This Day In Naval History: August 18

1838 - The Exploring Expedition led by Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on a world cruise.

1908 - The first Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, is appointed. Under her leadership, 19 additional nurses are recruited and trained for naval service during 1908.

1943 - USS Philadelphia (CL 41) and USS Boise (CL 47) and four destroyers shell Gioia, Taura, and Palmi on the Italian mainland.

1966 - The first ship-to-shore satellite radio message is sent from USS Annapolis (AGMR 1) in the South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

1995 - USS Tucson (SSN 770) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk. Forced to sortie on its scheduled commissioning date to avoid Hurricane Felix, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines commissioning was rescheduled Sept. 19, but prior to the ceremony, the boats commanding officer decreed it was Aug. 18 for the 2-hour ceremony.


(Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division)