of something big!!)

And on this day in 1992, the RAN officially adopted the Slouch Hat as an item of uniform.

There's merit in having this as a sticky thread Kc.

[John Brown]

19th March 1940

The destroyer HMS Jervis was in collision with the Swedish Steamer ‘Tor’ north east of Blyth, Northumberland. The Jervis suffered extensive damage to her hull and 17 of her crew were killed. The destroyer returned to the Tyne for repairs at Swan Hunters Yard.


U19 sank the Danish steamers:

‘Minsk’ with eleven men lost and 9 rescued by the destroyer HMS Esk.

The ‘Charkow’

The ‘Viking’ with men fifteen lost and two survivors.

The ‘Bothal’ with fifteen men lost

[Batstiger]

On this day 19th March 1932:-

For all those down under who appear to have forgotten!!

Bob.

[herakles]

No Bob, didn't forget - never knew! Anyway it's in Sinney and no-one pays any attention to them!

And boy oh boy, did that coat-hanger cost the English banks!

[Odin]

Going back a bit - some Hornblower stuff

On this day 19th March 1813 Boats from HMS Apollo and HMS Cerberus destroyed four vessels, a battery and a tower three miles northwest of Porto di Monopoli (Bari, Italy).

This action was not rewarded with a clasp for the Naval General Service Medal 1848 (same medal as awarded for Trafalgar). This is possibly because no officer was promoted - the main criteria for the award of a clasp for this medal.

[John Brown]

19th March 1940:

A German U Boat was sighted close to Holm Sound in the Orkney Islands. Destroyers from Scapa Flow searched the area with HMS Foxhound attacking a submarine contact. No hits were claimed and the search was abandoned that night.

[astraltrader]

To dovetail with what JB has posted - On 19th March 1940 as a reprisal for the German attack on Scapa Flow which took place the previous October - 50 RAF bombers raided the German seaplane base at Hornum on the island of Sylt...

[astraltrader]

On 19 March 1941 the German Admiral Weichold sent a letter to the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy Admiral Riccardi, suggesting that he should attack in force in the eastern Mediterranean as he has learnt that the British have only one war-ready Battleship at their base in Alexandria - HMS Valiant...

[astraltrader]

On 19th March 1944 - US destroyers repeat their shelling of the Japanese base at Wewak, New Guinea. At the same time a Japanese supply convoy put to sea again from Wewak for Hollandia, but is surprised and destroyed by aircraft of the US 5th Air Force..

Also in the Admiralty Islands the US 8th Cavalry begins to mop up the eastern part of Manus Island...

[herakles]

20th March:

1945:The British Pacific Fleet arrived at Ulithi to join the US Fifth Fleet for Operation Iceberg, the assault on Okinawa. HMAS QUICKMATCH and QUIBERON, (destroyers), were serving with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla in the Fleet.

1942: Australian Coastwatcher PO W. L. Tupling, RANVR, was reported executed by the Japanese in New Britain.

You see, it's the early bird that catches the worm!

[John Brown]

20th March 1940:

The Armed Merchant Cruisers 'Cilicia' and 'Carinthia' collided whilst departing and arriving the River Clyde. 'Cilicia' had serious damage to her stern and was taken to Belfast for repairs. 'Carinthia' went to Birkenhead to be repaired.

Convoys HN20 and ON21 were attacked by German bombers and several ships were damaged.

[Odin]

Back to the Hornblower stuff again:

On this day 20th March 1794 HMS Zebra ran alongside the bastion of Fort Royal, Martinique and stormed and captured the fort.

A bar was awarded for the Naval General Service Medal 1848 for this action - Zebra 17th March 1794. Two men from HMS Zebra were alive in 1848 to claim their medals with the bar - Joseph Bass (Carpenter's Crew) and Henry Hill (Lieut).

Note the date was incorrect on the bar - they have confused it with the date the French frigate Bienvenue was captured in Fort Royal Bay.

[Commodore Armiger]

On this day in 1922 USS Langley was commissioned as the first US aircraft carrier.

The following is from a well-researched Wikipedia entry:

The USS Langley (CV-1/AV-3) was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter (AC-3), the navy's first electrically-propelled ship. Conversion of another collier was planned but canceled when the Washington Naval Treaty required the scrapping of the partially-built battlecruisers Lexington and Saratoga, freeing up their hulls for conversion to the aircraft carriers CV-2 and CV-3. The Langley was named after Samuel Pierpont Langley, an American aviation pioneer. Following another conversion, to a seaplane tender, Langley fought in World War II. She was so badly damaged by Japanese bombing attacks that she was sunk by her escorts on 27 February 1942.

Collier

Jupiter's keel was laid down on 18 October 1911 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard of Vallejo, California. She was launched on 14 August 1912 sponsored by Mrs. Thomas F. Ruhm; and commissioned on 7 April 1913 under Commander Joseph M. Reeves. Her sister ships were USS Cyclops, which disappeared without a trace (allegedly in the Bermuda Triangle) during World War I, and USS Proteus, and USS Nereus, which disappeared on the same route as Cyclops in World War II.

After successfully passing her trials, Jupiter embarked a United States Marine Corps detachment at San Francisco, California, and reported to the Pacific Fleet at Mazatlán Mexico, 27 April 1914, bolstering U.S. naval strength on the Mexican Pacific coast during the tense days of the Veracruz crisis. She remained on the Pacific coast until she departed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 10 October. En route the collier steamed through the Panama Canal on Columbus Day, the first vessel to transit it from west to east.

Prior to America's entry into World War I, she cruised the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico attached to the Atlantic Fleet Auxiliary Division. The ship arrived Norfolk, Virginia, on 6 April 1917, and, assigned to NOTS, interrupted her coaling operations by two cargo voyages to France in June 1917 and November 1918. She was back in Norfolk 23 January 1919 whence she sailed for Brest, France, 8 March for coaling duty in European waters to expedite the return of victorious veterans to the United States. Upon reaching Norfolk 17 August, the ship was transferred to the west coast. Her conversion to an aircraft carrier was authorized 11 July 1919, and she sailed to Hampton Roads, Virginia, 12 December where she decommissioned 24 March 1920.

Carrier

Jupiter was converted into the first U.S. aircraft carrier at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia, for the purpose of conducting experiments in the new idea of seaborne aviation. On 11 April 1920, her name was changed to Langley in honor of Samuel Pierpont Langley, an American astronomer, physicist, aeronautics pioneer and aircraft engineer, and she was given hull classification symbol CV-1. She recommissioned 20 March 1922 with Commander Kenneth Whiting in command. The naming of Langley was one of many shots in a long feud between Orville Wright and the United States Government.

As the first American aircraft carrier, Langley was the scene of numerous momentous events. On 17 October 1922 Lieutenant Virgil C. Griffin piloted the first plane, a Vought VE-7, launched from her decks. Though this was not the first time an airplane had taken off from a ship, and though Langley was not the first ship with an installed flight-deck, this one launching was of monumental importance to the modern U.S. Navy. The era of the aircraft carrier was born introducing into the Navy what was to become the vanguard of its forces in the future. With Langley underway nine days later, Lieutenant Commander Godfrey de Courcelles Chevalier made the first landing in an Aeromarine 39B. On 18 November Commander Whiting, at the controls of a PT, was the first aviator to be catapulted from a carrier's deck.

By 15 January 1923 Langley had begun flight operations and tests in the Caribbean Sea for carrier landings. In June she steamed to Washington, DC, to give a demonstration at a flying exhibition before civil and military dignitaries. She arrived Norfolk 13 June and commenced training along the Atlantic coast and Caribbean which carried her through the end of the year. In 1924 Langley participated in more maneuvers and exhibitions, and spent the summer at Norfolk for repairs and alterations, she departed for the west coast late in the year and arrived San Diego, California, on 29 November to join the Pacific Battle Fleet. For the next twelve years she operated off the California coast and Hawaii engaged in training fleet units, experimentation, pilot training, and tactical-fleet problems.

Seaplane tender

On 25 October 1936 she put into Mare Island Navy Yard, California, for overhaul and conversion to a seaplane tender. Though her career as a carrier had ended, her well-trained pilots proved invaluable to the next two carriers, USS Lexington and USS Saratoga.

Langley completed conversion 26 February 1937 and was assigned hull classification symbol AV-3 on 11 April. She was assigned to Aircraft Scouting Force and commenced her tending operations out of Seattle, Washington, Sitka, Alaska, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego, California. She departed for a brief deployment with the Atlantic Fleet from 1 February to 10 July 1939, and then steamed to assume her duties with the Pacific fleet at Manila arriving 24 September.

On the entry of the US into World War II, Langley was anchored off Cavite, Philippines. On 8 December, following the invasion of the Philippines by Japan, she departed Cavite for Balikpapan, in the Dutch East Indies. As Japanese advances continued, Langley departed for Australia, arriving in Darwin on 1 January 1942. She then became part of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM) naval forces. Until 11 January, Langley assisted the Royal Australian Air Force in running antisubmarine patrols out of Darwin.

Langley went to Fremantle, Australia, to pick up Allied aircraft and transport them to Southeast Asia. Carrying 32 P-40 fighter planes belonging to the United States Army Air Forces 49th Pursuit Group, she and a convoy departed Fremantle on 22 February. Langley left the convoy five days later and delivered the planes to Tjilatjap (Cilacap), Java.

In the early hours of 27 February, Langley rendezvoused with her anti-submarine screen, destroyers USS Whipple and USS Edsall. At 11:40, about 75 miles (120 km) south of Tjilatjap, nine twin-engine Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service's Takao Kokutai, led by Lieutenant Jiro Adachi, attacked her. The first and second Japanese strikes were unsuccessful, but during the third, Langley took five hits and 16 crew members were killed. Aircraft topside burst into flames, steering was impaired, and the ship developed a ten-degree list to port. Unable to negotiate the narrow mouth of Tjilatjap harbor, Langley went dead in the water, as her engine room flooded. At 13:32, the order to abandon ship was passed. The escorting destroyers fired nine four-inch shells and two torpedoes into Langley, to ensure she didn't fall into enemy hands, and she sank.

[Commodore Armiger]

On this day 20 March 1815, Napoleon entered Paris on his return from exile in Elba. One may ask what was the Royal Navy doing allowing such a dangerous character to take ship from Elba in the first place!

[John Brown]

It does have a naval element so:

20th March 2003:

The United States and her coalition allies launched their invasion of Iraq

[Batstiger]

On this day the 20th March 1945 HMS Lapwing was torpedoed and sunk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/08/a6234608.shtml

Bob.

[astraltrader]

20th March 1941 - Plymouth and Devonport Dockyard received heavy and indiscriminate bombing raids during the night...

20th March 1942 - "Operation save Malta" is launched. Four ships leave Alexandria - bound for Malta. The convoy is escorted by the Cruisers Dido, Euryalus, Cleopatra and Carlisle with 17 destroyers. To draw as many Axis aircraft as possible from this convoy the RAF attack airfields in the area of Benghazi and Derna...

20yh March 1944 - In support of the occupation of Emira - an island north of New Ireland in the Pacific - a task force commanded by Rear-Admiral Griffin comprising 4 Battleships, 2 Escort Carriers with Destroyers brings heavy air and naval bombardment to bear on the Japanese base at Kaveing.

[herakles]

21 March

HM Ships ANZAC, TATTOO, SWORDSMAN, SUCCESS, TASMANIA, and STALWART were transferred to the RAN. The S class destroyers were replacements for the six torpedo boat destroyers used during the World War I.

LEUT C. G. Hill, RANR, of HMAS WARERHEN, boarded the bombed and burning Danish tanker MARIE MAERSK, after the vessel had been abandoned by her crew north of Crete. Hill directed a party of sailors from the destroyer in extinguishing the fires and steamed the tanker to Suda Bay, despite the presence of enemy aircraft. LEUT Hill was awarded the OBE for outstanding courage and leadership.

[Odin]

On this day 21st March 1813 boats from HMS Brevdageren and HMS Blazer cut out the Danish gun-boats Jonge Troutman and Liebe in the River Elbe.

A bar was awarded to the Naval General Service Medal 1948 and three men claimed the medal:

Thomas Davies Asst Surgeon HMS Brevdageren
Frederick Devon Midshipman HMS Brevdageren
James Whiteman Pte RM HMS Blazer

Midshipman Devon was promoted for his part in this action

[John Brown]

21st march 1940:

The destroyers HMS Electra and Encounter sailed into Skerry Sound to guard the eastern entrance to Scapa Flow after a U boat had been fired upon in Holm Sound by the Tower Cliff battery.

U57 sank the Norwegian steamer 'SVINTA' while it was under tow by the British tug 'St Mellons'. The 'SVINTA' had been damaged in the attack on Convoy ON21 the previous day. She sank nearly 5 miles east of Copinsay.

HM Submarine Ursula torpedoed and sank the German steamer 'HEDDERNHEIM' north east of Skagen. This was the first sinking of a German steamer by a submarine in the war. 'Ursula' herself was later damaged by ice.

[herakles]

22 March 1919

CDRE John Saumarez Dumaresq, CB, CVO, MVO, RN, was appointed Commodore Commanding Australian Naval Squadron, and hoisted his flag in the cruiser HMAS MELBOURNE. Although a RN officer he had been born in Sydney in 1873, and later joined the Royal Navy as a cadet midshipman.

22March 1968

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), sailed from Sydney on her second tour of duty with the US 7th Fleet off Vietnam.

22 March 1984

HMAS IPSWICH, (patrol boat), apprehended an Indonesian fishing vessel poaching in the Australian Fishing Zone, after a game of hide and seek in mangrove swamps. The vessel was escorted to Koolan Island and charged.

[John Brown]

It's still the 21st March in Blighty so:


21st March 1940

U38 sank the Danish steamers 'Algier' and 'Christianborg'. 18 survivors from 'Algier' were rescued by the trawler 'Manx King'. Survivors from the 'Christianborg' were rescued by the armed boarding vessel 'Discovery II' which then had to sink the afterpart of the steamer with gunfire.

[herakles]

Anyway, it's the 22nd here.

[John Brown]

Smart piece of editing Herk. I wasn't going to mention it:)

John

[kc]

22nd March - google search results from our site:

German armoured cruiser Prinz Heinrich launched, 1900.
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/smsprinzheinrich.jpg
Prinz Heinrich

British Ruler Class escort carrier HMS Premier launched / acquired, 1943.

Japanese cruiser Asama launched, 1898.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/asamampl5695.jpg
Asama

British Monmouth Class cruiser HMS Lancaster launched, 1902. (I think this photo was taken that day):

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/lancaster3.jpg

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmslancastermpl965.jpg
HMS Lancaster , complete.

Italian Indomito class destroyer Impavido launched, 1913.

and finally...

American Clemson class destroyer DD192 USS Graham launched 1919, only to be 'involved' - sunk? in a collision 16th December 1921, less than 3 years later.

[John Brown]

22nd March 1940
HMS Ark Royal left Plymouth for the Mediterranean escorted by the destroyers HMS Imogen and HMS Isis.


22nd March 1941

The British tanker 'AGNITA' was sunk by the German raider 'KORMORAN'. The entire crew of the tanker was taken prisoner.


22nd March 1942

The destroyer HMS Kingston was sunk by German bombing at Malta.

[herakles]

Smart piece of editing Herk. I wasn't going to mention it:)

John

It's not the only mistake I've made here today! Thanks for not mentioning it!

[Odin]

Yet more Hornblower stuff:

On this day 22nd March 1808 HMS Nassau and HMS Stately captured the Danish 74 gun Prinds Christian Frederik, near Grenaa on the East Coast of Jutland. The prize went ashore on Sjaellands Odde, Kattegat immediately afterwards and was burnt the following day.

Bars were issued for the Naval General Service Medal 1848 for this action:
Nassau 22 March 1808 - 31 recipients
Stately 22 March 1808 – 30 recipients

Thomas Jackson Acting Lieut RN HMS Nassau was promoted for his part in this action.

[John Brown]

22nd March 1942

Convoy MW10 en route to Malta came under attack from far superior Italian Forces. The battle lasted 3 days during which the destroyer HMS Southwold was sunk.

[Batstiger]

22nd March 1943.

My first real draft HMS Termagant was launched.
I joined her as a Boy seaman way back in 1953 just after she had been semi converted to a Type 16 Frigate.
She was fitted with the latest Asdic of the day and posted to Rothesay to serve with the 3rd submarine flotilla with HMS Montclare as the Depot ship hence the red and blue marking on the funnel.
Both sets of torpedo tubes had been removed to enable her to pick up used torpedoes that had been fired at her as a target ship for Budding submarine Commanders.

Bob

[Odin]

On this day 22nd March 1885 the Battle of Tofrek was fought in the Sudan, near Suakin.

McNeill marched out of Suakin with a small force which including a Royal Marine detachment and four Gardner machine guns crewed by a naval brigade. This was drawn from sailors from the ships Alexandra, Carysfort (12), Condor (7), Coquette (2), Dolphin (12), Sphinx (13) and Starling (3).

McNeill decided to set up camp and work began immediately on building zaribas (defence positions made from scrub). They were suddenly attacked by Hadendowa; some of whom managed to break into the square. There then followed some of the hardest fighting that ever took place in the Sudan. The successful action resulted in 117 officers and men being killed and almost 200 wounded on the British side, an estimated 2000 killed of the Hadendowa.

The Naval Brigade that took part in this action earned the Egypt Medal with the bar Tofrek. They also had previously qualified for the clasp Suakin 1885.

[herakles]

23rd March: (note John - 23rd!!!)

1882

The Report of a Royal Commission into Colonial Defence ordered by the British Prime Minister, Disraeli, was published in part. Sections dealing with the un-preparedness of Australian colonies to defend themselves were suppressed.

1944

The Fremantle-based USS DACE, (submarine), landed a coastwatcher reconnaissance party, under CAPT G. C. Harris, on Cape Tanahmerah, Dutch New Guinea, to gather intelligence for the proposed landing at Hollandia.

1968

The guided missile destroyer HMAS HOBART, (CAPT K. W. Shands, RAN), was in company with the US Ships COLLETT and ST PAUL when she came under enemy fire from shore batteries off Mui Ron, Vietnam.

1984

HMAS CESSNOCK, rushed emergency medical aid and food supplies to cyclone devastated Borrodoola in Western Australia.

[astraltrader]

Only giving my opinion here but I see a problem developing with this thread unless we adopt an agreed time [probably GMT] for the date changeover. If this is not adopted [this thread only] we will lose sequential continuity with the timeline - as has already begun to happen.
I appreciate this will involve those not on GMT having to establish at what hour in their particular zone is the equivalent to midnight GMT.
I cannot see a logical alternative to this...

[herakles]

Interesting idea Terry.Before saying anything myself, I'd like to read what the two or three others that post here have to say. It hasn't attracted the audience that I feel John hoped it would.

[astraltrader]

I dont know about interesting - it is just a fact that if days are to be divided, we either all change at the same time or there will be an uneven timeline.
The only alternative would be to adopt a policy of - well that isn`t very important. I will go with the flow!

I know Kc doesn`t agree - but I thought the thread was better with JB`s original idea. Still on that I will go with the wishes of the others...

[Odin]

This doesn't have to be a problem if people apply a little common sense, ie if those in New Zealand refrain from posting to this thread, at five minutes past midnight their local time and likewise those in the west coast of USA not post at ten minutes to midnight.

I still feel sticking with one specific year is rather restrictive. Although I'm very interested in naval conflict, we would be working with WWII for another five years, had we stuck with the original approach. World War II actions aren't my particular main interest and so I'm less familiar with the detail. By the time we get to something like the Falklands I will probably be in another place with harps playing, let alone ever getting to cover the Battles of Jutland and Trafalgar!

[herakles]

I don't think that's fair Odin. You have to appreciate that I for instance am having lunch when you lot are waking up. So when do you think I should post here? Suggest a time.

The "five minutes after midnight" is laying it on a bit thick!

I'm happy to fall in with the few others who regularly post here.

And I still feel we haven't yet clearly defined just what we should post here. You for instance seem to want to cover the Napoleonic times. A period that interests me more than any other by the way.

I tend to cover events that affected Australia.

[Odin]

I wasn't trying to have a dig at you or anyone else - it was mere a metaphorical example to support a common sense approach. I hadn't particularly noted the times of posts, merely the earlier overlap 21st/22nd March. Sorry if it appeared otherwise.

