Naval History and Heritage Command

Smith Thompson takes office as the sixth Secretary of the Navy, serving until Aug. 31, 1823.      

USS Nautilus (SS 168) evacuated 29 civilians from Teop Island, Solomons. Also on this date, USS Porpoise (SS 172) attacked a Japanese convoy and sank the freighter Renzan Maru off northeastern coast of Honshu, Japan.

USS Ray (SS 271) sinks a Japanese gunboat at the mouth of Ambon Bay, while USS Puffer (SS 268) attacks a Japanese convoy at the western entrance of the Mindanao Sea, sinking an army cargo ship. On the same day USS Herring (SS 233) attacks a Japanese convoy, sinking an aircraft transport ship 220 miles off Tokyo Bay.

PBY aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Kanaiyama Maru near Lorengau, Admiralities.

U.S. Pacific Command is established. USPACOM is one of six geographic Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) is the oldest U.S. military authority in the Pacific Command area of responsibility.

The U.S. Naval Observatory introduces a system of uniform atomic time using cesium beam atomic oscillators. This measurement is adopted as standard by the International Committee on Weights and Measures.

The Navy SEAL teams were established with Teams One and Two, formed with personnel from Underwater Demolition Teams.