Navy History
Terms
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- The birthplace of the Navy
- Philadelphia, PA. Continental Congress passed first navel legislation here.
- Father of the Navy
- Several candidates, including: George Washington, Esek Hopkins, John Barry, and John Paul Jones.
- Revolutionary War efforts include:
- siezing enemy supplies including almost 200 British vessels; carrying people to and from Europe; mounting small raids against British coast.
- War of 1818 efforts include:
- slipping past British blockades; raiding enemy supply lines; attacking enemy ships.
- Civil War efforts include:
- blocking supply for Confederates; moving supplies and troops to raid the South.
- World War I efforts include:
- (1917-1918) moving supplies to Europe; antisubmarine patrols; laying 60,000 mines in North Sea.
- World War II Pacific efforts include:
- (1941-1945) amphibious assaults; moving supplies. Battle of Midway was turning point.
- World War II Atlantic efforts include:
- (1941-1945) amphibious assaults; moving supplies; antisubmarine patrols; stopping enemy resupply lines.
- Cold War efforts include:
- (1945-1990) containing the Soviet threat; providing deterrence.
- Korean Conflict efforts include:
- (1950-1953) Seventh Fleet initially secured Formost Strait; carrier-based aircraft strikes on bridges, factories, etc; amphibious landing at Inchon; shore bombardment.
- Vietnam War efforts include:
- (1959-1973) bombing Ho Chi Minh trail; SEAL teams raided guerillas; patrolling waterways; stopping enemy infiltration from Cambodia.
- Persian Gulf War efforts include:
- (1990-1991) largest, fastest sealift in history; interdicting enemy resupply; naval bombardment of shore installations.
- Birthdate of the Navy
- 1775, 13 October.
- Oldest commissioned ship in the Navy (recognized by Guinness book as oldest Commissioned Warship afloat)
- U.S.S. Constitution "Old Ironsides" (stationed in Charlestown, MA); manned by active-duty sailors.
- Civilians recognized as fathers of the Navy
- John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Joseph Hewes, and Silas Deane.
- 7-8 May, 1942
- Battle of the Coral Sea; prevented Japan from isolating Australia; Vice Admiral Fletcher vs. Admiral Takagi; first naval battle where ships did not see each other directly. Carrier Lexington sunk.
- 6 June, 1944
- Operation Overlord, "D-Day"; Normandy, France; U.S. and British Navy bombarded French coast and moved men and supplies onto beaches.
- 8-9 March, 1862
- Battle of the Ironclads; USS Merrimac vs. CSS Monitor (aka CSS Virginia); neither ship won the battle, but CSS Merrimac was disabled. First battle between armored ships.
- 4-7 June, 1942
- Battle of Midway; Adm Yamamoto vs Admiral Nimitz. Japan attacked US at Midway Island in attempt to sink carriers. Japan lost 4 carriers, US lost 1 (USS Yorktown).
- 7 December, 1941
- raid by Japanese on Pearl Harbor.
- Father of the nuclear navy
- Admiral Hyman, G. Rickover; retired after 63 years of active duty.
- 23-26 October, 1944
- Battle of Leyte Gulf; Adm. Halsey vs. Adm. Ozawa. This was basically ended Japanese offensive Naval power in WWII.
- 7- August 1942 - 6 March 1943
- Battle of Guadalcanal; largest air-sea-land campaign in history; Japanese defeats made this a turning point for WWII.
- first commissioned aircraft carrier
- USS Saratoga, CV3. sunk during Bikini Atoll nuclear Test Baker (Operation Crossroads).