With a more general approach to the thread does allow people to cover their specific interests, such as you covering Australian events. I've latched onto the conflicts between 1793 and 1840 as there were 231 different clasps awarded for the Naval General Service Medal 1848 - so there is getting on for a 60% chance I can find one action for each day. Some of these actions are fascinating and only succeeded because of the skill and courage of the Royal Navy officers and men. So I think they are worthy of note.

[John Brown]

Guys

Just to let you know...

I have just tried to post some thoughts but got timed out and lost evrything:(

I don't have time to type it again now but will be back later.

Regards...John

[herakles]

Good John. Your input would be most helpful.

Odin, I realise you weren't being unpleasant. But I did want to raise the issue that having people from around the world, makes tasks like this one awkward.

[John Brown]

As Herk has already intimated, I had hoped that more members would have started contributing to this thread especially as the concept is so simple. However, at the moment, posts are mainly being made by the more regular contributors. I feel therefore that restricting the time, in their day, that members can post will not be helpful in encouraging others to join in. I think we all understand the effect of the time difference and so long as people, particularly new members, let us know their rough location, it shouldn't really present a problem. In the case where, for example, Herk posted for the 22nd and I followed with a post for the 21st I started with ‘It’s still the 21st here in Blighty so’….. This was not a dig at Herks post but was intended to clarify the situation for the member that posted after me.

Similarly, now we have made the thread ‘this day in history’ it should be easy for any member, with a minimum amount of research, to contribute something to the forum. Once again however we are, at the moment, getting posts mainly from the already regular contributors. I don’t think therefore that restricting the content of the posts as per my original idea for the thread would increase the number of contributors. It might even have the reverse effect.

The thread was my idea but I want it to be interesting and fun for everybody. I do not therefore wish my own personal views to dictate how it progresses. My suggestion would be that we let it run ‘as is’ for a while and see if more members start contributing. If they do not then perhaps we review the matter again. It seems to me that Herk is the only current contributer to the thread that the time difference really affects and I think we can live with that in the short term at least.

If this is not acceptable then what are the possible solutions….a vote amongst the regulars to the thread …….or……a ruling by Kc?

Regards…..John

[John Brown]

Terry

Even though we have widened the scope of the thread I am still intending to make at least one post relating to this day 68 years ago. If you wish, you can do the same....


23rd March 1940

The destroyer HMS Express was damaged in collision with the British trawler ‘Manx Admiral’ off Kinnaird Head. The destroyer was taken to Hartlepool for repairs.

The look out trawler ‘Loch Assater’ was sunk on a British defensive minefield north east of Kinnaird Head. The whole crew was rescued by another trawler ‘Strathtummel’

The German steamer Edmund Eugo Stinnes was intercepted in the Skagerrak by HM Submarine Truant which fired five warning shots across her bows. The steamer sailed into territorial waters and attempted to scuttle herself. Truant finished the steamer off with two torpedoes near the Thors Minde Lighthouse.


John

[Commodore Armiger]

Sorry to raise another hare, but "on this day" events were of course at the local time of the place where the event happened. Thus Pearl Harbor happened at dawn on 7 December 1941 in Hawaii, when in London it was but early PM on the 6th.

So ....

if a member posts in Hawaii at breakfast time on 7 December it is still tea time on the 6th in London.

But ....

if no-one posts about Pearl before I get around to it at midday on the 7th in Sweden it is already the 8th in Hawaii.

To avoid us all going totally bonkers over this, I suggest that each member takes "on this day" as meaning if their calendar and watch say, for example, that it's Sunday 23 March, then they post events that happened on 23 March.

[herakles]

I'm with John. His idea of having this thread was very good. It's just a pity that others haven't picked it up yet.

The task is simple and I hope the results are interesting and fun. They certainly have been to date.

I'm for letting things alone for the time being. As John said, I'm the only one posting just now with a different time. Just for the record, I am 7 hours ahead of you. You may have noticed that I keep rather strange hours. It's that I don't sleep much.

If you would like me to post later, I will be happy to oblige!

[astraltrader]

All fine with me - as I said I will go with the flow.
My only concern was to preserve an uninterrupted dateline...

[Odin]

Hope that's sorted now

Meanwhile on this day 23 March 1805 boats from HMS Stork cut out the Dutch privateer Antilope under Cape Roxo (Rojo) Puerto Rico

This action was not marked by a clasp for the Naval General Service Medal 1848

[herakles]

24 March 2003 (note date!!!)

A boarding Party from HMAS KANIMBLA lead by LCDR M. D. Edwards, RAN, captured a number of Iraqi tugs in the Northern Arabian Gulf. On-board these tugs, and a barge being towed by them, were 186 sea mines which were ready to be deployed, (one of the mines was later presented to the Australian War Memorial as a relic). Later that day a steaming party from KANIMBLA took control of the two tugs, and steamed them to Kuwait Naval Base, where they arrived the next day. During this short period the tugs flew the Australian White Ensign.

24 March 1975:

The destroyer escort HMAS PARRAMATTA, (CMDR J. D. Foster, RAN), became the first RAN warship to visit the scene of the killing of CAPT. James Cook, RN, at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii.

24 March 1945

HRH the Duke of Gloucester officially opened the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney. A ribbon suspended across the dock entrance was cut by HMAS LACHLAN, (frigate). The building of the dock was the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia up to that time. At the peak of its activity 4000 men were employed, 24 hours a day, on the project. The dock was designed to accommodate the largest warships afloat, and the super liners QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH.

(but was he sober at the time?)

24 March 1942

US Congress accepted an Australian proposal for dividing the Pacific into distinct naval operational zones. The two areas proposed were the Southwest Pacific and the Southern Pacific.

24 March 1940

Volunteers from ships of Australia’s “Scrap Iron Flotilla”, in the Mediterranean, embarked on a mission to block the Danube River at a feature known as the Iron Gates. The operation was planned by DNI from a suggestion made by LCDR M. Minshall, RNVR, who had voyaged down the river on an intelligence mission shortly before the outbreak of hostilities. Coordinator for the operation was LCDR Ian Fleming, creator of the fictional hero James Bond. LCDR Fleming smuggled 14 tons of explosives across Europe on the Orient Express. The operation was discovered by German agents before the RAN-manned barges reached the target. In the withdrawal one barge loaded with explosives was detonated beneath a railway viaduct. All Australian members of the Commando-style mission succeeded in returning to their ships.

(How do you smuggle 14 tons of anything on the Orient Express???????)

1889

An oil tanker has run aground on a reef off the Alaskan coast, releasing gallons of crude oil into the sea. The Exxon Valdez got into trouble in Prince William Sound when it hit Bligh Reef, splitting its side open and releasing oil, with reports of an eight-mile (1.61km) slick.



1953


Her Majesty Queen Mary, the Queen's grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep.


A busy day in history!!

[Odin]

On this day 24th March 1740 Admiral Vernon after a two day bombardment, captured Fort Chagre at the mouth of the Chagre River in Panama (now called Chagres). The ships that were engaged in the bombardment included HMS Stafford, HMS Norwich, HMS Falmouth and HMS Princess Louisa.

Admiral Vernon's nickname was "Old Grog" came from his habit of wearing grogram (a strong, coarse material made of silk and mohair). He introduced the practice of diluting the seamen's daily ration of rum with water, which became known as "grog".

[John Brown]

24th March 1940:

The French destroyer La Railleuse was blown in two by the accidental explosion of one of her own torpedoes at Casablanca. This was the first French destroyer casualty of the war.

The German steamer ‘OSTPREUSSEN’ ran aground near Hirsthals Light. HM Submarine Triad investigated but was unable to attack. The steamer was refloated on 30th March.

Surgeon Lt Cdr G A Lawson and Surgeon Lt P G Stainton from the cruiser HMS Shropshire were killed in an air crash.

[herakles]

Admiral Vernon's nickname was "Old Grog" came from his habit of wearing grogram (a strong, coarse material made of silk and mohair). He introduced the practice of diluting the seamen's daily ration of rum with water, which became known as "grog".

I posted an article on grog and the origin of its name recently:

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1297

[stewart mcloughlin]

I'm with the Commodore on this one, you post at your local time and the heck with it.
However, I disagree with his clock, if it's dawn (08:00) in Hawaii on 7th, then it's 18:00 on 7th in London. Not the 6th. Hawaii is on the East of the date line, is it not?
Stewart

[astraltrader]

24th March 1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, 2 March 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank...

24th March 1916 - HM Submarine E 24 lost at sea.


24th March 1942 - Port Moresby was heavily bombed...

24th March 1945 - The Americans began comprehensive mine-sweeping operations around the Ryukyu Islands.
Okinawa is heavily bombarded by a Battleship squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Lee...

[herakles]

25 March

1859

The Australia Station was established as a separate command. The Station was defined in a minute from the Admiralty: “Australia Station:- Bounded on the North by the Parallel of 10 degrees of South Latitude, on the East by the Meridian of 170th degree of West Longitude, on the South by the Antarctic Circle, and on the West by the Meridian of 75th degree of East Longitude”. Ships from the Australia Station were involved in operations from Malaya to the west coast of America and the Pacific islands.

1919

Britain’s gift submarines to the RAN, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6 and J7, were commissioned into the RAN. The Flotilla Commander was CMDR E. C. Boyle, VC, RN.

1925

The cruiser HMS CONCORD, (CAPT A. R. W. Woods, RN), joined the Australian Squadron for an exchange deployment. She was met by HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), at Broome Bay, WA. CONCORD’s place in the Royal Navy was taken by HMAS ADELAIDE, (cruiser), which joined the 1st Cruiser Squadron at Gibraltar.

1944

Manus Island was captured by the Allies. Seeadler Harbour was developed as a major naval base and by September 1944 it rivalled Pearl Harbour. It was equipped with a 100,000 ton floating dock and cranes with a lifting capacity of 180 tons.

1969

CPO A. V. Rashleigh, and AB A. J. Sherlock, of Clearance Diving Team 3, cleared an enemy log barrier more than 30m long, blocking a channel in the Mekong Delta. Troops dispersed along the channel banks kept the enemy at bay, while the divers fastened explosive charges under the log barrier.

1975

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia has died after a gun attack in Riyadh despite the efforts of doctors to save him.

1980

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has voted by a large majority to defy the government and send athletes to the Olympic Games in Moscow.

[John Brown]

Still the 24th Here.....

24th March 1941

Convoy WS7 left the Clyde but the steamer STRATHAIRD collided with the STIRLING CASTLE and returned to port.

The Anti submarine yacht WILNA was damaged by German bombing and abandoned near the Nab Lighthouse.

The Italian submarine VENIERO sank the British steamer AGNETE MAERSK from the dispersed convoy OG56. All hands were lost.

The Anti Submarine Trawler VISENDA sank U551 south of Iceland. There were no survivors from the submarine.

The German steamer ODER, which had left Massawa on the 23rd, was intercepted by the sloop SHOREHAM. The steamer scuttled herself in the Red Sea.

[Odin]

Since the French President will be visiting the Queen some topical things:

On this day 25th March 1797 HMS Suffisante captured the French privateer Bonaparte 30 miles South South West of Start Point

and

On this day 25th March 1800 HMS Cruizer captured the French privateer Flibustier to the east of Smith's Knoll in the North Sea

[John Brown]

25th March 1940

U47 sank the Danish Steamer ‘BRITTA’ off Sule Skerry. Five survivors were rescued by another Danish steamer, the ‘NANCY’. Thirteen of the crew were missing and the area was searched by several RN Destroyers but the submarine was not located.

The French destroyer ‘FROBIN’ stopped the Portuguese steamer ‘LIMA’ off Lisbon. A German citizen accused of espionage was taken off the ship and into custody.


John

[John Brown]

25th March 1941

The British steamer ‘Rossmore’ was bombed and sunk by German aircraft north east of Godrevy Island. Six crew members were lost.

The British steamer ‘BEAVERBRAE’ was sunk by German aircraft. All 86 crew members were rescued by HM destroyers TARTAR and GURKHA. Whilst returning to Scapa Flow, GURKHA collided with an unknown drifter which sank with all hands.

The British steamer ‘BRITANNIA’ was sunk by the German raider ‘THOR’. Amongst the survivors 33 reached Brazil in a lifeboat after 23 days.

The Swedish steamer ‘TROLLEHOLM’ was sunk by the ‘THOR’. The crew were saved and interned.

The British steamer ‘CANADOLITE’ was captured by the German raider ‘KORMORAN’.

John

[herakles]

26 March:

1857

HMVS VICTORIA, (sloop of war), trained her guns on prison hulks anchored off Williamstown, VIC, during disturbances following the murder of John Price, (Inspector General of Prisons), by convicts.

1859

CDRE William Loring, CB, was appointed Commodore commanding the newly established Australian Squadron of the Royal Navy, which became independent of the C-in-C, India. His Flagship was HMS IRIS, and HM Ships NIGER, CORDELIA, ELK, and PELORUS completed the squadron.

1945

The British Pacific Fleet joined the US Pacific Fleet for operations against the Ryuku Islands. Units of the RAN were attached to the British Pacific Fleet.

1968

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), acted as bait to draw the fire of North Vietnamese batteries near Cap Lay, Vietnam. The ruse was not successful.

[Odin]

In keeping with the French theme

On this day 26th March 1806 HMS Pique captured the French Phaeton and Voltigeur 10 miles southwest by south of Saona Island (Santo Domingo).
Ironically HMS Pique was formerly the French ship Pallas, a 36-gun fifth rate, captured in 1800 (sold for breaking up in 1819).

also

On this day 26th March 1814 HMS Hannibal captured the French Sultane 30 miles south south east of Lizard Head.
HMS Hannibal was a 74-gun third rate vessel launched in 1810. From 1825 she was on harbour service until broken up in 1833.

[John Brown]

26th March 1940

The Norwegian steamer ‘COMETA’, which had previously been stopped by the armed boarding vessel ‘KINGSTON PERIDOT’, was torpedoed and sunk by U38. A prize crew of one officer and four ratings had been put aboard by the ‘KINGSTON PERIDOT’. Survivors were picked up by the armed boarding vessel ‘NORTHERN SKY’.


26th March 1941

The Canadian armed yacht ‘OTTER’ was sunk by an accidental fire and explosion off Halifax Lighthouse. Eighteen crew members were lost. Four survivors were rescued by the submarine ‘TALISMAN’ and eighteen by the Polish steamer ‘WISLA’.

The cable ship ‘FARADAY’ was damaged by German bombing near St Annes Head. Eight of the crew were killed and the ship sank on 27th March in West Dale Bay.

The heavy cruiser HMS YORK was badly damaged by Italian explosive motor boats in Suda Bay. The ship settled in four and a half fathoms of water with two of her crew dead. The ship was wrecked with demolition charges on 22nd May 1941.

John

[kc]

Search results from our site for 26th March

British Carrier HMS Indomitable launched, 1940.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsindomitablempl781.jpg
HMS Indomitable.

US Allen M Sumner Class Destroyers DD698 USS Ault and DD699 USS Waldron launched 1944.

German Bremen Class Cruiser SMS Lubeck launched 1904

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/lubeck2.jpg
SMS Lubeck

These photos of US Bogue Class Escort Carrier CVE11 USS Card were taken on this day in 1943 at Norfolk, Virginia:
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/usscard.jpg

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/usscard2.jpg
USS Card

Italian Freccia Class Destroyer Strale is launched on this day in 1931
Italian Brin Class Submarine Torricelli launched, 1939.

Japanese Asakaze Class Destroyer Hibiki launched 1906.

British J Class Destroyer F34 HMS Jaguar sunk, 1942.

British L Class Destroyer F74 HMS Legion sunk, 1942

Dutch Van Speijk Class Frigate F805 Van Nes launched (or possibly completed) on this day in 1966.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/vannes3.jpg
Van Nes

American Spruance Class Destroyer DD974 USS Comte De Grasse launched 1976.

British Rothesay Class Frigate F101 HMS Yarmouth launched (or completed), 1960.
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsyarmouth2.jpg
HMS Yarmouth

British Ton Class Minesweeper M1196 HMS Yarnton launched on this day in 1956.

French Cerbere Class Armoured Ram Bouledogue launched on this day 136 years ago in 1872. Here is a photo of sister ship Belier:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/belier4.jpg
Belier.

and finally for today,

British Fantome Class sloop HMS Fantome was launched on this day in 1873.
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/4%2087c.jpg
HMS Fantome with corvette HMS Opal.

[herakles]

27 March: :p

1885

ADML Sir George Tryon, CB, presented his proposals on the defence of Australia to the Governments of the Australian Colonies. The report recommended one fleet for all the colonies and New Zealand.

1901

Transport 106, (the China Navigation Company vessel CHINGTU), sailed from Sydney with men from the NSW Naval Brigade, (146 men), Victorian Naval Brigade, (170 men), and a platoon of Marine Light Infantry, (31 men), for service in China to suppress the Boxer Rebellion. The Marine Light Infantry, (MLI), were Australian soldiers destined for service in South Africa, but who were diverted to augment the two Naval Brigades. They were named the MLI as they wished to remain separate to the Naval Brigade members.

1955

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (heavy cruiser), departed Sydney under tow of the Dutch tug RODE ZEE, for breaking up at the yard which built her at Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.

1967

The Oberon class submarine HMAS OXLEY, (LCDR D. H. Lorrimer, RAN), was commissioned. OXLEY was laid down at Scott’s Yard, Greenock, Scotland, on 2 July 1964, and launched on 24 September 1965. Lady Downer, (Wife of Sir Alexander Downer, Australian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom), performed the launching ceremony. OXLEY was the first of six Oberon class submarines to be commissioned into the RAN, and also the first to have the “snort” capability of recharging her batteries while still submerged.

1963: British Railways to be slashed by a quarter
Large parts of the British railway system are uneconomic and under-used, a far-reaching report has declared.

1980: North Sea platform collapses
At least 120 oil rig workers are feared dead after a North Sea accommodation platform collapsed during gales.

1977: Hundreds dead in Tenerife plane crash
At least 560 people have died after two jumbo jets collided on a runway in the holiday destination of Tenerife. It is thought to be the world's worst disaster involving aircraft on the ground.

[kc]

Sorry to go a little off topic, but I thought I could add a little re: HMAS Oxley, as per previous post. If you are interested in this class of Australian sub, my dad worked at Scott's where Oxley and later Otama were launched. He was a keen photographer at the time and was asked to cover the launch of Otama from one of the gantries or cranes. This link shows most of his photos: http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hmas_otama.htm but I've also posted some here:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmasotama5.jpg

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmasotama7.jpg

[Odin]

Interesting the photos of Otama. The completion of Orion and Otama were delayed significantly because of problems with the main cable runs which had to be replaced during build, due to insulation problems. There was an ongoing financial dispute over this, that went on well into the 1990s, before it was finally resolved (not that long before the subs were paid off).

[astraltrader]

March 27th 1945- The carrier USS Essex along with a minesweeper and minelayer were damaged during preparations for the invasion of Okinawa by kamikaze attacks...

[Odin]

Events which earned medals seem like buses – you wait days for one and then three come along at once:

On this day 27th March 1811 Royal Marines and Royal Navy on the Island of Anholt beat off a Danish attack. The Island had been captured and was commissioned as one of HM Ships

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the bar ‘Anholt 27 March 1811’ to reward this action. Forty men claimed this bar, mainly Royal Marines. This is the only clasp that stems partially from the promotion of Royal Marine Officers. The following were promoted:
Henry L Baker Lieut RN
John N Fischer 1st Lt RM,
Robert Torrens Captain RM


On this day 27th March 1812 HMS Rosario and HMS Griffon defeated twelve French brigs of the 14th Division of the Boulogne Flotilla off Dieppe, capturing three and driving two others on shore.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasps ‘Rosario 27 March 1812’ (7 recipients) and ‘Griffon 27 March 1812’ (3 recipients) for this action


On this day 27th March 1814 HMS Hebrus captured the French frigate Etoile off the Nez de Jobourg, Alderney

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp ‘Hebrus with L’Etoile’ for this action. There were forty claimants for this clasp, including Pte Henry Ward RM, who was also at Anholt 27th March 1811 and served at the Battle of Trafalgar

[John Brown]

27th March 1940

The French destroyers ‘FOUDROYANT’ and ‘BOULONNAIS’ entered Dover with General Gamelin and Admiral Darlan, the heads of the French Military and Naval missions.

