Naval History Naval History ByBy

LPO McStravickLPO McStravick

13 Oct 177513 Oct 1775• The Continental Congress authorized The Continental Congress authorized

the outfitting of a ten-gun warship. the outfitting of a ten-gun warship. • Marking the beginning of the Marking the beginning of the

Continental Navy Continental Navy

3 Dec 17753 Dec 1775• Lt. John Paul Jones first XO of a man-Lt. John Paul Jones first XO of a man-

of-war of the Continental Navy.of-war of the Continental Navy.

3-4 Mar 17763-4 Mar 1776

• Commodore Esek Hopkins lead a Commodore Esek Hopkins lead a Continental squadron defeating the Continental squadron defeating the British at Nassau in the Bahamas.British at Nassau in the Bahamas.

• First amphibious assault by American First amphibious assault by American Marines commanded by Capt. Marines commanded by Capt. Samuel Nicholas.Samuel Nicholas.

7 Sep 17767 Sep 1776• Sgt. Ezra Lee, Continental Army, Sgt. Ezra Lee, Continental Army,

made the first “submarine” attack on made the first “submarine” attack on a warship.a warship.

• Unsuccessfully placing a charge on a Unsuccessfully placing a charge on a British war ship from the submersible British war ship from the submersible named the “Turtle.”named the “Turtle.”

24 Apr 177824 Apr 1778• John Paul Jones in command of the John Paul Jones in command of the

sloop Ranger defeats and captures sloop Ranger defeats and captures the sloop HMS Drake.the sloop HMS Drake.

23 Sep 178023 Sep 1780

• John Paul Jones commanding the John Paul Jones commanding the Bonhomme Richard rejected the Bonhomme Richard rejected the British surrender with “I have not yet British surrender with “I have not yet begun to fight!”begun to fight!”

• His ship sank, but they were able to His ship sank, but they were able to capture the frigate HMS Serapis.capture the frigate HMS Serapis.

30 Apr 179830 Apr 1798• The Department of the Navy is first The Department of the Navy is first

established.established.

18 Jun 179818 Jun 1798• Benjamin Stoddert, first secretary of Benjamin Stoddert, first secretary of

the Navy. the Navy.

21 Aug 186221 Aug 1862• The Monitor was the Navy’s first The Monitor was the Navy’s first

armored ship, New Ironsides.armored ship, New Ironsides.

1 May 18981 May 1898• ““You may fire when ready, Gridley.”You may fire when ready, Gridley.”• Commodore George Dewey’s words Commodore George Dewey’s words

to his flagships captain where the to his flagships captain where the Asiatic Squadron defeated the Asiatic Squadron defeated the Spanish in Manila Bay.Spanish in Manila Bay.

12 Oct 190012 Oct 1900• SS1 Holland first submarine SS1 Holland first submarine

commissioned in the U.S. Navy.commissioned in the U.S. Navy.• 19 May 1902-DD5 Decatur Navy’s 19 May 1902-DD5 Decatur Navy’s

first active destroyer was first active destroyer was commissioned.commissioned.

20 Mar 1922 20 Mar 1922 • A former coal-carrier, the Jupiter, was A former coal-carrier, the Jupiter, was

converted into the USS Langley CV1 converted into the USS Langley CV1 to become the Navy’s first aircraft to become the Navy’s first aircraft carrier.carrier.

7 Dec 19417 Dec 1941• Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Japanese surprise attack on Pearl

Harbor killing 2008 Navy men and Harbor killing 2008 Navy men and inflecting serve damage on the U.S. inflecting serve damage on the U.S. Pacific Fleet.Pacific Fleet.

4-8 May 19424-8 May 1942• Battle of the Coral Sea was fought Battle of the Coral Sea was fought

resulting in the end of Japanese resulting in the end of Japanese advances in the South Pacific.advances in the South Pacific.

• First Naval battle fought only by First Naval battle fought only by aircraft and opposing fleets never aircraft and opposing fleets never saw one another.saw one another.

4-6 Jun 19424-6 Jun 1942• Battle of Midway ended Japanese Battle of Midway ended Japanese

initiative in the Pacific with the initiative in the Pacific with the sinking of four of their carriers.sinking of four of their carriers.

6 Jun 19446 Jun 1944• Nearly 2500 U.S. Navy ships and Nearly 2500 U.S. Navy ships and

craft take part in the Allies invasion craft take part in the Allies invasion of Normandy.of Normandy.

• The largest amphibious assault in The largest amphibious assault in history.history.

2 Sep 19452 Sep 1945• Japan surrenders aboard the USS Japan surrenders aboard the USS

Missouri BB63.Missouri BB63.

Mission statement of the United Mission statement of the United States NavyStates Navy

• The mission of the Navy is to The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. and maintaining freedom of the seas.

Sea PowerSea Power• World prosperity and security

depends on free use of the seas. Markets crave security and our vital interests are best served by a stable global system.

• 70% of the world is water, 80% of the world lives within a few hundred miles of the oceans and 90% of our commerce sails across it.