Skip to main content

Naval History and Heritage Command
Today in Naval History
January 5
Javascript required!
Please enable javascript
in your browser to use
this feature.
Year at a Glance
1776 - The first Continental Navy squadron is ordered to sea by Congress to seek the British off coasts of the Carolinas and Rhode Island and in the Chesapeake Bay.
On This Day (#OTD)

1776

The first Continental Navy squadron is ordered to sea by Congress to seek the British off coasts of the Carolinas and Rhode Island and in the Chesapeake Bay.

1875

Cmdr. Edward Lull leaves New York to begin the Panamanian Expedition to locate the best ship canal route across Panama. The route mapped is followed 30 years later.

1943

While bombing airfields and installations during the Guadalcanal campaign, USS Helena (CL-50) becomes the first U.S. Navy ship to use Mk.32 proximity-fused projectiles in combat, downing a Japanese Aichi Type 99 carrier bomber (VAL) with her second salvo.

1944

USS Omaha (CL-4) and USS Jouett (DD-396) were summoned to engage the German blockade runner Burgenland under the guise of SS Rio Grande. Gunfire and scuttling charges sank the German runner.

1945

Kamikaze attacks continued against the U.S. Navy force bound for the Lingayen Gulf. Eight ships were hit and Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler was among those who were killed.