The British tanker ‘TROCAS’ suffered a broken propeller shaft off the Italian coast. She was taken in tow by the Australian destroyer ‘STUART’. Later that day the British destroyer ‘RESPOND’ relieved the ‘STUART’ and the tanker was taken safely to Malta.


27th March 1941

U98 sank the British steamer ‘KORANTON’

The Canadian tanker ‘CANADOLITE’ was taken prize by the German raider ‘KORMORAN’. The ship was later converted by the Germans and became the blockade runner ‘SUDETENLAND’. She was sunk by the RAF at Brest on 14th August 1944.



27th March 1794

The date of the official formation of the United States Navy.

[herakles]

28 March: :confused:

1860

HMCS VICTORIA, (screw steamer), joined the Australian Squadron, HM Ships IRIS, NIGER, CORDELIA, PELORUS, MIRANDA, HARRIET, and ORPHEUS, involved in the second Maori War.

1941

The Battle of Matapan commenced. HMA Ships PERTH, STUART, and VENDETTA participated in the battle which destroyed Italian naval supremacy in the Mediterranean. VENDETTA was the first Australian ship to come under fire in the battle.

1942

The raid on St Nazaire, France, was conducted with the aim of damaging the port facilities there. LEUT N. B. H. Wallis, RANVR, (ML 192), and SBLT P. W. Landy, RANVR, (ML 306), were wounded during the operation.

1963

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II signalled the destroyer HMAS ANZAC at the conclusion of the Royal Tour of Australia; “Splice the main brace”. The RAN does not splice the main brace except on the order of the Commander-in-Chief.

1970

HMAS VENDETTA, (Daring class destroyer), completed her deployment in Vietnam. VENDETTA fired 13,709 rounds against the enemy.

1979

The Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in the USA has leaked radioactive material and has been closed down.

[kc]

Search results from our site for 28th March

Italian La Masa Clas Destroyer Angelo Bassini launched 1918.

Italian Oriana Class Destroyers Vittorio Alfieri and Giosue Carducci sunk 1941, at the battle of Matapan.

USA Clemson Class Destroyer DD253 USS McCalla launched 1919.
USA Clemson Class Destroyer DD334 USS Corry launched 1921.
USA Wickes Class Destroyer DD88 USS Robinson launched 1918.
USA Forrest Sherman Class Escort Destroyer DD937 USS Davis launched 1956.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/len0228_ussdavis.jpg
USS Davis

Argentinean Meko 360 H2 Class Frigate Almirante Brown launched or completed, 1981.
Argentinean Santa Fe Class Submarine Santiago Del Estero launched 1932.
Argentinean Bouchard Class Minesweeper Drummond discarded, 1964.

Japanese Battleship Fuso launched 1914.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/images/dhm1118.jpg
Fuso.
http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=2254

German Aviso (sloop) Hela launched 1895.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/smshela.jpg
Hela.

German Moltke Class Battlescruiser Goeben launched 1911.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/smsgoeben.jpg
SMS Goeben

British Grimsby Class Sloop HMS Swan launched 1936.

Australian Grimsby Class Sloop HMAS Yarra launched 1935.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmasyarra3.jpg
HMAS Yarra.

British Town Class Destroyer HMS Campbeltown finished repairs on this date in 1941 after a collision with HMS Comus four months earlier. However, it was one year later to the day that this ship earned fame at the Raid on St Nazaire. HMS Cambeltown (with a large number of Commandos onboard) along with supporting MTBs, on the night of the 28th March 1942, succeeded in lodging herself at the gates of the Normandie Lock, (this being the only lock which had been built for the Ocean Liner Normandie, that could take the Mighty German battleship Tirpitz. HMS Cambeltown remained wedged until 1135 hours, when she exploded. HMS Cambeltown became the most famous of all the "town Class" ships for this daring raid and subsequent dramatic end.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/images/dhm1233.jpg
HMS Campbeltown at the Raid on St Nazaire.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=5179

and finally for this post today...

French La Gallissoniere Class Battery Ironclad Triomphante launched on this day 131 years ago in 1877.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/triomphantempl5316.jpg
Triomphante.

More on this link (http://www.google.co.uk/custom?hl=en&client=pub-3766021509734827&cof=FORID%3A1%3BGL%3A1%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BLC%3A%230 000ff%3BVLC%3A%23663399%3BGFNT%3A%230000ff%3BGIMP% 3A%230000ff%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3B&domains=www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%2228th+March%22&btnG=Search&sitesearch=www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk&meta=)

[Odin]

On this day 28th March 1814 HMS Phoebe and HMS Cherub captured the American frigate Essex and her tender Essex Junior off Valparaiso, Chile

The Naval General Service 1848 was issued with clasps Phoebe 28 March 1814 (36 recipients) and Cherub 28 March 1814 (7 recipients) to reward this action.

The following officers were promoted:
Thomas T Tucker Commander HMS Cherub
Charles Pearson Lieut RN HMS Phoebe
(Lieut Pearson had served as an AB at the Battle of Copenhagen 1801)


On this day 28 March 1860 Leading Seaman William Odgers was one of a party of 48 who landed from HMS Niger to relieve the 65th Regiment at Omata in New Zealand. At the storming of a Maori pah (fort), he was the first to enter under heavy fire and captured the enemy flag. For this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross

[John Brown]

28th March 1939

The Spanish Civil War ended.


28th March 1940

The French torpedo boats LA CORDELIERE, BRANLEBAS and L’INCOMPRISE were bombed by German aircraft north of Ostend. No damaged was sustained by the ships.

The Norwegian steamer BURGOS in convoy FS 31 was sunk by a mine. The entire crew were rescued by the sloop PELICAN.


28th March 1941

The Battle of Cape Matapan continued:


The Australian destroyer VENDETTA suffered an engine room breakdown and was ordered to Alexandria.

A force of three Albacores and two Swordfish of 829 Squadron were launched from the aircraft carrier HMS FORMIDABLE for a strike on the Italian force.

Lt Cdr J. Dalyell-Stead, Lt R. H. Cooke DSC, and Petty Officer Airman G. L. Blenkhorn of 829 Squadron were lost during an attack on the Italian battleship VITTORIO VENETO.

Although hit, the battleship was able to proceed.


John

[herakles]

29 March: :rolleyes:

1910

Hospital charges for naval patients in Australian civil hospitals were:- Seamen; 3 shillings per day. Officers; 12 shillings per day. Mental patients at Callan Park and Gladesville Asylums; 3 shillings per day for all ranks.The principal hospital for naval patients in Sydney was St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst.

1915

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), took part in her first operation, a patrol across the North Sea with the Grand Fleet and light forces, from Harwich, England.

1941

The destroyer HMAS STUART, (CAPT H.M.L. Waller, RAN), fired her last shots, in the Battle of Matapan, at the Italian destroyer VITTORIO ALFERI. The Italian Navy lost three cruisers and two destroyers in this battle.

1966

HMAS HAWK, (Ton class minesweeper), berthed at Semporna, (Malay State of Sabah), for rest and recreation leave during her patrols associated with Confrontation. Later that day one of her crew returned onboard drunk, and took one of the ships 9mm Owen sub machine guns, and started to fire it indiscriminately around the ship. Over 300 rounds were fired causing some damage to the ship, but fortunately no one was hit. The sailor was eventually subdued, and later medically discharged from the RAN.

2003

The Collins class submarine HMAS RANKIN was commissioned. RANKIN was laid down in the Australian Submarine Corporation in Adelaide, and launched on 7 November 2001.

2005

An earthquake hit the west coast of Sumatra, (which had been recently devastated by a Tsunami in December 2004). Operation Sumatra Assist II was launched, and HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR G. A. McGuire, RAN), which had taken part in the first assistance operation, was diverted to Nias Island to provide support. KANIMBLA had been on her way back to Australia and was alongside in Singapore when directed to return to Sumatra.

1971

Lieutenant William Calley is found guilty of murder at a court martial for his part in the My Lai massacre which claimed the lives of 500 South Vietnamese civilians.

1981

First London Marathon

[Odin]

On this day 29th March 1797 HMS Kingfisher captured the French privateer General 40 miles West South West of Oporto

[herakles]

30 March :cool:

1939

The Australian Naval Board in a letter to the Government stated, “the control of sea communications in Australian waters must depend basically on the strength of the British Fleet”.

1941

The Mediterranean Fleet returned to a vociferous welcome from ships at Alexandria after the Battle of Matapan. HMA Ships PERTH, STUART, and VENDETTA were detached after the battle to escort convoys to Greece.

1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), relieved sister ship HMAS PERTH at Subic Bay, for duty in Vietnam.

1981

President Reagan shot

[John Brown]

29th March 1940

The french destroyer ORAGE was damaged in collision with the tug TABARCA at Sidi Abdallah

29th March 1941

HMAS Southern Cross is commissioned as an auxiliary patrol vessel.

29th March 1943

The submarine USS GATO evacuated 12 Australian Commandos and 39 women and children from Teop Island in the Solomons.

29th March 1945

The Japanese submarine chaser No. 192 was sunk by US aircraft off Formosa.

The Canadian Frigate TEME was hit, in the English Channel, by an acoustic torpedo from U-315. The ship survived but did not fight again.


John

[astraltrader]

I thought that we had agreed to base the timeline on GMT?

[John Brown]

Terry

I thought we had agreed, for the time being, to leave things as they were with people posting to whatever date it was where they happened to be. I seem to recall your posting acceptance of this.....

"All fine with me - as I said I will go with the flow.
My only concern was to preserve an uninterrupted dateline..."




Regards .....John

[Odin]

On this day 30th March 1800 HMS Penelope and HMS Vincejo engaged the French 80 gun Guillaume-Tell in a night action just outside Valleta Harbour, Malta. The action ended with her capture by HMS Lion and HMS Foudroyant 20 miles South West of Cape Passo, Sicily

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded to Penelope and Vincejo only for this action. The clasps issued were Penelope 30 March 1800 (11 recipients) and Vinciego 30 March 1800 (2 recipients)


On this day 30th March 1811 HMS Arrow engaged the battery at St. Nicholas and captured the French chasse-marees Frederick and Paix Desiree off the coast of France

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was authorised for this action with the wrongly dated clasp Arrow 6 April 1811. There were no actually claimants for this award

[astraltrader]

To be honest John - I think I was going with the wrong flow! I thought we were going with the simple GMT timeline.
Having reread all of the posts I now see that this was not exactly the case and that particular viewpoint is in fact being dropped for allowing members to post to whatever date it was where they happened to be.

In which case I apologise for not fully taking that in because I still believe that it would be better for the few of us who at the moment do contribute to this thread to use the same time zone. To me it is the only logical solution and the thread would read and look far more effective than with the small variance we have now.

As I seem to be the only one now who does think this - [as well as not wishing to annoy anyone by bringing this up again!] I will concentrate on the other aspects of the forum.

[John Brown]

Terry

We will be sorry to lose your interesting contributions to the thread and especially over such a small thing. However, the choice of course, is yours.

Regards....John

[John Brown]

30th March 1940

The minesweeper ‘SUTTON’ from Grimsby was mined and badly damaged off Cromer Knoll. She returned to Immingham for repairs.

30th March 1941

U-69 sank the British steamer ‘COULTARN’ from convoy OB302. Three crew were lost from the steamer.

U-124 sank the British steamer ‘UMONA’ near Freetown. A total of 100 people were lost on the steamer.

HM Submarine RORQUAL sank the German steamer ‘LAURA CORRADO’ north of Trapani.

Whilst making for Gibraltar the cruiser HMS Sheffield was damaged by a near miss from French bombing.

John

[Batstiger]

HMS Laforey lost.

[herakles]

31 March

1921

The RAAF was formed as a separate service, (created from the Australian Flying Corps, which was an Army unit formed in 1914). From then until 1948, when the Fleet Air Arm was formed, all pilots and aircraft maintenance staff in RAN warships were provided by the RAAF. The RAN however continued to provide observers, (navigators), and telegraphist air gunners, (known as TAG’s).

1941

HMAS STUART, (destroyer), was near-missed by a torpedo while engaged in a depth charge attack on the Italian submarine Ambra The submarine sank the cruiser HMS BONAVENTURE and escaped

1945

Japanese kamikaze attacks against Allied naval vessels in the Pacific in the first three months of 1945 resulted in 121 ships hit and 53 damaged by near-misses. Included in these figures was cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, which suffered five attacks, and was eventually withdrawn for repairs.

1967

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), fired the first RAN shots in the Vietnam War. The destroyer provided support fire for an attack by the US Marines 37 Battalion at Da Nang.

1966

Harold Wilson wins sweeping victory with a 100 seat majority.

1959

Dalai Lama escapes to India.

[Odin]

On this day 31st March 1804 boats from HMS Scorpion (Commander G N Hardinge) and HMS Beaver (Commander Pelley) entered the Texel Roads and captured the Dutch corvette Athalante, which was eventually sailed back to England. Both Commanders were promoted for this action.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was authorised with clasp Scorpion 31 March 1804 for this action. Medals were awarded to the following from HMS Scorpion:
Robert Flaxman AB
Thomas Hacker Bosun’s Mate
George Salvedore Landsman
William Toms AB

The clasp Beaver 31 March 1804 was also authorised but there were no claimants from HMS Beaver

[John Brown]

31st March 1940


The German armed merchantman ‘ATLANTIS’ left Kiel to begin commerce raiding in the South Atlantic.

U-43 Lost a crewman overboard in heavy weather.


31st March 1941


The Italian submarine ‘PIER CAPPONI’ was sunk by HM Submarine RORQUAL south of Stromboli.

U-46 sank the Swedish tanker ‘CASTOR’ with the loss of 15 lives.

The British trawler ‘ONTARIO’ was sunk by German bombing but the whole crew was rescued

John

[kc]

Search results from our site for 31st March

German cruiser Gefion launched 1898.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/gefion.jpg
Gefion.

Italian Lupo Class Frigate F584 Bersagliere launched (or completed) 1984.

Italian Mameli Class Submarine Pier Capponi sunk 1941.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/italiansub.jpg
Pier Capponi

Italian Submarine Pietro Micca launched 1935.
Italian Calvi Class Submarine Pietro Calvi also launched 1935.

Italian Submarine S514 Francesco Morosini (ex - US Balao Class USS Besugo) acquired from America, 1966.

German Braunschweig Class Battleships Braunschweig, Elsass and Lothringen all stricken for scrapping in 1931.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/braunschweig3.jpg
Braunschweig

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/elsass2.jpg
Elsass

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/lothringen.jpg
Lothringen

Japanese Tenryu Class Cruiser Tatsuta completed 1919.
Japanese Asakaze Class Destroyer Hibiki launched 1906.
Japanese Minekaze Class Destroyer Shimakaze launched 1920.
Japanese Minekaze Class Destroyer Tachikaze launched 1921.

American Swatara Class Cruiser USS Quinnebaug launched 1866.
American Cincinnati Class Cruiser C8 USS Raleigh launched 1892.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/usraleigh.jpg
USS Raleigh

German Gazelle Class Cruiser Gazelle launched 1898.

British Robert Class Monitor HMS Abercrombie launched 1943.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsabercrombiempl664.jpg
HMS Abercrombie

French Framee Class Destroyer Pique launched 1900.
French Bisson Class Destroyer Mangini launched 1913.

American Clemson Class Destroyer DD207 USS Southard launched 1919.

British Flower Class Sloop HMS Syringa transferred to Egypt on this day in 1920, being renamed Sollum.
British Dido Class Cruiser HMS Bonaventure sunk 1941.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsbonaventure3.jpg
HMS Bonaventure

American Gearing Class Destroyer DD784 USS McKean launched 1945.
American Gearing Class Destroyer DD884 USS Floyd B Parks launched 1945.
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/len0208_ussfloydbparks.jpg
USS Floyd B Parks.

British Rothesay Class Frigate F129 HMS Rhyl launched (or completed) 1960.
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsrhylmpl2936.jpg
HMS Rhyl

British Parthian Class Submarine HMS Pandora lost 1942.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmspandora3.jpg
HMS Pandora

and finally for this post:

British Amazon Class Wooden Screw Sloop HMS Niobe launched on this day 142 years ago in 1866. Pictured is sister HMS Dryad, launched a few months later.
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsdryad3.jpg
HMS Dryad.

More search results for 31st March (http://www.google.co.uk/custom?hl=en&client=pub-3766021509734827&cof=FORID%3A1%3BGL%3A1%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BLC%3A%230 000ff%3BVLC%3A%23663399%3BGFNT%3A%230000ff%3BGIMP% 3A%230000ff%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3B&domains=www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%2231st+March%22&sitesearch=www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk&meta=)

[herakles]

1st April:

1957

The BBC has received a mixed reaction to a spoof documentary broadcast this evening about spaghetti crops in Switzerland. The hoax Panorama programme, narrated by distinguished broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, featured a family from Ticino in Switzerland carrying out their annual spaghetti harvest.
It showed women carefully plucking strands of spaghetti from a tree and laying them in the sun to dry.



(a classic!!!)


1914


LEUT A. M. Longmore, an Australian serving with the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, flew the First Sea Lord, Winston Churchill, on his first flight in a Maurice Farman seaplane.


1921


Flinders Naval Depot, (HMAS CERBERUS), was officially opened. This date is now accepted as the commissioning date for HMAS CERBERUS.


1941


Three sailors from HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), who were captured after volunteering to man a shore-based gun in August 1940, were released from prisoner-of-war camp in Eritria, East Africa. They were PO H. Jones, AB H. C. Sweeney, and AB W. J. Hurren.


1955


The Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, announced the decision to commit Australian forces to the Far East Strategic Reserve, (FESR), in Malaya. The Navy’s contribution was to include two frigates or destroyers and an annual visit by HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier). The first two RAN warships sent to South East Asia as part of the FESR were the destroyers HMAS ARUNTA and HMAS WARRAMUNGA. The FESR duties for the RAN continued until 1971.


1971


The first long service and good conduct medals were awarded to native sailors of the Papua New Guinea Division of the RAN.

[Stan.J]

!948. The beginning of the Soviet Blockade of allied sectors in Berlin.
After British and Americans have flown 2.3 million tons of food and coal into West Berlin, the Soviet blockade and a Western counterblockade will be lifted on 30th September 1949

[John Brown]

1st April 1940

The destroyer ISIS, transferring 5 torpedoes to the submarine ‘CLYDE' at Sandoyne Bay, lost her whalers and motor boat when they capsized in a heavy squall. All the men and torpedoes were recovered.


1st April 1941

The Admiral Scheer returned to Kiel after sinking 17 ships in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.


John

[Stan.J]

Sunday 1st April 1945.. The U.S.3rd Armoured Division, in the van of US V11 Corps.(First US Army) met up at Lippstadt with the US 8th Armoured Division(9th US Army) who were advancing from Haltern. Major-General Rose, Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division was killed during the day. As a result of the linkup, the German army Group B. comprising twenty one divisions, was to all events and purposes encircled. To reduce this so called "Ruhr Pocket". General Bradley, Commander of 12 Army Group, now formed the seperate Fifteenth US Army under Lieutenant-General Leonard T. Gerow, with five corps, including the specially formed XX11 and XX111 Corps comprising eighteen divisions taken from the First and ninth US Armies.
The Germans started to evacuate parts of Holland still occupied by them.
The first French Army advanced a further 12 miles after crossing the Rhine..
Sopron, south-east of Vienna was taken by the Russians and Marshal Konev captured the fortress of Glogow on the Oder.
An Allied War Crimes Commision placed Hitler`s name at the headof their list.

[herakles]

2nd April: :eek:

1917

The Australian-born CAPT J. S. Dumaresq, RN, took command of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser). CAPT J. Glossop, CB, RN, who had commanded SYDNEY when she sank the German cruiser SMS EMDEN in 1914, returned to Australia to take command of the RAN base at Garden Island.

1917

A Sopwith Baby seaplane was embarked in HMAS BRISBANE, (cruiser), at Colombo, to hunt down the German raider WOLF. BRISBANE was the first ship of the RAN to carry an aircraft operationally.

1941

HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), sank the heavily damaged cargo ships HOMEFIELD, and COLOUROUS XENOX, after savage German air attacks in the central Mediterranean.

