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Naval History and Heritage Command
Today in Naval History
February 28
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Year at a Glance
1942 - USS Houston (CA 30) engages the Japanese in the Battle of Sunda Strait and is sunk the next day.
On This Day

1844

An experimental 12-inch gun explodes on board USS Princeton, killing Secretary of State (former Secretary of the Navy) Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Gilmer, and five other dignitaries and injuring 20 people.

1893

The first true U.S. Navy battleship, USS Indiana (BB 1), launches.

1942

USS Jacob Jones (DE 130) is sunk by German submarine U 578 off the Delaware capes.

1942

USS Houston (CA 30) engages the Japanese in the Battle of Sunda Strait and is sunk the next day.

1944

USS Balao (SS 285) and USS Sand Lance (SS 381) sink Japanese army cargo ship Akiura Maru, transport Shoho Maru about 90 miles northwest of Manokawari, New Guinea and transport Kaiko Maru just east of Musashi Wan, off Paramushir, Kurils.

1959

USS Strong (DD 758) rescues 13 Arab fishermen from Bahrain when their fishing boats flounders in a storm.

1987

Guided Missile Frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) is commissioned.