This Day In Naval History: August 16

1822 - USS Grampus investigates and pursues a brig flying Spanish colors. When called upon to surrender, the privateer brig Palmyra from Puerto Rico fires cannon and musket fire. USS Grampus fires back on Palmyras broadsides reducing Palmyras rigging to a complete wreck, killing one and wounding six. The brig surrenders with a crew of 88, one long 18-pounder gun and eight 18-pound carronades. Her officers acknowledge they had robbed the American schooner USS Coquette.

 

1863 - During the Civil War, three Union ships, USS Rhode Island, USS De Soto and USS Gertrude each capture steamers loaded with cargoes of turpentine, cotton, tobacco, coffee, cigars and dry goods from the Bahama Islands to the Gulf of Mexico to Cuba.

 

1864 - During the Civil War, USS Saratoga, commanded by Cmdr. George Colvocoresses, captures 100 prisoners and a quantity of arms on a raid into McIntosh County, Ga. 

 

1944 - USS Croaker (SS 246) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper, Taito Maru.

 

1954 - Operation Passage to Freedom begins. The operation transports refugees from Haiphong to Saigon, Vietnam.

 

1958 - USS Seadragon (SSN 584) launches at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. USS Seadragon decommissions in 1984.

 

1986 - USS Nevada (SSBN 733) is commissioned at Groton, Conn. The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine is the fourth named after the Silver State.

 

2009 - USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) is christened and launched at San Diego, Calif. The Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship is named to honor Commodore Matthew C. Perry, who led the expedition to open trading between the West and Japan.