1942

ADML Sir James Somerville ordered his battleships HMS RAMILLES, REVENGE, RESOLUTION, and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, to withdraw to Addu Atoll to avoid a clash with ADML Naguma’s superior modern fleet. The overwhelming Japanese carrier force would have sunk the slow British capital ships.

1982: Argentina invades Falklands
Argentina has invaded the British territory of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic.

[Odin]

On this day 2nd April 1801 Vice Admiral Nelson with a detachment of ships from the fleet of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, engaged a powerful array of Danish ships, armed hulks and shore batteries at Copenhagen. After an arduous five hour battle, Danish resistance was overcome. This is the battle where Nelson disregarded Parker’s signal to ‘Leave off action’ by reputedly putting his glass to his blind eye.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded for this action with the clasp Copenhagen 1801. A total of 36 ships were involved including Nelson’s flagship HMS Elephant. The medal was claimed by 555 men.

There were no large or small Naval Gold Medals awarded for this action (large medals were normally awarded to Admirals and small medals to Captains)

[kc]

....and here is a painting of that battle....

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/images/dhm1377.jpg
The Battle of Copenhagen by Ivan Berryman.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=7130

The key to Nelsons victories always lay in his meticulous planning and the Battle of Copenghagen was no exception as he used his fleet to first destroy the Danish floating defences so that his bomb vessels could be brought up to bombard the city itself. The Danes eventually capitulated, but they had fought hard and over 2,000 men had died on both sides before the end of the battle. In this view, HMS Elephant, carrying the flag of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, dominates the scene as the battle gathers intensity. British ships depicted, left to right, are the Glatton (54), Elephant (74), Ganges (74) and Monarch (74)

[herakles]

You've got another painting of this event Kc, by Nicholas Pocock.

Is it possible you can post it here?

[kc]

Of course. The reason I did not post it is because we don't have a particularly good image of it.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/images/dhm142.jpg
Battle of Copenhagen by Nicholas Pocock.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=3569

[Batstiger]

The destroyer HMS Tiger was rammed and sunk by the light cruiser HMS Berwick.

[John Brown]

2nd April 1940

U-38 sank the Finnish steamer ‘SIGNE’ a straggler from Convoy HN23A

The German auxiliary Schiff 11 (the steamer ‘ULM’) laid a contact mine field south east of Smiths Knoll.

2nd April 1941

The Italian steamers ‘GUISEPPE MAZZANI’ and ‘URANIA’ were sunk by British bombing near Dalac Island. The ships were later salvaged by the British.

The British steamer ‘MELROSE ABBEY’ was damaged by a mine in the River Ythan (north of Aberdeen). The ship settled on the sea bed but was later refloated and towed to Aberdeen.

The British steamer ‘BEAVERDALE’ was sunk by U-48 with the loss of 21 lives.

John

[herakles]

3 April (don't get fooled!!) :rolleyes:

1939

HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), transported the body of the Australian Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, to Devonport, TAS, for burial.

1942

A lifeboat, commanded by PO J. Tyrrell, containing 23 survivors from HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), surrendered to the Japanese at Semangka Bay, Sumatra. The party set out to sail to Australia after their ship sank, but 37 days of adverse winds and constant searching for food and water weakened them. On 1 April the boat was shelled by a Japanese destroyer, but they escaped under cover of dark. After their capture they were taken to a prison camp at Palembang, where they remained until the end of the war.

1987

The late Duchess of Windsor's jewellery has been sold for £31m ($50m) - six times the expected figure during an auction in Switzerland.

2006

HMAS BRUNEI, (LCDR Charles Bourne, RAN), visited Lord Howe Island, as part of the 75th anniversary of the 1931 landing, by floatplane, on Lord Howe by Sir Francis Chichester, who became the first person to fly solo from Australia to New Zealand. Officers and crew members of BRUNEI were joined by Chichester’s son, and other distinguished guests.

[Odin]

On this day 3rd April 1801 boats from HMS Trent (5th Rate 36 guns) cut out two French vessels off Brehat

Also on this day 3rd April 1813 boats from HMS St Domingo (3rd Rate 74 guns), HMS Marlborough (3rd Rate 74 guns), HMS Maidstone (5th Rate 36 guns), HMS Statira (5th Rate 38 guns), HMS Fantome (Brig-sloop 18 guns ex French privateer) and HMS Mohawk (Gun-brig 10 guns) cut out four American privateers in the Rappahannock River, Virginia

[John Brown]

3rd April 1940

The British trawler GORSPEN was badly damaged by German bombing and abandoned near the Outer Skerries.

The British trawler SANSONNET was sunk by German bombing near Muckle Flugga.

German supply ships for the Norwegian invasion began to leave Hamburg. The steamers RAVENFELS, ALSTER and BARENFELS departed for Narvik.


John

[herakles]

4 April :cool:

1855

HMCS SPITFIRE, (ketch), was launched in Cuthbert’s shipyard, Sydney.
She was the first built for Australia’s defence.

1900

CAPT Hector McDonald Laws Waller, DSO and Bar, RAN, one of Australia’s greatest naval commanders, was born at Benalla, VIC.
He was captain of the light cruiser HMAS Perth in WW2. Waller went down with his ship.
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160565b.htm

1911

HMAS WARREGO, first destroyer built in Australia, was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. The ship was fabricated in Scotland and shipped ‘broken down’ for assembly in Australia.

1968

Martin Luther King assassinated

[Odin]

On this day 4th April 1808 HMS Alceste (Captain M Maxwell), HMS Mercury (Captain James Gordon) and the brig HMS Grasshopper (Commander Thomas Searle) attacked a Spanish convoy off Rota, near Cadiz and captured seven of the escorting tartans (small sailing vessels with triangular sails)

The Naval General Service Medal with clasp ‘Off Rota 4 April 1808’ was awarded for this action. There were 19 claimants for the clasp HMS Alceste (3), HMS Mercury (12) and HMS Grasshopper (4). The Captain of HMS Mercury, James Gordon, earned a total of seven clasps for his medal.


On this day 4th April 1812 boats from HMS Maidstone captured the French xebec Martinet off Cape de Gatt, south east Spain

The Naval General Service Medal with clasp ‘4 April Boat Service 1912’ was awarded to mark this action. There were only four claimants for the bar:
William Caswell Master’s Mate
Geroge Lightbody Ordinary Seaman
Andrew Rea 1st Lt RM
William Smith Pte RM

[John Brown]

4th April 1940

HM Submarine NARWHAL laid mines in the Heligoland Bight.


4th April 1941

The Free French sloops ‘SUIPPE and ‘CONQUERANT’ were sunk by German bombing at Falmouth.

Several German and Italian steamers including ‘LICHTENFELS’ and ‘ROMOLO GESSI’ were scuttled at Massawa.

The AMC ‘VOLTAIRE’ engaged the German raider ‘THOR’. The ‘Voltaire’ was sunk but did manage to score one hit on the German ship. 154 crew members became POWs of the Germans.


4th April 1982

HM Submarine ‘CONQUEROR’ sails from Faslane for the Falkland Islands.


John

[herakles]

5 April :mad:

1954

HMAS BATAAN, (Tribal class destroyer), collided with the aircraft carrier HMAS VENGEANCE, off the NSW Coast, during a re-fuelling exercise.

1971

The guided missile destroyer HMAS BRISBANE, (CAPT R. G. Loosli, RAN), commenced her second deployment to Vietnam by shelling enemy bunkers and supply trails in the Long Hai hills.

1987

An RAN survey team led by LCDR. D. Bryce, RAN, returned from the Australian Antarctic Territory with data which enabled charts held by the Hydrographic Branch to be corrected and updated. The team travelled in the Antarctic supply ship ICE BIRD.

[Odin]

On this day 5th April 1797 boats from HMS Magicienne (ex-French 5th Rate 32 guns) and HMS Regulus (5th Rate 44 guns) destroyed thirteen privateers and two batteries at Cape Roxo (Rojo), Puerto Rice


On this day 5th April 1809 HMS Amethyst (5th Rate 36 guns Captain Michael Seymour) engaged the French frigate Niemen in the bay of Biscay, 12 miles to the north of Cape Machichaco. As Niemen was about to capitulate, HMS Arethusa (5th Rate 38 guns) came on the scene and the French ship surrendered to her instead. However Captain Seymour was rewarded with a baronetcy for this battle.

The Naval General Service Medal with clasp ‘Amethyst 5 April 1809’ was awarded for this action. There were 27 recipients of this clasp from HMS Amethyst. There were no awards given to HMS Arethusa.

[kc]

Search results from our site, 5th April.

Firstly, the sinking of HMS Cornwall in 1942; no doubt others will post on this so I will not steal their thunder, just provide a few photos:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmscornwall14.jpg

The guy photographed here is Dennis G Andrews, who survived the sinking of HMS Cornwall, surviving 36 hours in the sea before being rescued. He married the same year, presumably after the Cornwall sinking, only to be lost when HMS Firedrake went down on December 17th the same year. Also his telegram home confirming safety after HMS Cornwall.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/wedding.jpg

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/safe.jpg

Russian battleships / cruisers Peresviet and Variag returned to Russia from Japan in 1916, after being sunk or scuttled, and raised by the Japanese.

British Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious launched 1939.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsillustriousmpl761.jpg
HMS Illustrious

British cruiser HMS Dorsetshire, sunk today in 1942.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsdorsetshirempl1283.jpg
HMS Dorsetshire

American battleship USS Virginia launched on this day in 1904.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/ussvirginia.jpg
USS Virginia

British Ham Class Minesweeper HMS Mersham launched 1954.

Italian Destroyer Maestrale launched 1934.

British G Class Destroyer HMS Gallant declared constructive loss, 1942.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsgallantmpl1940.jpg
H59 HMS Gallant

Japanese Harusame Class Destroyer Arare launched 1905.
Japanese Takao Class Cruiser Chokai launched 1935.

American Destroyer DD495 USS Endicott launched 1942.
American Escort Carrier CVE55 USS Casablanca launched / acquired 1943.

British Apollo Class Cruiser - Minelayer HMS Apollo launched 1943.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsapollompl2477.jpg
HMS Apollo, 20 years after launch, April 1963.

British Modified R Class Destroyer HMS Tower launched 1917.

[John Brown]

5th April 1982

British Task Force including HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible left Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands.


5th April 1940

The German fishing trawler ‘BLANKENBURG’ was captured northeast of North Cape by the destroyer HMS FEARLESS. The vessel was later renamed ‘RECOIL’ and used by the RN as an anti submarine trawler.


5th April 1941

The Canadian destroyer ‘ASSINIBONE’ was damaged in a collision the British steamer ‘LAIRDSWOOD’ in the Irish Sea.

U105 sank the British steamer ‘ENA DE LARRINGA’. 38 out of the 43 crew members were rescued.

U76 was sunk by the destroyer HMS WOLVERINE and the sloop HMS SCARBOROUGH.

John

[herakles]

6th April :p

1941

Boats from HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), were involved in the rescue of survivors of ships sunk in Piraeus Harbour, (Greece), by a devastating German air attack. The port facilities were destroyed during the raid. Over 200 of PERTH’s crew were ashore at the time of the raid, but she suffered no casualties.

HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), survived a submarine attack while on passage from Sollum to Tobruk. The torpedo passed VENDETTA’S bows, ‘with several metres to spare’.

1990

The Chief of Naval Staff, VADM M. W. Hudson, announced ‘women will be permitted to serve in peacetime in all ships except submarines.’

2006

The oil replenishment ship HMAS WESTRALIA, (CMDR T. Crawford, RAN), entered port for the last time when she berthed at HMAS STIRLING, Perth, WA. During her 17 years in service, WESTRALIA steamed 458,254 miles, and conducted 1269 replenishments at sea.

[Odin]

On this day 6th April 1806 HMS Pallas (5th Rate 32 guns) drove ashore the French ships Garonne, Gloire and Malicieuse at the mouth of the Gironde River. Boats from HMS Pallas also cut out Tapageuse 20miles up the river.

On this day 6th April 1811 HMS Persian (Brig-sloop 18 guns) captured the French privateer Embuscade off Cape d’Antifer

[John Brown]

6th April 1940

The German AMC ORION departed Kiel for operations in the South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The Norwegian steamer ‘NAVARRA’ was sunk by U.59 with the loss of 10 crew and 2 passengers. Survivors were picked up by the Finnish steamer ATLAS.


6th April 1941

The German Battlecruiser Gneisenau was damaged by a British torpedo plane at Brest.

The AMC ‘COMORIN’, en route to Freetown caught fire. 225 survivors were rescued by other ships before the AMC was scuttled by the Destroyer HMS Broke.

The British steamer ‘CLAN FRASER’ was set afire in Piraeus by German bombing.
At 3.30 am on the 7th April her cargo of TNT exploded virtually wrecking the harbour and damaging several other ships.

At Wellington, the cruiser HMAS Australia lost her aircraft when the catapult failed during launching. Lt. J J Hoath was killed. Petty officer R Clark and Leading Airman G A S Stephenson were seriously injured.

John

[herakles]

7th April :confused:

1917

LT R. A. Little, an Australian serving with the RNAS, outfought and out-manoeuvred 11 German Albatross ID aircraft in a dogfight over France. Little was flying a Sopwith tri-plane. German ace, Baron von Richtofen, who witnessed the combat, urged Fokkers to produce a similar tri-plane.

1932

The RAN reached its lowest ebb. In commission were HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and CANBERRA, (cruisers), ALBATROSS, (seaplane cruiser), and one S-class destroyer.

1961

The British First Sea Lord, Lord Carrington, announced British plans for the creation of powerful naval and commando forces in the Far East in conjunction with the RAN.

2004

In one of the stranger law cases dealt with in Australia, Leading Seaman Michael Szewczyk was found to have stolen over 1000 books on Naval and Military history, (worth over $200,000), from the Royal United Services Institute Library and Naval Historical Collection Library. Szewczyk, who had served in the RAN for over 20 years, including service in the first Gulf War, (1990-91), was a prolific reader with a love of military books. The magistrate hearing the case found the offence proven but chose to record no conviction due to the sailors previous good character, and the fact that the books were not stolen for any financial gain. Szewczyk, however, was banned from using Defence Force libraries in the future.

[Odin]

On this day 7th April 1800 HMS Emerald 5th Rate 36 Guns and HMS Leviathan 3rd Rate 74 Guns captured the Spanish ships Carmen and Florentina 80 miles West South West of Cape Spartel, Morocco

[stewart mcloughlin]

Herakles, was there not an opportunity to turn poacher Szewczyk into a gamekeeper and employ his talents/knowledge on militaria/history into something useful? He must have acquired a great deal of information. Possibly the judge was on the correct track. Could do with him on the board maybe.
Stewart

[herakles]

It is a remarkable story, isn't it! He really did it in style. I wonder how much knowledge he accumulated?

I thought the judge showed wisdom!

[John Brown]

7th April 1940

German Naval forces for the occupation of Narvik and Trondheim put to sea at midnight on the 7th from Wesermunde and Cuxhaven.

The Battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau left from Wilhelmshaven.

The Estonian steamer MARE was seized by German forces and renamed BUG for their use.


7th April 1941

U124 sank the British steamer PORTADOC but the entire crew were saved.



7th April 1982

The British Govt announced it would impose a 200 mile exclusion zone around the Falkland Islands on 26th April.

The liner CANBERRA was requisitioned at Southampton upon her return from a world cruise.


John

[herakles]

8 April

The Williamstown division of the Victorian Marine Artillery Corps was formed to defend Port Phillip.

(This was because of the fear of the Russians)

1940

HMS GLOWWORM, (destroyer), was sunk in a gallant but one sided fight against the German cruiser HIPPER, off the coast of Norway. AB R.E. Bampton, an RAN rating, was among those who lost his life when GLOWWORM was sunk.

(Hipper? Strange name for a ship)

1940

HMAS VAMPIRE, (destroyer), took off the crew of the tanker BRITISH LORD, which had been disabled by German bombers north of Crete. The tanker was then safely towed safely to the port of Gavdhos.

The Grimbsy type escort sloop HMAS PARRAMATTA, (LCDR J.H. Walker, RAN), was commissioned. PARRAMATTA was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 9 November 1938, and launched on 18 June 1939. Mrs G.A. Street, (wife of the Federal Minister for Defence), performed the launching ceremony.

(Mr. Street was later tragically killed in a plane crash near Canberra. A couple of senior pollies lost their lives that day. I had the pleasure of teaching his grandson.)

[Odin]

On this day 8th April 1814 boats from HMS Borer (Gun-brig 12 guns), HMS Endymion (4th Rate 50 guns), HMS Hogue (3rd Rate 74 guns) and HMS Maidstone (5th Rate 36 guns) destroyed 27 American vessels and a considerable quantity of naval stores at Pettipague Point (Essex), in the Connecticut River

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded with the clasp ‘8 April Boat Service 1814’ for this action. In all there were 24 claimants from HMS Boxer (2), HMS Hogue (15), HMS Maidstone (5) and HMS Endymion (2). Both Lieut Arthur Fanshawe RN (HMS Endymion) and Lieut John Farrant RN (HMS Borer) received medals with five clasps.

[Stan.J]

On this day in 1838 Brunels Steamship "Great Western" left Bristol on its Maiden voyage to New york.

[John Brown]

8th April 1940

Events relating to the intended German Invasion of Norway:


The Polish submarine ORZEL intercepted the German transport ‘RIO DE JANIERO’ off Lillesand. The crew and troops were ordered into lifeboats and the ship was sunk with two torpedoes. The Norwegian destroyers ‘ODIN’ and ‘GYLLER’ together with some fishing boats picked up the transports personnel.

The submarine HMS Trident stopped the German tanker ‘POSIDONIA’ on her maiden voyage. The crew abandoned ship and attempted to scuttle her whilst leaving. HMS Trident finished the tanker off with torpedoes.

The old German Battleship ‘SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN’ ran aground in the Great Belt on the night of 8th/9th and was left behind by the other ships in her group.


Herk!! The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was named after Admiral Franz Ritter von Hipper who commanded the German Battle Cruisers at Jutland. You may remember, he was one of my 'who is this' quiz subjects.


Regards...John

[herakles]

9 April :cool:

1871

HMVS CERBERUS, (armoured-turret ship), launched in England in December 1868, arrived in Port Phillip, VIC, on her maiden voyage. At that time CERBERUS was the most powerful ship in the southern hemisphere.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=823

1903

The first message received from a ship at sea to an Australian wireless station was transmitted by the Queensland gunboat, GAYUNDAH, to a receiving station in Brisbane. The historic message read:- ‘Gun drill continued this afternoon and was fairly successful-blowing squally and raining -prize firing tomorrow. Marconi insulators were interfered with by rain but easily rectified and communication since has been good. Good night.’ The ship’s aerial was a tall bamboo pole lashed to the mast.

1919

HMAS SYDNEY, five J class submarines, and the submarine depot ship HMAS PLATYPUS, departed England for Australia. The submarines had been gifted to the RAN by the British Admiralty, but their service was to be brief. Upon arrival in Australia the submarines required major refits, and all had been disposed of by the mid 1920’s.

1931

HMA Submarines OXLEY and OTWAY decommissioned at Sydney and were re-commissioned next day as RN ships.

1940

AB A. Kennedy, RAN, survived the sinking of the destroyer HMS GHURKA by dive bombers off Norway. Kennedy was the only Australian in the crew.

1942

Japanese carrier-borne aircraft sank the destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE, (CMDR W.T.A. Moran, RAN), and HMS HERMES, (light aircraft carrier), off Trincomalee, Ceylon. CMDR Moran, and 7 ratings from VAMPIRE were lost in the action. A total of 590 survivors from both ships were picked up by the hospital ship VITA, and landed at Colombo.

1942

Royal Commissioner, Mr Justice Lowe, submitted his report on the Japanese attack on Darwin to the Australian Government. The report criticised the action of the Army, RAAF and Civil Administration, but praised the RAN.

(The behaviour of just about everyone at the time was very poor. Every American ship in Darwin Harbour was destroyed because the Americans insisted on them being moored together.The same thing happened in Port Moresby with their fighter aircraft.)

1951

HMS DUCHESS, (Daring class destroyer), was launched at Thorneycroft’s Yard, England. DUCHESS was loaned to the RAN to replace HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), which had been sunk in 1964 during a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier). She was purchased outright by the RAN in 1972, but was paid off in 1977.

