Naval History and Heritage Command

President George Washington signs "An act to provide a naval armament" authorizing the construction of six frigates: United States, Constellation, Constitution, Chesapeake, Congress, and President.

The sloop of war Constellation departs New York with food for famine victims in Ireland. To modify the sloop for the mission, her armament and some ballast are removed, and carpenters at the New York Navy Yard build bins on the lowest deck to carry a cargo of more than 2,500 barrels of potatoes and flour.

USS Hake (SS 256) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant tanker Yamamizu Maru about 75 miles south of Borneo. Also on this date, USS Rasher (SS 269) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks army cargo ship Nichinan Maru about 50 miles north of Bali.

The evacuation by sea of Da Nang, Vietnam begins, a four-day effort by Military Sea Command ships that carry more than 30,000 refugees from Da Nang until March 30, when the North Vietnamese troops overrun the city and harbor.

The last known female veteran of World War I, Charlotte Louise Berry Winters, dies at the age of 109. She enlisted in the Navy in 1917.