This Week In Naval History

This Week in Naval History

18 Apr 1988: Operation Praying MantisOn 18 April 1988, in Operation Praying Mantis, US Navy ships, and US Navy and Marine aircraft efficiently and successfully struck Iranian oil platforms, sank the Iranian frigate Sahand and smaller boats, and damaged the frigate Sabalan in retaliation for when USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) struck an Iranian mine four days earlier.

19 April 1917: US Naval armed guard damaged German U-BoatOn 19 April 1917, the U.S. Naval Armed Guard crew on board SS Mongolia engaged and damaged a German U-boat. The engagement was the first of U.S. naval personnel against the enemy after the declaration of war on 6 April.

20 Apr 1953: USS New Jersey (BB 62) shelled Wonsan, KoreaOn 20 April 1953, during the Korean War, USS New Jersey (BB 62) shelled Wonsan, Korea, from inside the harbor. Three days later at Songjin, Korea, the battleship scored six direct 16-inch hits on a railroad tunnel and knocked out two rail bridges.

21 Apr 1898: US Navy ordered to blockade Cuba

On 21 April 1898, President William McKinley ordered the Navy to begin a blockade of Cuba, and Spain followed with a declaration of war on 23 April. Congress responded with a formal declaration of war on 25 April, made retroactive to the start of the blockade. Notable U.S. Navy victories were the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May and the Battle of Santiago on 3 July. Hostilities ended with an armistice on 12 Aug with a formal treaty signed in Paris on 10 Dec 1898, which was ratified by Congress on 6 Feb 1899.

22 Apr 1778: John Paul Jones attacked Whitehaven, EnglandOn 22 April 1778, during the American Revolution, two boats of volunteers from the sloop-of-war Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones went ashore at Whitehaven, England. The men burned ships in the harbor and spiked the guns of the fort. The following day, the men made another surprise landing at St. Mary’s Isle with the plan to seize the Earl of Selkirk as a hostage so that he might be exchanged for the American seaman imprisoned in England. The plan failed as the Earl was absent, but the officers and men insisted on taking the Earl’s Silver. After returning to Ranger, Jones bought the silver from his crew and returned it to the Earl with a letter of explanation and an apology.

23 Apr 1953: US Navy silences gun batteries on Kalma PandoOn 23 April 1953, during the Korean War, the island of Tee-do came under intense enemy fire from gun positions on Kalma Pando. Five UN enlisted personnel (one USMC and four KMC) were injured. USS Henderson (DD 785) was sent to suppress the gunfire, and USS Owen (DD 536), with an embarked medical officer, evacuated the personnel via small boats and immediately departed the area transferring the critically wounded Marine to USS Manchester (CL 83) and the four KMC personnel to the island of Yo-do. Twelve TF 77 aircraft arrived and strafed Kalma Pando, silencing the batteries. During the operation, the destroyers escaped being damaged.

24 Apr 1805: USS Congress captured Tripolitan gunboatOn 24 April 1805, during the First Barbary War, the frigate Congress, commanded by John Rodgers, captured a Tripolitan gunboat together with 2 prizes taken earlier by pirate ships off Tripoli.