1968

HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), landed the 1st Battalion, RAR, at Vung Tau, Vietnam.

2003

Iraqis turn on symbols of their former leader, pulling down a statue and tearing it to pieces as US tanks roll into the centre of Baghdad.

2005

The Prince of Wales weds Camilla Parker-Bowles at a civil ceremony followed by a blessing.

(Thanks John re Hipper. I'd completely forgotten!! I'd forget my head ... ...)

[Odin]

On this day 9th April 1810 HMS Drake (Brig-sloop Cherokee Class, 8-18pdr, 2-6pdr) captured the French privateer Tilsit 60 miles west of the Texel, Holland

[John Brown]

9th April 1865

The Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Grant in Virginia bringing the Civil War to an end.


9th April 1940

Germany invaded Norway and Denmark.


9th April 1941

The United States occupied Greenland.

The German Battlecruiser Gneisenau was hit and badly damaged by four bombs at Brest.


9th April 1982

3 Commando Brigade sail aboard the Canberra for the Falkland Islands.



John

[herakles]

10 April

1919

HMA Submarine J5, (LEUT J. R. Peirson, RN), collided with the French sailing ship TERRENEUVIEN YOLANDE, south of Portsmouth, England. The Australian Government later paid £4922 in compensation to the French owners.

1943

LEUT L. V. Goldsworthy, RANVR, recovered ground, magnetic and acoustic mines from ports in England. He was awarded the GC for his bravery and gallantry in rendering safe mines between April and June 1943.

1967

The guided missile destroyer HMAS HOBART, (CAPT G. R. Griffiths, DSC, RAN), fired her 1000th round in Vietnam while supporting the US 1st Air Cavalry Division near Duc Pho.

1995

MSA KORAAGA, (auxiliary minesweeper), discovered the wreck of the hospital ship CENTAUR, 9.3 nautical miles due east of Cape Moreton, QLD.

1998

The Northern Ireland peace talks ended with an historic agreement called the Good Friday Agreement.

[Odin]

On this day 10th April 1795 HMS Astraea (5th Rate 32 guns, Captain Lord Henry Paulet) captured the French frigate Gloire off Brest (150 miles West by South of The Scilly Islands)

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded with the clasp ‘Astraea 10 April 1795’ to mark this action. There were only two claimants:

William Mainland Ord Seaman
John Talbot Lieut RN

John Talbot was promoted for his part in this action.

[Batstiger]

On this day 10th April 1968, HMS Gay Fencer was sunk as a target>

WHAT A WASTE!

[John Brown]

10th April 1917

Sir William Robertson advocates to General Haig the immediate dispatch of an American Expeditionary Force ‘to get some Americans killed and so get the country to take a real interest in the war’.

10th April 1940

1st Battle of Narvik took place with engagements between British and German destroyers. Casualties in men and ships were sustained on both sides.

U-4 torpedoed and sank HM Submarine THISTLE northwest of Stavanger. The previous day the ‘THISTLE’ had fired six torpedoes at U-4 without a hit.

HM Submarine TARPON, on her first patrol, fired two torpedoes at the German Q ship Schiff 40 in the North Sea. In the counter attack ‘TARPON’ was lost.


10th April 1943

US planes bombed the port of La Maddalena sinking the cruiser ‘TRIESTE’ and damaging the ‘GORIZIA’.


10th April 1963

The US Submarine THRESHER was accidentally lost with all hands in the Atlantic.

[herakles]

11 April

1929

HMAS ALBATROSS, (seaplane carrier), was dispatched from Sydney to search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s aircraft, the Southern Cross, in the vicinity of Wyndham WA

1943

The minesweeper HMAS PIRIE, (LCDR C. F. Mills, RAN), was escorting the supply ship HANYANG into Oro Bay, New Guinea, when they were damaged in savage air attacks by 12 Japanese aircraft. PIRIE managed to shoot down one of the attacking aircraft, but she was struck by one bomb which passed through the bridge, killing the Gunnery Officer (LEUT J. W. Ellershaw, RANVR), before hitting the upper deck and exploding, where it killed six of PIRIE’s gun crew. PIRIE was also strafed by cannon fire, and four personnel were wounded. HANYANG was also hit by one bomb, and three of her crew were killed.

1994

The Naval Depot in Brisbane, HMAS MORETON, was decommissioned after over 60 years of service. The base opened in 1933 as HMAS PENGUIN IV; in 1940 it changed to HMAS BRISBANE, and in 1942 to HMAS MORETON. The base occupied the site at New Farm for several years before de-commissioning. For many years the base was the home of the Amphibious Squadron, comprising the landing ship HMAS TOBRUK, and several landing craft heavy, (LCH). Naval support activities were transferred to the new Naval Headquarters, Southern Queensland, located at Bulimba Barracks.

[John Brown]

11th April 1783

After receiving a copy of the provisional treaty on March 13th, the US Congress proclaimed a formal end to the hostilities with Great Britain.


11th April 1803

John Stevens patented a twin screw propeller steamboat.


11th April 1940

HM Submarine Sealion torpedoed and sank the German steamer ‘AUGUST LEONHARDT’ off Anholt Island.


11th April 1941

The Greek Hospital ship ‘ATTIKI’ was sunk by German bombing in the Doro Channel.


11th April 1951

President Trueman relieved General MacArthur of his command in the Far East following a disagreement over Korea.

[Odin]

On this day 11th April 1809 under the general direction of Admiral Lord Gambier, Captain Lord Cochrane organised and led a fleet of over 40 British warships and fireships to destroy the French fleet in Basque Roads, off St Nazaire.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded with the clasp 'Basque Roads 1809' for this action. In all 529 medals were claimed.

[herakles]

12 April

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), was ceremoniously scuttled off Sydney Heads as part of the Washington Treaty, which limited fleet sizes, (the RAN was included as part of the RN under this treaty). AUSTRALIA was followed to her final resting place by the remainder of the Australian Fleet, and hundreds of patriotic citizens in private vessels.

1941

The siege of Tobruk started and went on for 242 days, until the 8 December. The Tobruk Ferry involved RAN destroyers making 139 runs, with HMAS VENDETTA alone making 39. VOYAGER and WATERHEN made the first runs at the beginning of May 1941, VENDETTA followed, and VAMPIRE made 2 runs before her defects caught up with her. HMA Ships taking part were STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, WATERHEN, PARRAMATTA, NIZAM, and NAPIER, whilst YARRA took part in escort duties in the area.

1944

HM Submarine Tapir, (LEUT P. G. Evatt, RANVR), torpedoed and sunk the German submarine U486 off Fejersen Fiord, Norway. LEUT Evatt was awarded the DSC for exceptional skill, audacity and judgement.

1961

Russians win the space race by putting Yuri Gargarin up there.

1975

USA pulls out of Cambodia

[Odin]

On this day 12th April 1796 HMS Revolutionnaire (5th Rate 38 Guns ex French) captured the French ship Unite 60 miles South by West of Belle Ile

[John Brown]

12th April 1861

The American Civil War began in Charleston South Carolina. Confederate General Pierre Beauregard began firing 4000 shells at Fort Sumter.


12th April 1940

En route to duty with the Malaya Force the Australian AMC ‘WESTRALIA’ captured the Norwegian steamer ‘FERNLANE’ and sent her under a prize crew to Singapore.

The French submarine chaser C-107 was lost in collision with the French steamer ‘SHELSPRA’ in the River Loire.


12th April 1941

The Greek steamer ‘NICOLAOS D. L.’ was sunk by the raider ‘KORMORAN’ with the entire crew being taken prisoner.

The British AMC ‘DUNNOTTAR CASTLE’ captured the French Steamer ‘BANFORA’ near Port Etienne.


12th April 1945

US President F D Roosevelt died aged 63.


12th April 1982

Britain declared a 200 mile exclusion zone around the Falkland Islands to prevent Argentinian supplies and reinforcements reaching the Islands.

HM Submarine Spartan took up station off Stanley.


John

[herakles]

13 April

1885

HMS DIAMOND, (corvette), was stationed at Port Adelaide to guard against an attack by Russian commerce raiders.

1918

CMDR W. H. F. Warren, RAN, commander of the Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer Flotilla, was accidentally drowned at Brindisi, Italy. The award of the DSO to CMDR Warren was received at the Flotilla base the day after his death.

1968

CMDR Eric Feldt, OBE, RAN, died at Brisbane, QLD. During World War II he had commanded the Australian Coastwatchers organisation in New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon Islands. This highly successful organisation of men, (and one woman), operated behind the Japanese lines and provided vital intelligence to the Allies on Japanese ship and aircraft movements.

[Odin]

On this day 13th April 1797 HMS Viper (Cutter 14 guns) captured the Spanish privateer Piteous Virgin Maria 20 miles North North West of Alboran Islands in the western Mediterranean


On this day 13th April 1800 a boat from HMS Calypso (Sloop 16 guns) cut out the French privateer Diligente near Cape Tiburon, Haiti

[Odin]

On this day 13th April 1940 the Second Battle of Narvik took place. The British force comprised of the battleship HMS Warspite, supported by nine destroyers, was commanded by Vice Admiral W J Whitworth.

The attack began on the morning of 13th April. The Warspite’s spotting aircraft attacked the submarine U.64, and noted a German destroyer. Both vessels were sunk, the destroyer where it was found but U.64 was able to reach the far end of Harjangs Fjord, north east of Narvik, before sinking.

The British fleet reached Narvik at 1.00pm. The German destroyers fought back, seriously damaging two British destroyers, HMS Eskimo and HMS Cossack. After an hour the surviving German ships fled into the far reaches of Herjangs Fjord and Rombaksfjord. Two of the German destroyers were lost close to Narvik, one in Herjangs Fjord and the last four in Rombaksfjord. Several of the German ships were destroyed by their own crews with many surviving to take part in the land battle for Narvik.

Whitworth’s signature is shown below (taken from a commission certificate)

[John Brown]

13th April 1861

Fort Sumter, after 40 hours of continuous bombardment, surrendered to Confederate forces.


13th April 1912

The Royal Flying Corps was founded.

13th April 1940
The Australian sloop SWAN intercepted Norwegian steamer ‘SOLHEIM’ off
Fremantle and took her into harbour.

The Australian AMC ‘WESTRALIA’, en route from Balikpapen to
Darwin, intercepted Norwegian tanker HAVBOR and escorted her to

13th April 1941

U 108 sank the AMC ‘RAJPUTANA’ with 277 survivors being rescued by destroyers.

[herakles]

14 April

1941

LCDR T. K. Morrison, RAN, was awarded the OBE for gallantry while serving in HMAS HOBART during the evacuation of British Somaliland. After the Allied forces had withdrawn from the port of Berbera LCDR Morrison took the cruiser’s motor boat in close to the shore to rescue stragglers.

1941

HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), rescued 430 patients and medical staff from the hospital ship VITA, bombed off Tobruk. A year later VITA was to rescue survivors from the destroyer’s sister-ship, HMAS VAMPIRE.

1943

HMA Ships KAPUNDA, WAGGA, and WHYALLA, (minesweepers), fought off repeated attacks by 100 Japanese aircraft at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

1945

The DSC was awarded to CMDR H. C. Wright, RAN, and LCDR R. I. Peek, RAN, for gallantry while serving in the cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA in the Philippines. Peek was also admitted to the OBE for outstanding service in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

1989

The Governor General and Commander in Chief, the Honourable Bill Hayden, AC, presented the new Queen’s Colour to the Australian Fleet at the Fleet Base, Sydney.

[Odin]

On this day 14th April 1781 HMS Roebuck (5th Rate 44 guns) captured the American ship Confederacy 170 miles South by East of Sandy Hook, New Jersey

[Batstiger]

On this day 14th April 1940 HMS Loch Alvie launched.

On this day 14th April 1942 type iii Hunt class HMS Holcombe launched.

On this day 14th April 1944 submarine HMS Scythian launched.

On this day 14th April 1944 HMS Lancaster Castle launched.

[John Brown]

14th April 1865

US President Lincoln was assassinated.


14th April 1912

The liner RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and later sank with the loss of around 1500 lives.


14th April 1940

HM Submarine SUNFISH sank the German Naval Auxiliary Schiff 35 (the steamer OLDENBURG) which was equipped as a Q ship, near Laeso Island.


14th April 1945

In Germany, the Heinkel HE162 became the first operational aircraft to be equipped with an ejector seat.

John

[herakles]

15 April

1918

Australian-born Squadron Leader H. R. Busteed, demonstrated the landing of aircraft using arrester cables on HMS FURIOUS. Busteed conceived and perfected the technique.

1941

HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), joined ADML Cunningham’s battle fleet in the bombardment of the main Italian supply port of Tripoli.

1942

HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), reached Port Phillip after an epic 72 day tow from Singapore. The destroyer had been immobilized in dry dock at Singapore when the Japanese invaded, and was towed south to Australia by a variety of vessels. She endured air attack and bad weather during the 5000 mile journey. Her Commanding Officer during this period was LEUT W. G. Whiting, RANR, who was awarded the DSC for ‘outstanding leadership, initiative and seamanship’

1943

Japanese bombers attacked naval installations at Darwin, NT. The bombers were met by strong fighter defence.

1943

HMS MAJESTIC, (aircraft carrier), which later was commissioned as HMAS MELBOURNE, was launched at Barrow-in-Furness, England.

1945

British troops liberate Bergen Belsen.

1969

VADM Sir Roy Russell Dowling, KCVO, KBE, CB, CBE, DSO, died in Canberra.

1980

The Australian Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, announced the expenditure of $1,065 million for the building of four guided missile frigates and support equipment.

1983

The Australian Government announced that HMS INVINCIBLE, (aircraft carrier), would be renamed HMAS AUSTRALIA when she joined the RAN in 1983. However, in 1983 the newly elected Labour Government cancelled the purchase of the ship.

1989

Hillsborough tragedy when 93 soccer fans lost their lives

[Odin]

On this day 15th April 1795 HMS Artois (5th Rate 38 Guns) captured the French ship Jean-Bart 15 miles west of Re Island

[John Brown]

15th April 1940

U-49 surrendered after a depth charge attack. Many documents were seized before the scuttling charges exploded.

The Australian troop convoy US 2 departed Melbourne en route to Egypt. The convoy was escorted by the Battleship HMS Ramillies and the cruiser HMAS Adelaide.


15th April 1949

The Nuremburg War Trials officially ended.


15th April 1986

USAF planes based in Britain bombed Libya in retaliation for various acts of terrorism thought to have been ordered by General Gadaffi.

[herakles]

16 April

1861

In the Royal Navy the rank of Master’s Mate was renamed as Sub Lieutenant, and the Captains’ rank insignia was changed to four stripes.

1970

An international fleet of 48 vessels from 10 nations visited Sydney for the Bicentenary of CAPT James Cook’s landing.

Six of the ships were sail-training vessels:NIPPON MARU, (Japan), LIBERTAD, (Argentina), GLORIA, (Colombia), REGINA MARIS, (Norway), ESMERALDA, (Chile), and DEWARUTJI, (Indonesia).


Australian naval vessels involved were; HMA Ships, SYDNEY, STALWART, PERTH, BRISBANE, SUPPLY, SWAN, STUART, PARRAMATTA, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, QUEENSBOROUGH, MORESBY, OVENS, CURLEW, TEAL, GULL, SNIPE, HAWK, IBIS, ARROW, BAYONET, BARRICADE, BARBETTE, BOMBARD, and BANDOLIER.


British naval vessels involved were; HM Ships, OLMEDA, BLAKE, BRITANNIA, EURYALUS, WHITBY, and PLYMOUTH.


Other naval vessels involved were; HMNZ Ships LACHLAN, and ENDEAVOUR. US Ships BAINBRIDGE and BELKNAP. HNLM Ships VAN SPEIJK, and GALEN. NRP COMMANDANTE JOAO BELO, (Portugal), and FNS ENSEIGNE DE VAISSEAU HENRY, (France).



19

Rear Admiral Herakles was born

[Odin]

On this day 16th April 1797 HMS Boston (5th Rate 32 guns) captured the French privateer Enfant-de-la Patrie 50 miles West of Cape Ortegal, North West Spain

Unlike many small ships of that period HMS Boston had a fairly long career. It was launched by Inwood of Rotherhithe in May 1762 and finally broken up 49 years later in May 1811

[John Brown]

16th April 1746

The last land battle fought on the British mainland took place on the field at Culloden when the Hanoverian British Govt put down ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’s’ Jacobite Rebellion.

16th April 1863

Union Admiral David Dixon Porter led 12 ships past the Confederate artillery at Vicksburg and lost only one vessel.


16th April 1940

HMS Suffolk was badly damaged by German bombing after bombarding Sola Airfield.


16th April 1942

The Island of Malta was awarded the George Cross.




16th April 1951

Commander John Brown was born in Upton Hospital, Slough.


Looks like we share a birthday Herakles. 16th April must be a special day.

Happy birthday buddy…..have a great day!!!:)

Regards…John

[herakles]

Wow John! How good.

Another person born in the month of the Fool with the personality of war from Aries. And no doubt a temper to go with it.

Have a great one.

[herakles]

17 April

1942

The wireless station at Darwin, NT, received the first message from occupied Timor, indicating that the lost commando force, (Sparrow Force), was still fighting. The signal read; ‘Force intact. Still fighting. Badly need boots, money, quinine, tommy-gun ammunition’. A reply to the commandos’ signal was transmitted on the next night.

1964

The first of three Bell Iroquois helicopters ordered for the RAN were received by the Fleet Air Arm.

1984

Shots from the Libyan Embassy in London kill a police woman

1961

An invasion force has landed on the island of Cuba at the Bay Of Pigs to try to overthrow the country's leader, Fidel Castro.

[Odin]

On this day 17th April 1806 HMS Sirius (5th Rate 36 guns - Captain William Prowse) captured the French corvette Bergere off Civita Vecchia, on the west coast of Italy.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp Sirius 17 April 1806 for this action. There were 10 claimants for the medal.


On this day 17 April 1809 the French 74 gun ship D'Hautpoul was in company with two similar sized vessels and three frigates when they were spotted by HMS Pompee (3rd Rate 80 guns - Captain W Fahie), HMS Recruit (Brig Sloop 18 guns - Commander Charles Napier) and HMS Hazard (Brig Sloop 16 guns). They gave chase together with other British ships. The two brigs were eventually outstripped but HMS Latona (5th Rate 38 guns) and HMS Castor (5th Rate 32 guns) took up the action. HMS Castor engaged the D'Hautpoul and the HMS Pompee also arrived. The French ship surrendered and was added to the RN as HMS Abercromby.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded for this action. The Committee approving the awards mistakenly gave the date of the action as 17 June 1809. The following ships received clasps - HMS Castor (Castor 17 June 1809) - 13 recipients, HMS Pompee (Pompee 17 June 1809) - 47 recipients and HMS Recruit (Recruit 17 June 1809) - 7 recipients. Onboard HMS Pompee was a company of 63rd Foot. One man Lieut W Cosby 63rd Foot claimed this Navy Medal with the clasp Pompee 17 June 1809 and also received the army equivalant, the Military General Service Medal with clasps Martinique and Guadaloupe.

[John Brown]

17th April 1864

In a combined operation involving the CSS Albermarle Confederate forces under Major General Robert F Hoke attacked the Federal Garrison at Plymouth, North Carolina. This action heralded the stat of what became known as ‘The Battle of Plymouth’


17th April 1940

Whilst searching for 5 destroyers reportedly in her area HM Submarine TAKU fired 5 torpedoes at HMS ASHANTI. There were no hits on the destroyer.


17th April 1963

The British Government commissioned the building of the country’s first nuclear powered submarine HMS DREADNOUGHT

17th April 1982

The main British taskforce sails from Ascension Island for the Falklands.


John

[herakles]

18 April

1864

HMVS VICTORIA transported 100,000 salmon, and 3000 trout ova, from Melbourne to Hobart to establish Tasmania’s fish hatcheries.

1942

The Australian Prime Minister Mr John Curtin handed over to General Douglas MacArthur, (US Army), the operational command of all combat sections of the Australian army, navy, and air force in the Australian area. MacArthur appointed VADM H. Leary, USN, in command of all naval forces, including the RAN.

