Today in U.S. Naval History: August 15

Posted by Eric Haun August 15, 2014

USS Lexington (CVA-16). (Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center)

Today in U.S. Naval History - August 15

1845 - U.S. Naval Academy established at Annapolis, Md. on former site of Fort Severn.

1895 - Commissioning of Texas, the first American steel-hulled battleship. Texas served off Cuba during the Spanish-American War and took part in the naval battle of Santiago. Under the name of San Marcos, she was sunk in weapon effects tests in Chesapeake Bay in 1911. Her hulk continued in use as a gunnery target through World War II.

1908 - First Navy post offices established in Navy ships

1944 - Operation Dragoon, Allied invasion of Southern France

1953 - First naval officer appointed Chairman, Joints Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William Radford. He served from August 15, 1953 until August 15, 1957.

1958 - USS Lexington (CVA-16) arrives in vicinity of Taiwan

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.