Today in U.S. Naval History: July 31

MarineLink.com July 31, 2013

USS Intrepid Bow view, taken in dry dock, circa the 1870s. Note the torpedo projection device at her forefoot, pattern of her hull plating and the anchor hanging from her port hause pipe (U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.)

Today in U.S. Naval History - July 31

1815 - Commodore Stephen Decatur concludes agreement with Bey of Tunis to compensate U.S. for seizure of merchant ships during the War of 1812.

1865 - East India Squadron established to operate from Sunda Strait to Japan.

1874 - Commissioning of USS Intrepid, first U.S. warship equipped with torpedoes

1912 - First attempt to launch an airplane by catapult made at Annapolis.

1964 - All-nuclear task force with USS Long Beach, USS Enterprise, and USS Bainbridge leaves Norfolk, Va. to begin voyage, Operation Sea Orbit, to circle the globe without refueling. They returned on October 3.

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