(Curtin's first meeting with MacArthur was made without a single representative of the Australian Armed Forces being present. This raised many eyebrows. The Australian general Tom Blamey was appointed 2i/c to MacArthur. He had previously been 2i/c all Allied forces Middle East and Mediterranean.)

1969

The Oberon class submarine HMAS OVENS, (LCDR B. Nobes, RAN), was commissioned. OVENS was laid down at Scott’s Yard, Greenock, Scotland, on 17 June 1966, and launched on 4 December 1967. Lady Slim, (Wife of Viscount Slim, a former Governor General of Australia), performed the launching ceremony.

1994

The training ship HMAS JERVIS BAY, (ex MV AUSTRALIAN TRADER), decommissioned at Garden Island Sydney. Nicknamed at times JB, the Love Boat, (due to being the first RAN vessel to embark female personnel), and even the Gay Bay, she conducted training for thousands of trainee officers over a 17 year career.

(The Gay Bay?) :eek:

1955

Albert Einstein died

[Odin]

On this day 18th April 1797 boats from HMS Dido (6th Rate 28 Guns) and HMS Terpsichore (5th Rate 32 Guns) cut out the Spanish ship Principe Fernando at Santa Cruz, Tenerife.

On this day 18th April 1813 HMS Unicorn (5th Rate 32 Guns) and HMS Stag (5th Rate 36 Guns) captured the American letter of marque Hebe 100 miles Southwest of Ushant.

[John Brown]

18th April 1861

Robert E Lee was offered command of the Union Army. Two days later he resigned from the US Army.


18th April 1940

HM Submarine STERLET was sunk in the Skagerrak possibly by the German minesweeper M 75.


18th April 1942

The ‘Doolittle Raid’ was launched and executed from the deck of the carrier USS HORNET.


18th April 1943

Japanese Admiral Yamamoto died when his plane was shot down by American P38 fighters.


18th April 1970

Apollo 13 splashed down safely after a 5 day rescue operation in space.

[herakles]

Ohhhhhh! We're adding pictures now! A nice touch John. I'll see what I can do.

[John Brown]

Herk

I think Bob actually started it in his post of 18th March.

I have to admit...it does add a little something to a diary entry.:)


Regards...John

[herakles]

The trouble is John, that nice as it looks, there's only the three of us to enjoy it!

19 April

1941

The German raiders ATLANTIS and KORMORAN rendezvoused in the Indian Ocean. On leaving the rendezvous KORMORAN changed her disguise to the Dutch ship STRAAT MALACCA.

1944

HMA Ships NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM, QUICKMATCH, and QUIBERON, (destroyers), operated as part of the British Pacific Fleet in the attack on Sabang, (Operation Cockpit), by carrier-borne aircraft.

1949

HMAS SHOALHAVEN, (frigate), was anchored at Shanghai and preparing to proceed up the Yangtse River to Nanking, to relieve HMS CONSORT. The ships were part of an Allied force standing by to evacuate British and Australian nationals in the event of increased hostilities between the Nationalist Chinese Government and the Peoples Liberation Army, (Communist Army), who were then engaged in a bitter Civil War. However, with the arrival of HMS AMETHYST, the decision was made that she would relieve CONSORT instead, and stores onboard SHOALHAVEN were transferred to the British warship which then departed for Nanking. Within 24 hours AMETHYST was in action against Communist shore batteries, and suffered heavy damage and casualties.

1964
HMS DUCHESS, (Daring class destroyer), arrived in Sydney on loan to the RAN as a replacement for HMAS VOYAGER. DUCHESS was later purchased outright by the Australian Government.

(Voyager was a Daring class also - cut in two by HMAS Melbourne)

2006

The patrol boat HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR J. Hunter, RAN), whilst en-route to the Solomon Islands, was diverted to the Tongan Islands of Tofua and Kao, to rescue 17 Australian and United States civilians. They were part of a US Peace Corps, stranded due to severe weather conditions. They were taken to Tonga.

[Odin]

We need to get more people inputting to this thread. Meanwhile....

On this day 19th April 1782 Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Hood in HMS Barfleur with a fleet of British ships captured four French ships in the Mona Passage, between Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo.

The British ships present were HMS Alfred (3rd Rate 74 Guns), HMS Barfleur (2nd Rate 98 Guns), HMS Belliqueux (3rd Rate 64 Guns), HMS Magnificent (3rd 74 Guns captured Aimable), HMS Monarch (3rd Rate 74 Guns), HMS Montagu (3rd rate 74 Guns), HMS Prince William (3rd Rate 64 Guns ex Spanish), HMS Valiant (3rd Rate 74 Guns captured Caton and Jason), HMS Warrior (3rd Rate 74 Guns), HMS Yarmouth (3rd Rate 60 Guns) and the Frigates HMS Alecto (12 Guns), HMS Champion (6th Rate 24 Guns captured Ceres)

[John Brown]

Herakles and Odin

I couldn't agree more with both your sentiments. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with the response to this thread. I am not referring to those members who post regularly in other threads but there are obviously some people contributing next to nothing to the forum. This thread gives them an easy opportunity to play an active part in the 'community'.

However, I do enjoy reading the entries you both make together with the occasional posts by Bob and Kc.


So, onward and upward.....


19th April 1861

The 6th Massachusetts Militia were attacked by a mob whilst marching through Baltimore.

President Lincoln declared a blockade of the southern coast.


19th April 1940

HMS WARPITE departing Vestfjord for Rosyth was attacked by U-47 but the torpedoes exploded prematurely. The Battleships escorting destroyers counter attacked with depth charges but the U-boat escaped.


19th April 2002

The USS Cole was relaunched after repairs to damage sustained in a terrorist attack in the Yemen during 2002.


John

[herakles]

We need to get more people inputting to this thread. Meanwhile...

Tell me how we do that!! Anyway ... ... I really enjoy this thread! Each of you brings a particular dimension that is most interesting. I am however peeved that I didn't think of the American Civil War first!! :rolleyes:

Every picture of Lincoln I've ever seen makes me think he would be very dull company at a party!!

20 April

1863

CDRE Sir William S. Wiseman, RN, was appointed Commodore Commanding Australia Station. His flagship was HMS CURACAO.
(There's a nice name for a ship!!)

There have been 4 ships so named.

1941

HMAS VAMPIRE, (V class destroyer), took off the crew of the burning tanker BRITISH JUDGE, while under heavy air attack north of Crete.

Vampire was with Prince of Wales and Repulse on the fateful day of their sinking and rescued survivors)

1943

USS CANBERRA, (cruiser), was launched at Quincey, USA, by Lady Dixon, wife of the Australian Minister to the USA. The ship was named in honour of HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), lost at Savo Island in the Solomons.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=925

1949

HMAS SHOALHAVEN was brought to one hours notice for sea following the receipt of a signal from HMS AMETHYST, reporting she had been fired on by Communist shore batteries, and was damaged, suffered heavy casualties, and ran aground in the Yangtse River. Surgeon LEUT N. S. Chalk, RANR, was transferred to HMS BLACK SWAN, which, in company with the cruiser HMS LONDON, were dispatched to assist AMETHYST. HMS CONSORT also sailed from Nanking to assist. SHOALHAVEN was ordered to remain at Shanghai to act as the wireless telegraphy guard ship for the Senior British Naval Officer, (Shanghai). The attempt by CONSORT, BLACK SWAN and LONDON to reach AMETHYST failed, and all ships suffered damage and loss of life before returning to Shanghai. AMETHYST was later re-floated by her crew, and escaped to Shanghai.

[Odin]

On this day 20th April 1807 boats from HMS Richmond (Gun brig 14 guns) cut out the Spanish privateer Galliard in Paderneira Harbour, Portugal.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was authorised with the clasp 19 April Boat Service 1807 (incorrect date). No one actually claimed this clasp. The medal would have looked like the image below had it been issued for this action (showing the reverse of the medal).


On this day 20th April 1810 HMS Firm (Gun brig 12 guns Captain R Welch), HMS Sharpshooter (Gun brig 12 guns) and HMS Surly (Cutter 10 guns Captain J Little) captured the French privateer Alcide in Granville Bay, on the east coast of Grenada.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasps Surly 24 April 1810 and Firm 24 April 1810 to mark this action (again incorrect date). There were no awards for HMS Sharpshooter. There was only one claimant for each clasp
Surly 24 April 1810 Abraham Norster Clerk HMS Surly
Firm 24 April 1810 Henry Wigley Pte RM HMS Firm


Adding to herakles post
The Naval General Service Medal 1915 with clasp Yangtze 1949 was awarded to crew members of the ships HMS Amethyst, HMS Black Swan, HMS Consort and HMS London. An example of this medal is shown below (recipient's service number has a Chatham prefix suggesting he served on HMS London)

[Camarogenius]

Well, You guys are already posting 20 april, but where I'm at, it's still 19 april.
19 april, 1989. 660 pounds of propellant detonated in the open breech of the center gun of Turret #2 aboard U.S.S. IOWA Killing 47 men.
I knew all of them, and was close friends with quite a few.
I think about them every day of my life.
Jeffrey Watts, R division, U.S.S. IOWA 1988-1990.

[herakles]

Jeff, what a disaster and how it must have altered your life.

Being an international forum, members are in many parts of the world so dates vary a bit! I happen to live in your tomorrow!

Odin, I note your comment on the awarding of Naval General Service Medal 1915 with clasp Yangtze 1949. Was it also awarded to members of HMAS Shoalhaven? And if not, why not?

[Eggs-11]

Good evening people
Regarding HMAS Shoalhaven she should have relieved HMS Consort
on the 16 april but was stood down and HMS amethyst took her place.

[herakles]

Quite right Eggs. I have mentioned this in a couple of other places here.

[Eggs-11]

Good day mate.
You dont have a better photo of HMAS Shoalhaven.

[herakles]

Sorry sport, no better picture I'm afraid.

[Eggs-11]

Cheers mate.

[John Brown]

Nice to see two more members getting involved in this thread.

Jeff were you on Iowa when she came into Portsmouth not long after that accident?



20th April 1864

Confederate forces recaptured forts that had been lost to Union troops two years before thus ending the ‘Battle for Plymouth’ in North Carolina.


20th April 1889

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau, Austria.


20th April 1940

Denmarks army was demobilised by the Germans.


20th April 1942

Japanese forces completed their conquest of Visayan Island in the Philippines.


20th April 1945

Soviet troops began their assault on Berlin.



John

[herakles]

21 April

1941

HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), and HM Ships AJAX and ORION, (cruisers), provided support for the bombardment of the port of Tripoli, (Tunisia).

1944

ADML Somerville signalled the British Admiralty after the successful attack on Sabang; ‘We caught the Japs with their kimonos up and their heads down and gave Sabang a good bang’. Six Australian ships participated in Operation Cockpit.

1945

Russian troops enter Berlin.

1969

HMAS HOBART, (destroyer), awarded the USN Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam.

1978

CDRE Sir James Ramsay, became the first officer of the RAN to be knighted twice. CDRE Ramsay, a Knight Bachelor and Governor of WA, was created a KCMG.

1982

VADM D. W. Leach, AC, CBE, LVO, RAN, is appointed Chief of Naval Staff. He had joined the RAN College in 1942 as a Cadet Midshipman, and was the last CNS to have seen service in World War II.

[John Brown]

21st April 1509

Henry VIII, considered by many to be the founder of the Royal Navy, becomes King of England on the death of his father Henry VII.


21st April 1940

Whilst participating in the Norwegian campaign, the British Steamer ‘CEDARBANK’ was sunk with all her cargo by U-26.


21st April 1941

The Battleships HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant and HMS Barham bombard Tripoli on the North African Coast.


21st April 1982

In the Falklands campaign 'OperationParaquat' to retake the island of South Georgia begins with a failed landing by SAS troops on the Fortuna Glacier.

[Odin]

Sorry been away - hence the reason for the early post on 20th

On this day 21st April 1796 HMS Indefatigable (3rd Rate reduced to 38 Guns - Captain Sir Edward Pellew) captured the French frigate Virginie in the English Channel after a fifteen hour chase.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded with the clasp Indefatigable 20 April 1796 for this action. There were 8 claimants for the medal.


On this day 21st April 1798 HMS Mars (3rd Rate 74 Guns - Captain Alex Hood) whilst cruising off Brest with HMS Ramillies and HMS Jason sighted the French ship L'Hercule. HMS Mars chased her and with help from HMS Jason at the end of the action managed to force her to surrender. L'Hercule was towed to Plymouth and transferred to the RN under the name HMS Hercules. Captain Hood was killed during the action.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded with the clasp Mars 21 April 1798 for this action. There were 26 claimants for this medal.

[herakles]

22 April

1916

HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMS NEW ZEALAND, (battle-cruisers), collided north-west of Horn Reef in the North Sea. AUSTRALIA was in dockyard hands for two months while repairs were made, and missed the Battle of Jutland.

1918

HMAS TORRENS, (torpedo boat destroyer), and HM Ships JACKAL and HORNET, (destroyers), engaged five Austrian destroyers in a running gun battle in the Adriatic Sea. The Austrian vessels turned away and broke off the engagement.

1933

ADML Sir William Creswell, the ‘Father of the RAN’, died in Melbourne, VIC.

He single handedly pushed for the establishment of the RAN and it was due to him that the RAN was ready and available at the outbreak of WW1. See:

http://www.awm.gov.au/people/152.asp

1952

HMS NARVIK, (LST), departs Fremantle bound for the Monte Bello Islands, off the north western coast of Australia, in support of the British atomic tests, (Operation Hurricane), conducted there during May. A number of Australian ships, including HMAS HAWKESBURY, (frigate), were also involved.

1959

Dame Margot Fonteyn released from jail in Panama.

[Odin]

On this day 22nd April 1813 HMS Weazle (Brig-sloop 18 Guns - Commander J Black) destroyed six French gunboats in Boscaline, Adriatic

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp Weazel 22 April 1813 to mark this action. There were 8 claimants from the ship.

[John Brown]

22nd April 1500

The explorer Pedro Alvarez Cabral landed in Brazil and claimed it for Portugal.


22nd April 1838

The British steamer ‘Sirius’ became the first steamship to cross the Atlantic from England to New York. The voyage took 18 days and 10 hours.


22nd April 1861

Robert E Lee was appointed Commander of Virginia’s forces with the rank of Major General.


22nd April 1915

The first major gas attack of WW1 was launched by the Germans. 168 tons of chlorine gas were fired against French and Canadian Divisions at Ypres in Belgium.


22nd April 1940

The sloop ‘Pelican’ was attacked by German planes in Romdalsfijord. The vessel was badly damaged after a bomb hit caused the detonation of her depth charges.


22nd April 1969

Robin Knox Johnston sailed into Falmouth completing the first non stop solo voyage around the world. The voyage lasted 312 days.

[Camarogenius]

Nice to see two more members getting involved in this thread.

Jeff were you on Iowa when she came into Portsmouth not long after that accident?

John
John,
Yes I was. I really enjoyed Portsmouth, and hope to return one day, if I can ever get the wife on an airplane.

[herakles]

23 April

303
Death of St. George

God for Harry, England and St George!

1564

Birth of William Shakespeare

1616

Death of William Shakespeare

1915

HMA Submarine, AE2, ran aground on Sangrada Point in the entrance to the Dardanelles, while attempting to penetrate the Turkish defences at The Narrows, leading to the Sea of Marmara. CMDR Stoker freed the submarine, and returned to Mudros for repairs.

1918

Engineer, LEUT W. H. V Edgar, RAN, and 10 ratings from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), were loaned to a variety of British ships which participated in the British raid to block the canal at Zeebrugge, Belgium. The object of the raid was to deny the use of the canal to German submarines and destroyers operating in the North Sea. Despite heavy casualties suffered during the raid, none of the Australians were killed or wounded.
The following awards for gallantry were made:-
DSC LEUT W. H. V. Edgar, RAN, (one of only two awarded to an RAN officer in WW I).
DSM LS G. J. Bush.
DSM LS D. J.O. Rudd,(who was later convicted as a mutineer in the 1919 HMAS AUSTRALIA mutiny).
DSM LS G. E. Staples.
MID AB H. J. Gillard.
MID AB L. T. Newlands.
MID Stoker N. J. McCrory (was also awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre as he had previously served in the RANBT at Gallipoli, and the AIF in France, before re-joining the Navy in 1917).
SBLT A. V. Knight, RNR, was awarded the DSC for conspicuous service in the raid to block Ostend Harbour. Knight later served with distinction in minesweepers and landing ships in the RAN, during WWII. He retired as CAPT A. V. Knight, OBE, DSC, US Legion of Honour. The RAN in Britain provided 11 volunteers, Knight and 10 ratings, for the raid on Ostend and Zeebrugge.

1919

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), sailed for Australia from Portsmouth, England, after a farewell inspection by the Prince of Wales and the First Sea Lord, ADML Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, RN.

(She went home to be scuttled as part of that ridiculous post war treaty.)

1949

HMAS SHOALHAVEN, (frigate), provided a firing party at the funeral service for 23 British sailors from HM Ships CONSORT and LONDON, who had been killed during the abortive attempt to rescue HMS AMETHYST. The sailors were buried in the Hung-Jao Cemetery in Shanghai.

1969

CPO A. V. Rashleigh and AB A. J. Sherlock, of the RAN Clearance Diving Team 3, carried out an underwater night search of the hull of MV HERADIA at Vung Tau, Vietnam, after the capture of a Viet Cong diver alongside the ship. Knowing that another enemy diver was in the vicinity, they continued their search until they found an explosive charge secured alongside the ship. After removal of the charge they re-entered the water and captured the enemy diver.

1984

Discovery of the AIDS virus.

1985

The prestigious Royal Geographic Society of Australia’s J. P. Thompson Foundation Gold Medal, was awarded to the survey vessel, HMAS FLINDERS, (LCDR G. J. Bond, RAN), for the survey of, and production of, a new chart for a recently discovery passage through the Great Barrier Reef near Mackay. This passage was named Hydrographers Passage.

[John Brown]

23rd April 1661

Charles II was crowned King of England so completing the restoration of the Monarchy after the English Civil War.


23rd April 1918

The ‘raid on Zeebrugge’ to block a canal leading to a U-boat base took place. Despite great heroism by the combined forces, the raid was not a total success.


23rd April 1940

The British Steamer ‘ROMANBY’ was sunk alongside the jetty at Narvik. Her crew were marched to Sweden and interned there.

23rd April 1945

Russian troops liberated the concentration camps at Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrueck in Germany.


23rd April 1967


The Russian Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov became the first man to die on a space mission. He was killed when his craft crashed on landing due to a parachute failure.


John


Camaro

I visited the ship whilst she was in Portsmouth. Some of the photos I took have crew members in them. Perhaps you are one of them:)

[Odin]

On this day 23rd April 1809 boats from HMS Amphion (5th Rate 32 Guns), HMS Mercury (6th Rate 28 Guns) and HMS Spartan (5th Rate 38 Guns) captured thirteen veesls at Porto Pesaro, on the east coast of Italy.

[herakles]

24 April


1860

HMVS VICTORIA sailed from Melbourne for service in the Maori War, in New Zealand. This was Australia’s first commitment of forces overseas.

1941

Operation Demon, (the evacuation of Greece from 24-29 April), took place. HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), and HMA Ships STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, and WATERHEN, (destroyers, the Scrap-Iron Flotilla?), all took part in evacuating troops from Greece, PERTH from Port Rafti, whilst STUART and VOYAGER the port of Nauplio embarking 301 troops, plus a party of Australian, New Zealand, and British nurses.

HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), evacuated 350 ANZAC troops from the beach at Megara, in Greece. Another 70 were taken off by sister ship HMAS WATERHEN, which was giving seaward cover to the evacuation.

2004

The ANZAC class frigate HMAS STUART, (CMDR Phillip Spedding, RAN), took part in the rescue of US personnel following a suicide attack by three boats on oil terminals at Basra and Al Faw, in southern Iraq. An 8-man coalition boarding party had spotted the suspicious vessels, and while attempting to board one of the dhows the explosives onboard were detonated. At least two coalition personnel were killed, and several wounded. STUART’s Seahawk helicopter and RHIB were used to rescue coalition personnel, and bring them back to the ship for medical attention. The bodies of the two slain personnel were also recovered by STUART’s RHIB.

[Camarogenius]

John, Post them up, and I'll tell you.

