This Day In Naval History: May 17

Posted by Eric Haun May 17, 2016

USS Roark (FF-1053). U.S. Navy photo by PHAN Burgess

1942 - USS Tautog (SS 199) sinks Japanese submarine I-28; USS Triton (SS 201) sinks the Japanese submarine (I 64), and USS Skipjack (SS 184) sinks a Japanese army transport ship.

1943 - Destroyers USS Moffett (DD 362) and USS Jouett (DD 396) sink German submarine U 128, which was credited with sinking 12 Allied merchant vessels, including 4 American ships.

1944 - USS Gleaves (DD 423), USS Hilary P. Jones (DD 427), USS Hambleton (DD 455), USS Rodman (DD 456), USS Emmons (DD 457), USS Macomb (DD 458) and USS Nields (DD 616) and RAF Wellington (No.36 Squadron) sink German submarine U 616 off the coast of Algeria.

1973 - Capt. Robin Lindsay Catherine Quigley becomes the first woman to hold a major Navy command when she assumes command of U.S. Navy Service School, San Diego, Calif.

1987 - USS Stark (FFG-31) is struck by two Iraqi Exocet Missiles in the Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors and wounding 21.

1990 - USS Roark (FF-1053) rescues 42 refugees from an unseaworthy craft in the South China Sea.

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