Naval History and Heritage Command

During the Civil War, CSS Arkansas is destroyed by Confederate Cmdr. Isaac N. Brown to prevent her capture when her engines fail during an encounter with USS Essex.

During World War I, the tank steamer S.S. Campana is captured and sunk by the German submarine U-61 in the Bay of Biscay. Four out of the five Naval Armed Guard ships are captured, along with the ship's captain, and become the first American sailors to be taken prisoner since war is declared on Germany. Chief Gunner's Mate James Delaney receives the Navy Cross for commanding the Armed Guard on this occasion.

Just before midnight, Task Force 31.2 waits at Vella Gulf as four Japanese destroyers carrying soldiers and supplies steam into radar range. Not giving away the position until firing their torpedoes, all four Japanese destroyers were subsequently hit. Bursting into flames, the destroyers, Hagikaze, Arashi, and Kawakaze were sunk. The last one, Shigure, is hit by a dud and escapes into the night.

PV-1 (VB 130), PBMs (VP 204 and 205), along with USAAF B-18 aircraft sink German submarine U 615 off Venezuela.

USS San Juan (SSN 751) is commissioned at New London, Conn. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine is the third to be named after San Juan, Puerto Rico. The boat is assigned to Submarine Group Two.