[John Brown]

24th April 1862

Seventeen ships under the command of Admiral David Farragut sailed up the Mississippi past Confederate forts towards New Orleans. Only was ship was lost.


24th April 1916

In Dublin Irish Nationalists led by Patrick Pearse launched the ‘Easter Rebellion’ against British Rule.


24th April 1940

During heavy air attacks on Aandalsnes, the cruiser HMS CURACOA was struck by a bomb just below the bridge. The bomb exploded between decks killing 45 and wounding 36 of the ships crew.


24th April 1942

The city of Exeter was the first to be bombed in what were known as the ‘Baedeker Raids’. These raids were carried out on picturesque cities in retalliation for the RAF bombing of Lubeck during the night of 28/29 March 1942

24th April 1953

Winston Churchill was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

[Odin]

On this day 24th April 1808 HMS Grasshopper (Brig-sloop 18 Guns Commander T Searle) and HMS Rapid (Gun-brig 12 Guns Lieutenant H Baugh) chased a small convoy escorted by four Spanish gunboats off Faro, south of Portugal. Two Spanish merchant vessels were captured and subsequently two of the gunboats were captured and the other two were destroyed.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasps Grasshopper 24 April 1808 and Rapid 24 April 1808 to mark this action. There were 7 claimants for the clasp Grasshopper including Commander Searle and 1 for Rapid, Lieut Baugh, who was also promoted.

We last saw Grasshopper in action less than three weeks ago where she was in action Off Rota (4th April 1808). Commander Searle was obviously a busy man.

[herakles]

25 April


1912

The boys training ship HMAS TINGIRA, (CMDR C la P. Lewin, RN), was commissioned. TINGIRA was laid down as a clipper ship SOBROAN, in Alexanda Hall & Co, Aberdeen, Scotland, and launched in 1866. In 1891 she was purchased by the NSW Government, and became the Nautical School Ship SOBROAN, and was moored off Balmain, Sydney, where she operated as a home and school for delinquent boys and orphans. She operated as the boys training ship for the RAN for the next 15 years, and produced over 3,000 ‘graduates’ for the fleet. The name is aboriginal for ‘open sea’.

1915

British, French, Australian and New Zealand troops storm ashore on the Gallipoli Peninsula Turkey. Very heavy resistance encountered because of prior warning after the abortive attack in March by the British Navy. (Queen Elizabeth, Lord Nelson, Agamemmon, Inflexible, Ocean, Irresistible, Prince George and Majestic from Britain and the Gaulois, Bouvet and Suffren from France.) The Commander Ian Hamilton possesses only a tourist map of the Peninsula to assist him. Detailed survey maps in Whitehall were not made known to him. At the time this was the largest amphibious landing in history.

Landings were made at V, W, Y, Z beaches and what is now called ANZAC Cove. At V Beach the collier, SS River Clyde, full of troops was run aground beneath the fortress. At W Beach, 6 VC's were earned by The Lancashire Fusiliers before breakfast.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632

After evading Turkish warships and mines, submarine AE2 broke through into the Sea of Marmara with orders to “Run Amok Generally” behind the enemy lines. AE2 sank a Turkish gunboat with a torpedo during her passage of the Dardanelles.

1944

HMA Ships VENDETTA, (destroyer), and BUNDABERG, (corvette), provided close support to troops in the capture of Madang, New Guinea.

1955

HMAS VENGEANCE, (aircraft carrier), was returned to the RN after service in the RAN. She was later sold to Brazil, and renamed MI9NAS GERIAS.

1974

Army rebels took control of Portugal after an almost bloodless dawn coup.

1980

A top-secret attempt by the United States to free American hostages held in Iran collapsed in failure, with the death of eight soldiers.

1982

Britain re-established its presence in the Falkland Islands after a two-hour assault by Royal Marines on the remote island of South Georgia.

1990

Three RAN vessels, (HMA Ships SYDNEY, TOBRUK and OXLEY), represented the RAN at the 75th Anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli. SYDNEY was chosen as her namesake had escorted the first convoy of ANZAC’s across the Indian Ocean in 1914, and she had destroyed the German raider EMDEN en-route. TOBRUK was chosen to represent the amphibious nature of the campaign, and OXLEY was chosen to commemorate the heroic actions of the Australian submarine AE2 in 1915.

[TACKLINE]

On this day 24th April 1941,I joined RN at HMS Royal Arthur!

[bob shayler]

Hi Herecles,
In addition to yours:
25th April 1908
HMS Gladiator in collission with SS St. Paul
regards,
bob

[herakles]

Good onya Bob! I hope you continue posting here.

The trouble with "On This Day" is that one could fill a page with events. So I have to be selective. All the more reason for other members to post here as well.

[John Brown]

25th April 1599

Oliver Cromwell, leader of the Parliamentarian forces in the English Civil War, was born.


25th April 1792

The guillotine was used for the first time in Paris to behead a convicted highwayman called Jacques Nicolas Pelletier.


25th April 1898

The United States declared war on Spain.


25th April 1940

The Dutch steamer MIDSLAND and the Panamanian steamer BOBBY collided three miles off Dungeness. The BOBBY sank but the entire crew were picked up by the Dutch ship.


25th April 1945

Russian and American forces met at Torgau on the River Elbe in Germany.

[Eggs-11]

On this day
1859 Work begins on the suez canal , and opens in 1869.

1945
Delegates from 50 nations meet in san francisco toorganise
the united nations.

1982
Royal marines recapture south georgia in the Falklands.

[Eggs-11]

1778
Continental navy sloop RANGER captures HMS Drake.

[John Brown]

26th April 1607

Captain John Smith landed at Cape Henry, Virginia, with the first group of colonists who established a permanent English settlement in North America.


26th April 1865

John Wilkes Booth who had assassinated President Lincoln was killed by Federal Troops near Bowling Green, Virginia.


26th April 1940

The Norwegian torpedo boat ‘GARM’ was sunk by German bombing at Bjordal in Sognefijord. None of the crew were killed.


26th April 1941

U-110 sank the British steamer ‘Henri Mory’ near Achill Head. “8 men were lost.


26th April 1986

The worlds worst nuclear accident occurred at Chernobyl in the Soviet Union.

[herakles]

26 April

1941

HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), carried 911 Australian and New Zealand troops, and HMAS STUART, (destroyer), evacuated 109, from Tolo to Suda Bay, Crete. Earlier that night STUART had ferried 600 troops from Tolo to Nauplion, where they were transferred to ORION.

1944

HMAS BUNDABERG, (minesweeper), attacked Japanese positions on Sek Island, (off Madang). All the ship’s armament was used in the attack. A landing party made up of soldiers, and some of the ship’s company, then landed and captured the island.

1962

First US rocket lands on Moon (far side)

1982

RAN personnel joined the Multi-National Force and Observers, (MFO), operating on the Sinai Peninsula, to enforce the separation of Egyptian and Israeli forces. The RAN provided Iroquious helicopters, (which had been transported to the Middle East by HMAS TOBRUK), to patrol the peninsula. The RAN presence ceased in 1986, but a small Army detachment remained.

2006

The patrol boat HMAS TOWNSVILLE, (LCDR I. M. Ingham, RAN), sailed from Thursday Island to proceed to Honiara, Solomon Islands, to provide support to Australian Army and Federal Police units, following an outbreak of violence, which resulted from the announcement of a new Prime Minister. TOWNSVILLE arrived on 24 April, and was allocated to CTF635.

[Eggs-11]

1917
Naval armed guard crew on board SS Mongolia
engage and damage a german U-Boat.


1946
The royal navy"s last battleship, HMS Vangard
was accepted for trials by the navy.

[herakles]

April 27

1296

The Scots were defeated by Edward I at the Battle of Dunbar.

1773

British Parliament passes the Tea Act

1865

In the U.S. the Sultana exploded while carrying 2,300 Union POWs. Between 1,400 - 2,000 were killed.

1908

4th modern Olympic games open in London

1941

RAN ships evacuating troops from Greece, picked up the last message from Radio Athens as German troops entered the city; ‘Closing down for the last time and looking forward to happier days. God be with you and for you’.

1950

South Africa passed the Group Areas Act, which formally segregated races.

1945

Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, the head of France's Vichy government during World War II, was arrested.

1960

1st atomic powered electric-drive submarine launched (Tullibee)

1985

The former aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE, departed Sydney under tow by the Chinese tug DE PING. She was bound for Canton, (Guangzhou), to be broken up. Despite inclement weather, hundreds of former crew members lined the foreshore to see her leave Sydney Harbour for the last time.

1989

Student protesters took over Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

[herakles]

April 28

1655

English Admiral Blake beats Tunen pirate fleet

1686

1st volume of Isaac Newton's "Principia" published

1770

Captain James Cook in Endeavor lands at Botany Bay in Australia.
Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, raised her flag in the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA at Sydney, to mark the commencement of the Bi-Centenary celebrations to commemorate CAPT James Cook’s landing at Botany Bay in 1770. Some 30 warships and five sailing vessels, from 16 nations, were present on the occasion.

1789

Fletcher Christian leads Mutiny on HMS Bounty & Captain William Bligh

1910

1st night air flight (Claude Grahame-White, England)

1919

The League of Nations was founded.

1941

HMAS PERTH had been sent to Greece again to embark troops at Kalamata, which was unsuccessful, and some 6000 troops were left behind to fall into German hands.

LEUT J.H.H. Kessack, RANVR, was killed in a premature explosion while attempting to render safe an enemy mine in an English port. Kessack had dealt successfully with 10 mines before his death. He was awarded the George Medal posthumously.

1944

Exercise "Tiger" ends with 750 US soldiers dead in D-Day rehearsal after their convoy ships were attacked by German torpedo boats

1947

Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and five others set out in a balsa wood craft known as Kon Tiki to prove that Peruvian Indians could have settled in Polynesia. The trip began in Peru and took 101 days to complete the crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

1956

Last French troops leave Vietnam

1969

Charles de Gaulle resigns as President of France

1986

Chernobyl, USSR site of world's worst nuclear power plant disaster

1996

Martin Bryant shoots and kills 32 innocent people at Port Arthur in Tasmania.

[John Brown]

Sorry, I'm a bit late but it is still 27th April here:


27th April 1521

The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed during a tribal skirmish in the Philippines.


27th April 1940

The Norwegian steamer ‘NYHAVG’ was sunk by German bombing at Lepsoy.


27th April 1950

The Communist Party was outlawed in Australia.

[Eggs-11]

1606
England adopts the union jack as its flag.


1945
Russian and Americans link up at the river elbe.

1961
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit
the earth.

[herakles]

I think in 1606 it was known as the British flag. It didn't take it's full form until the Act of Union in 1801 when St. Patrick's flag was added.

As I understand it, there has never been legislation making the Jack the official flag of Great Britain and that it is actually the Monarch's flag.

I have added the 1606 flag as well as the current one.

[John Brown]

28th April 1770

The British explorer Captain Cook discovered Botany Bay in Australia.


28th April 1789

The mutinous crew of HMS Bounty took command of the ship from Capt Bligh setting him and 18 loyal sailors adrift in an open boat.


28th April 1940

The sloop HMS Black Swan was damaged by German bombing in Romdalsfjord. The bomb passed through her stern before exploding but the ship continued in action until the attack was over.


28th April 1940

The Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress Carla Petacci were executed by Italian Partisans.


28th April 1952

The US occupation of Japan officially ended.

John

[Odin]

On this day 28th April 1813 boats from HMS Orpheus (5th Rate 36 Guns) under Lieutenant Dance burnt the American 'Letter of Marque' Wampoe off the North American coast.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was awarded with the clasp 29 April Boat Service 1813 for this action (incorrect date). There were just two claimants:

William F Dance Acting Lieut RN HMS Orpheus
Gordon G MacDonald Midshipman HMS Orpheus

Lieut Dance was also promoted for his part in the action

[herakles]

April 29

1429

Joan of Arc leads Orleans France, to victory over English

1707

English/Scottish parliament accept Act of Union, form Great Britain

1781

French fleet stops Britain from seizing the Cape of Good Hope

1784

Premiere of Mozart's Sonata in B flat, K454 (Vienna)

1856

End of Crimean War

1915

The submarine HMAS AE 2, (LCDR H. H. G. D. Stoker, RN), unexpectedly encountered the British submarine HMS E14 (LCDR E. C. Boyle, RN), off Kara Burnu Point, in the Sea of Mamara. The British submarine had penetrated the Dardanelles the day before. Both captains agreed to rendezvous the next day, however, AE2 was sunk before the rendezvous could be made.

1916

Irish nationalists set post office on fire in Dublin

1930

Telephone connection England-Australia goes into service

1945

Terms of surrender of German armies in Italy signed

US liberates 31,601 in Nazi concentration camp in Dachau Germany

1965

Australian government announces it will send troops to Vietnam

1970

50,000 US & South Vietnamese troops invade Cambodia

1975

US Forces pull out of Vietnam

1991

Cyclone strikes Bangladesh, 139,000 die/10 million homeless

1990

The destruction of the Berlin Wall began.

[John Brown]

29th April 1940

The cruiser HMS Glasgow transferred King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav of Norway when they fled from Molde to Tromso. Also on board Glasgow was a large part of the Norwegian gold reserves.


29th April 1945


Hitler married Eva Braun and designated Doenitz as his successor.


29th April 1970


American and South Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia



John

[herakles]

30 April

1527

Henry VIII and King Francis of France signed the treaty of Westminster.

1777

Carl Friedrich Gauss born

1915
The submarine HMAS AE2, (LCDR H. H. G. D. Stoker, RN), was sunk by the Turkish torpedo boat SULTAN HISSAR in the Sea of Mamora. All of the crew of 3 officers and 17 men were captured, and became Prisoners of War.

1943

The British submarine HMS Seraph dropped 'the man who never was,' a dead man the British planted with false invasion plans, into the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain.

1945

Adolf Hitler died

1970

US troops invade Cambodia

[Eggs-11]

1945
Americans liberate Dachau concentration camp.

1967 Muhammad ali stripped of his title for refusing to
be drafted into the army.

1970 American and south vietnamese invade cambodia.

[John Brown]

30th April 1789

George Washington was sworn in as the first US President.


30th April 1940

The French Vanquelin Class destroyer MAILLE BREZE was sunk in an accidental explosion at Tail of Bank, Greenock, whilst taking on ammunition. The ships torpedo tubes had been trained fore and aft and a torpedo was accidentally discharged which exploded against the bridge.


30th April 1975

The Vietnam war officially ended when the South Vietnamese Govt surrendered to that of North Vietnam.


30th April 1980

Terrorists seized the Iranian Embassy in London taking more than 20 hostages including a British Policeman, Trevor Lock.


John

[herakles]

1 May - May Day

1707

England, Wales and Scotland were united to form Great Britain.

1786

Mozart's opera "Marriage of Figaro" premières in Wien (Vienna)

1840

1st adhesive postage stamps ("Penny Blacks") issued

1863

In Virginia, the Battle of Chancellorsville began. General Robert E. Lee's forces began fighting with Union troops under General Joseph Hooker. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own soldiers in this battle.

1889

Bayer introduces aspirin in powder form

1898

The U.S. Navy under Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippines.

1930

Don Bradman scores 236 Australia vs Worcestershire

1931

The Empire State Building in New York was dedicated and opened.

1937

U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signed an act of neutrality, keeping the United States out of World War II.

1945

The RAN Beach Commando landed with the first wave of troops at Tarakan. This was the Commandos’ first action. Telegraphists J. R. Brady and W. F. Ryan were killed, and Signalman C. Ikin was wounded, in the operation.

1948

The People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was proclaimed.

1960

Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. Powers was taken prisoner.

1964

1st BASIC program runs on a computer

1978

Aram Katchaturian died

[Odin]

On this day 1st May 1810 a party of 105 men went ashore in boats from HMS Nereide (5th Rate 36 Guns) at Jocotel, Isle de France. They destroyed the battery and then captured a French schooner Estafette.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp 1 May Boat Service 1810 for this action. There were 15 claimants from Nereide for this clasp including Acting Captain Nesbit Willoughby, who was promoted.

HMS Nereide had an interesting career. She was originally a French ship but was captured by HMS Phoebe off the Scilly Islands in December 1797. Not long after this action (August 1810) she was re-captured by the French at Mauritius. Later that year (December 1810) she was again captured by the British, still at Mauritius and laid up there until sold in March 1816.

[Stan.J]

1851..Queen Victoria opened the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, which ran until October1st.
1912 The statue of Peter Pan was installed in Kensington Gardens,London. Children were told that Fairies had put it there.
1925. Cyprus became a British Colony, having been annexed in 1914 when Turkey supported Germany during WW1.
1945 Nazi Propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels commited suicide in his bunker after first killing his wife and six children.

[John Brown]

1st May 1904

The Japanese Army attacked and defeated Russian Forces at Xinyizhou.


1st May 1915

Three people died when the American tanker GULFLIGHT was torpedoed by the German submarine U-30.


1st May 1940

The Norwegian Hospital ship DRONNONG MAUD was badly damaged by bombing at Gratangen. There were 20 casualties on the ship.


1st May 1944

The Messerschmitt 262, the first combat jet, made its first flight.


1st May 1945

Doenitz succeeded Hitler as leader of the Third Reich.


1st May 2003

George W bush announced that major hostilities in Iraq were over.

[herakles]

2 May


1519

Leonardo da Vinci died.

1536

King Henry VIII accused Anna Boleyn of adultery & incest

1797

A mutiny in the British navy spread from Spithead to the rest of the fleet.

1780

William Herschel discovers 1st binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris

1923

A specialist branch of observers was formed within the RAN, to enable officers to qualify as pilots and observers. On qualifying as pilots they received 4 shillings per day additional pay.

1936

"Peter & the Wolf" premières in Moscow

1941

Hostilities broke out between British forces in Iraq and that country’s pro-German faction.

1945

Russians took Berlin after 12 days of fierce house-to-house fighting. The Allies announced the surrender of Nazi troops in Italy and parts of Austria.

1952

1st scheduled jet airliner passenger service begins with a BOAC Comet

1968

Gold reaches then record high ($39.35 per ounce) in London

1982

The British submarine HMS Conqueror sank Argentina's only cruiser, the General Belgrano during the Falkland Islands War. More than 350 people died.1997Labour routs Conservatives in election in Britain.

1997

Labour routs Conservatives in election in England, gaining power for the first time in ages.

[Odin]

On this day 2nd May 1813 100 Marines under Captain M Ennis RM from HMS Redwing, HMS Repulse, HMS Volontaire and HMS Undaunted landed in the harbour of Morgiou, near Toulon and destroyed a battery. Another party captured six merchant ships which they sailed out of the harbour.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp 2 May Boat Service 1813 to mark this action. There were 48 claimants from the four ships (HMS Redwing - 4, HMS Repulse - 16, HMS Volontaire - 13 and HMS Undaunted - 15). One of the recipients was Lieut Isaac Shaw RN HMS Volontaire, who was promoted for his part in the action.

The medal issued to Lieut Dey Richard Syer RN HMS Volontaire is shown below. He was a Midshipman on HMS Prince at Trafalgar and a Midshipman on HMS Tigre for the Boat Service Action 1 Nov 1809. The combination of bars on this medal is unique.

[herakles]

3 May :D

1859

France declared war on Austria.

1926

In Britain, trade unions began a general strike.

1715

Edmund Halley observes total eclipse phenomenon "Baily's Beads"

1830

1st regular steam train passenger service starts

1863

Battle of Fredricksburg VA (Marye's Heights)

1906

British-controlled Egypt takes Sinai peninsula from Turkey

1915

The RAN and the RCN operated together for the first time, when HMAS MELBOURNE and HMCS NIOBE, (cruisers), joined up to conduct patrols off the east coast of the United States. These patrols were to ensure German merchant ships, then interned in neutral United States ports, did not try and escape.

1919

Afghánistán Emir Amanoellah begins war against Great Britain

1932

24 tourists begin 1st air-charter holiday (London-Basle, Switzerland)

1945 German ship "Cap Arcona" sinks in East Sea, 5,800 killed

1951

King George VI opens the Festival of Britain.

(Attacked by RAF Typhoons. Unknown to the RAF, (though this is challenged) the ships were carrying between 7,000-8,000 prisoners from the German concentration camps. Many different nationals.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_Arcona

1963 Martin Luther King Jr delivers his "I have a dream" speech

1965 1st use of satellite TV

1968

Surgeons perform first heart transplant in UK.

[John Brown]

2nd May 1797

A mutiny in the British Navy spread from Spithead to the rest of the fleet.


2nd May 1940

The Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA was damaged by German shore guns bear Narvik. She retired to Skelfjord for repairs.


2nd May 1942

HMS Edinburgh, carrying a cargo of gold bars, was sunk in the Barents Sea.

[John Brown]

3rd May 1494

Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Jamaica and called it ‘St Iago’


1841

New Zealand was proclaimed a British Colony.


1940

The German AMC ATLANTIS sank the British Steamer SCIENTIST in the South Atlantic.


1952

The first aeroplane landed at the geographic north pole.


1982

British forces sank one Argentine patrol boat and badly damaged another.





John

[Odin]

On this day 3rd May 1810 Captain Jahleel Brenton in HMS Spartan (5th Rate 38 Guns) was off Naples when a numbers of ships (the frigate Ceres, the corvette Fama and other gunboats/brigs) were sent by Marshall Murat to destroy the Spartan. Ceres was badly mauled in the action and the brig Sparviere surrended.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp Spartan 3 May 1810 to mark this action. There were 30 claimants from HMS Spartan for this clasp.

[herakles]

4 May

1471

Battle of Tewkesbury

1626

Indians sell Manhattan Island for $24

1715

French manufacturer debuts 1st folding umbrella

1896

1st edition of London Daily Mail

1910

Canadian parliament accept creation of Royal Canadian Navy

1917

The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. S. Dumaresq, RAN), in company with HMS DUBLIN and four destroyers, was attacked by the German zeppelin L43 in the North Sea. CAPT Dumaresq reported in the ship’s Proceedings: ‘The gunnery officers of SYDNEY and DUBLIN made very good shooting with the HA guns, keeping the airship at such a height as to make her bomb dropping inaccurate’. SYDNEY was the first ship of the RAN to be subjected to an air attack.

1923

New York state revokes Prohibition law

1924

8th modern Olympic games open in Paris

1931

Mustafa Kemal Pasja becomes Turkish president
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk

1942

Battle of Coral Sea begun. HMA cruisers, AUSTRALIA, (CAPT H. B. Farncomb, RAN), flagship of RADM J. Crace, RN, and HOBART, (CAPT H. L. Howden, RAN), were ordered to rendezvous with the American warships in the Coral Sea. The Battle of the Coral Sea was the first naval battle in history where opposing fleets were never in visual contact.

1953

Pulitzer prize awarded to Ernest Hemingway (Old Man & The Sea)

1979

1st woman prime minister of Great Britain (Margaret Thatcher)

1982

HMS Sheffield off Falkland hit by Exocet rocket

[herakles]

6 May - a bit late now! And we have lost 5 May

1527 Forty thousand mercenaries, hired by Cardinal Pompeo Colonna, sacked the city of Rome, destroying two-thirds of the houses. They butchered clergy and laity alike, and forced Clement VII to flee, disguised as a gardener. It was the end of the golden age of the Renaissance.

1833 John Deere makes 1st steel plow

1889 The Universal Exposition opened in Paris, France, marking the dedication of the Eiffel Tower. Also at the exposition was the first automobile in Paris, the Mercedes-Benz

1910 death of Edward VII. King George V ascends the throne

1914 House of Lords rejects women suffrage

1937 Dirigible Hindenburg explodes in flames at Lakehurst NJ (36 die)

1942 the Japanese seized control of the Philippines. About 15,000 Americans and Filipinos on Corregidor surrendered to the Japanese.

1944 The Fremantle based US Submarines GURNARD and CREVALLE sank four Japanese ships. GURNARD torpedoed the transports TENSHINZAN MARU, TAIJIMA MARU, and ADEN MARU off the Celebes, and CREVALLE sank the tanker NISSHIN MARU off Brunei.

1954 Roger Bannister of Britain breaks 4 minute mile (3:59:4)

1962 1st nuclear warhead fired from Polaris submarine

1965 Lawry & Simpson complete opening stand of 382 against W Indies

1968 Spain closes border to Gibraltar except to Spaniards

1980 The first female officers of the RAN to serve at sea, embarked in the training ship HMAS JERVIS BAY.

1988 Graeme Hick scores 405 for Worcestershire vs Somerset 35 fours 11 sixes

1994 Chunnel linking England & France officially opens

[herakles]

7 May

1355 1,200 Jews of Toledo Spain killed by Count Henry of Trastamara

1663 Theatre Royal in Drury Lane London opens

1824 Beethoven's 9th (Chorale) Symphony, premieres in Vienna

1832 Greece becomes independent republic

1833 Johannes Brahms born

1888 George Eastman patents "Kodak box camera"

1840 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky born

1915 Lusitania sunk by German submarine; 1198 lives lost

1928 England lowers age of women voters from 30 to 21

1934 World's largest pearl (6.4 kg) found at Palawan, Philippines

1941 British House of Commons votes for Churchill (477-3)

1942

HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and HOBART, (Task Force 44, under RADM John Crace, RN), were attacked by 19 Japanese land based aircraft during the Battle of the Coral Sea. While some bombs fell close, the two warships escaped damage. US air attacks, launched from US Ships YORKTOWN and LEXINGTON, (aircraft carriers), sank the Japanese ship SHOHO, (light aircraft carrier), off Misima Island. On the same day USS SIMS, (destroyer), was sunk by Japanese dive bombers.

1945 The Admiralty signalled all British naval authorities and ships throughout the world: ‘German High Command has surrendered unconditionally all German Land, Sea and Air Forces in Europe. Effective from British Summer Time 0001 hours 9th May, from which hour all offensive operations will cease’.

1954 French surrender to Vietminh after 55-day siege at Dien Bien Phu

1970 Clearance Diving Team 3, (LEUT R.S. Blue, RAN), cleared 1040 tons of explosive ordnance from an area of 36 hectares at Dong Ha, Vietnam, between 24 March and 7 May. The task was made difficult by the presence of WWII Japanese and French shells.

1982 IBM releases PC-DOS version 1.1 (and what a frightful monster that was and still is!)

[herakles]

5 May Hmmmm! :confused:

1891 Carnegie Hall opens with Tchaikovsky as guest conductor

1893 Panic of 1893: Great crash on New York Stock Exchange

1925 John T Scopes arrested for teaching evolution in Tennessee

1927 Dmitri Shostakovich's 1st Symphony, premières in Berlin

1930 1st woman to fly solo from England to Australia takes-off (Amy Johnson)

1930 Bradman scores 185 Australia vs Leicestershire, 317 minutes, 16 fours

1944 Gandhi freed from prison

1945 Denmark, Hollad liberated from Nazi control

1950 Phumiphon Abundet crowned as king Rama IX of Thailand

1961 Alan Shepard becomes 1st American in space (aboard Freedom 7)

1965 1st large-scale US Army ground units arrive in South Vietnam

1994 Labour beats Conservatives in British local elections

[John Brown]

6th May 1940

The British steamer BRIGHTON was sunk on a mine. The entire crew was saved.


6th May 1941

Joseph Stalin assumed the Soviet premiership.


6th May 1942

The Japanese seized control of the Philippines. About 15000 Americans and Filipinos on Corregidor surrendered.


6th May 1945

‘Axis Sally’ made her last propaganda broadcast to Allied troops.

[Odin]

Slightly late - On this day 6th May 1801 the best single ship action ever!

HMS Speedy (Brig-sloop 14 Guns) under Lord Cochrane with a crew of 6 officers and 54 men, chased and boarded the 32 gun Spanish frigate Gamo. Laying the Speedy alongside, he boarded the Gamo with the whole of his crew except for the doctor and two seamen. The Gamo with a crew of over 300, surrendered and was sailed to Port Mahon, on the east coast of Minorca.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp Speedy 6th May 1801 to mark this action. There were just seven claimants from HMS Speedy, including Commander Lord Thomas Cochrane. He was promoted for his part in this action. He received three clasps for his Medal

Thetis 17 May 1795 (Lieut RN HMS Thetis)
Speedy 6 May 1801 (Commander RN HMS Speedy)
Basque Roads 1809 (Captain RN HMS Imperieuse)

HMS Speedy had a somewhat chequered career. She was launched in June 1782. She was then captured by the French in June 1794. Speedy was retaken by HMS Inconstant in March 1795 but re-captured by the French in July 1801.

[John Brown]

7th May 1765

HMS Victory was Launched having cost an estimated £50 million (in todays terms) to build.


7th May 1937

The German Condor Legion arrived in Spain to assist General Francos forces in the Civil War.


7th May 1940

The cruiser HMS Aurora was damaged by a German bomb which put both A and B turrets out of action. She was not however withdrawn from the area of Narvik for repairs until 25th May.

7th May 1945

Germany signed an unconditional surrender that would take effect the following day and so ended the war in Europe.


7th May 1982

Britain extended the Falkland Islands exclusion zone to 12 miles off the Argentine coast.


John

[Odin]

On this day 7th May 1798, possibly as a trial run for the invasion of Britain, the French sent an expedition of flat-bottomed boats to attack the two small islands of St Marcou, off Le Harve. These were garrisoned by crews from HMS Badger and Sandfly with some Marines, under the command of Lieut C P Price RN. The British were able to repulse the attack.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp Isle St Marcou 6 May 1798 (incorrect date) to mark this action. There were only three claimants for the clasp, 2 from HMS Badger and 1 from HMS Sandfly (all three were Royal Marines).


On this day 7th May 1808 HMS Redwing (Brig-sloop 18 Guns Commander Thomas Ussher RN) was in action with seven armed Spanish vessels and a convoy of twelve ships off Cape Trafalgar. Several vessels were destroyed / captured.

The Naval General Service Medal 1848 was issued with the clasp Redwing 7 May 1808 to mark this action. There were seven claimants for the clasp from HMS Redwing, including Commander Ussher, who was also promoted to Captain for his part in the action. He ultimately received a medal with five clasps.

[herakles]

I do enjoy the daily glimpse back to the days of sail Odin!

8 May

1521 Parliament of Worms installs edict against Marten Luther

1794 Antoine Lavoisier was executed by guillotine.

1847 Robert Thompson patents rubber tyre

1858 Australian Rules Football is created

1876 Truganini last Aboriginal Tasmanian, dies

1896 Yorkshire all out for 887 against Warwickshire

1902 Mount Pelée erupts, wipes out St Pierre, Martinique, kills 30,000

1923 Hobbs scores his 100th 100, 116 vs Somerset at Bath

1942 Battle of Coral Sea ends; Aircraft carrier Lexington sunk by Japanese air attack

1945 RAN ships and establishments received the signal announcing the end of hostilities against Germany. The Admiralty signalled all ships to ‘Splice the Main Brace’.

1948 Bradman scores 146 Australia vs Surrey, 174 minutes, 15 fours

1962 London trolley buses go out of service

1984 USSR announces it will not participate in Los Angeles Summer Olympics

[John Brown]

8th May 1701

The English pirate Captain Kidd went on trial at the Old Bailey. Being convicted of piracy, he was hanged on 23rd May.


8th May 1862

The Battle of McDowell, Virginia took place.


8th May 1884

Harry S Truman was born in Lamar Mo.


8th May 1940


The Destroyer ISIS struck wreckage in Balangen Fjord. Her propellers were wrecked and her tiller flat damaged. She was towed to Skelfjord by the Destroyer ILEX


8th May 1943

The Germans suppressed an uprising by Polish Jews and destroyed the Warsaw Ghetto.


8th May 1945

The war in Europe officially ended and Churchill proclaimed 8th May to be VE-Day.


8th May 1950

Douglas MacArthur was appointed Commander of UN forces in Korea.

[herakles]

9 May

1092 Lincoln Cathedral consecrated

1671 Colonel Thomas Blood attempts to steal Crown Jewels

1788 English parliament abolishes slave trade

1896 1st horseless carriage show in London (featured 10 models)

1901 In Melbourne, the Duke of Cornwall and York declared the First Australian Commonwealth Parliament open.

1913 ADML Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN, (1913 - 1998), first graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College to reach the rank of Admiral, was born at Chatswood, NSW.

1918 LEUT V. A. Crutchley, DSC, RN, was awarded the VC for conspicuous bravery while serving as the First Lieutenant of HMS VINDICTIVE, (cruiser),in the attack on the Belgian port of Ostend in April 1918. Crutchley showed outstanding courage and leadership when VINDICTIVE rammed the piers at the port and sank. He later took command of ML 254 while under fire during the withdrawal. Crutchley continued to serve in the RN after the war and in June 1942, with the rank of Admiral, he took command of the Australian Squadron and lead it for the next two years during the fighting in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea areas. He relinquished command of the Australian Squadron to CDRE John Collins, CB, RAN, in June 1944.

1927 Australian Parliament 1st convenes in new capital, Canberra

1936 Italy takes Addis Ababa, annexing Abyssinia (Ethiopia)

1941 The German submarine U-110 was captured at sea by HMS Bulldog.

1941 English Army breaks German spy codes

1943 HMAS LATROBE, (minesweeper), suffered heavy air attacks off the south coast of New Guinea.

1945 Jersey liberated from Nazis

1949 Britain's 1st launderette opens in Queensway London

Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden refuses to give details about the disappearance of a naval diver during a goodwill visit by the Soviet leadership.

1960 USA is 1st country to use the birth control pill

1978 The bullet-riddled body of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro was found in a car in the centre of Rome. The Red Brigades had abducted him.

1988 Australia's new parliament house is opened by Queen Elizabeth

1992 At the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, a national memorial was unveiled at Townsville, QLD. Personnel from HMA Ships PERTH, ADELAIDE, TOBRUK and JERVIS BAY, and US Ships BLUE RIDGE and FLETCHER, were present at the unveiling.

1994 Nelson Mandela was chosen to be South Africa's first black president.

2002 - In Bahrain, Women were allowed to vote for the first time in the country's history.

[John Brown]

9th May 1864

Union troops under William T Sherman secured Snake Creek Gap in Georgia.


9th May 1940

The destroyer HMS Kelly was torpedoed and badly damaged by the German E-Boat S-31. 27 men were killed (most were later buried in 'The Kelly Graves' in Hebburn). Later, whilst under tow of HMS Bulldog, the German S-33 collided with the ships. The E-Boat glanced off them both and badly damaged herself.

9th May 1982

The Argentine trawler NARWHAL was attacked by British Sea Harriers and subsequently sank.



John

[Odin]

On this day 9th May 1810 HMS Favourite (Sloop 16 Guns) and HMS Orestes (Brig-sloop 16 Guns) captured the French privateer Dorade 10 miles west south west of Lands End.

HMS Favourite had an interesting career. She was launched Feb 1794 and captured by the French in Jan 1806 off Cape Verde. Then recaptured as Favorite in Jan 1807 by HMS Jason off the coast of Guiana. The ship was later re-named Goree and was a prison ship from 1814.


On this day 9th May 1812 HMS Decoy (Cutter 10 Guns) and HMS Pioneer (Cutter 12 Guns) captured the French privateer Infatigable off Dungeness.

HMS Decoy was launched March 1810 but was captured by the French in March 1814 off Calais.

[herakles]

10 May

1797 1st US Navy ship, the "United States" is launched. (She was captured by Confederate troops in 1861)

1857 Indian Mutiny begins with revolt of Sepoys of Meerutkazerne, Delhi

1910 1st aircraft air display held (Hendon, England)

1918 HMS Vindictive sunk to block entrance of Ostend Harbor. Her name was perpetuated by re-naming the aircraft carrier HMS Cavendish, which was under construction, as Vindictive.

1918 HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), embarked a ship’s Sopwith Camel aircraft, while at Rosyth, Scotland. To launch the aircraft, the cruiser had been fitted with a special platform, built over the top of some of the ships guns.

1933 Nazis stage public book burnings in Germany

1940 Nazi armies invade the Benelux countries of Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg

1940 Winston Churchill succeeds Neville Chamberlain as British PM

1942 The Japanese raiders, AIKOKU MARU and HOKOKU MARU, captured the British merchant ship GENOTA off Madagascar.

1945 HMA Ships HOBART, ARUNTA, and WARRAMUNGA, with HMS NEWFOUNDLAND, provided covering fire for the Australian amphibious assault on Wewak, New Guinea. In the assault HMA Ships COLAC and IPSWICH, (minesweepers), were employed as troop landing ships.

1945 Allies capture Rangoon from the Japanese. Russian troops occupy Prague

1957 Dmitri Sjostakovitsch 2nd Piano concerto, premières in Moscow

1960 US atomic sub USS Triton completes 1st circumnavigation of globe under water

1969 Apollo 10 transmits 1st colour pictures of Earth from space

1971 RAN Clearance Diving Teams completed their service in Vietnam. Between February 1967 and May 1971, they carried out the following operations:- searched 7573 ships for mines and other underwater explosive devices, made 153 major dives, other than underwater ship searches, destroyed 358 tons of heavy ordnance, and completed 68 special operations, such as ambushes of enemy troops and divers, bunker searches, and the recovery of sunken vessels and aircraft. Total casualties were one accidentally killed and one wounded.

1977 HMAS VENDETTA, (Daring class destroyer), made a high-speed dash to provide aid for 28 Vietnamese refugees, in a disabled vessel, drifting in the South China Sea.

1990 French TGV-train hits record speed of 510.6 kph (in 2007 exceeded by a TGV travelling at 574.8 km/h (357 mph) on 3 April 2007

1995 Britain lifts a 23-year ban on ministerial talks with Sinn Fein

[John Brown]

10th May 1307

Scottish King Robert the Bruce defeated English forces under Aymer de Valence at the Battle of Loudoun Hill.


10th May 1863

Confederate General Stonewall Jackson died from complications of wounds received a few days earlier.


10th May 1865

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, was captured by Union troops.


10th May 1940

The British steamer HENRY WOODALL was sunk by mines east of Withernsea. Six crew members and one gunner were lost. Survivors were picked up by the Estonia steamer VIIU which was herself sunk the following day.

10th May 1941

Rudolph Hess, Hitlers deputy parachuted into Scotland claiming to be on a peace mission.

The House of Commons was badly damaged by German bombing. This was the worst night of the Blitz.

[Odin]

On this day 10th May 1804 HMS Ethalion (5th Rate 36 Guns) captured the Dutch privateer Union 50 miles west south west of Bergen.

HMS Ethalion was launched in July 1802. It was used for Harbour Service from Sept 1823. Then in May 1835 it was lent to Harwich Corporation for use as a breakwater! (listed until June 1877)

[herakles]

11 May

1330 Constantinople (Istanbul) becomes new capital by Roman Emperor Constantine for Eastern Roman Empire

1682 The General Court of Massachusetts repealed two laws which had been passed two years earlier: one forbade the keeping of Christmas, and the second mandated capital punishment for Quakers who returned to the colony after being banished.

1689 Battle of Bantry Bay, the first French/English encounter since 1545. Probably a French victory.

1749 British parliament accept Consolidation Act for fleet reorganisation

1812 British prime Minster Spencer Perceval was shot by a bankrupt banker in the lobby of the House of Commons.

1812 Waltz introduced into English ballrooms

1916 Einstein's Theory of General Relativity presented

1927 Belgium beats England 9-1 in soccer

1929 1st regularly scheduled TV broadcasts

1947 The creation of the tubeless tyre was announced by the B.F. Goodrich Company.

1949 1st Polaroid camera sold $89.95

1949 Siam renames itself Thailand (for the second time). It means "free". Capital Bangkok whose full name is: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, making it the longest name of any city - even that Welsh one!

1960 Israeli soldiers capture Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires

1967 Great Britain, Ireland & Denmark apply for EG membership

1969 Monty Python comedy troupe forms

1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber/TS Eliot's musical "Cats" premières in London

1987 1st heart-lung transplant take place

[Odin]

On this day 11th May 1808 HMS Bacchante (6th Rate 20 Guns) captured the French ship Griffon off Cape San Antonio, Cuba.

HMS Bacchante was originally a French ship but was captured by HMS Endymion in May 1803 in the Atlantic.

[herakles]

12 May

1215 English barons serve ultimatum on king John

1792 Toilet that flushes itself at regular intervals is patented

1820 birth of Florence Nightingale, Florence Italy

1925 birth of Tony Hancock

1937 King George VI's coronation

1951 1st H Bomb test