SeaWaves Today in History January 13 ********************************************************************* January 13 1853 - The ship Cornelius Grinnell grounded in a heavy surf off Squan Beach New Jersey. A surf car was used to rescue all 234 persons on board 1865 - Amphibious attack on Fort Fisher NC 1916 - Battleship HMS Valiant commissioned 1917 - Italian submarines H-1 & H-2 departed Shelburne NS for Bermuda 1917 - Destroyer HMS Verdun laid down 1920 - Submarine HMS H-50 commissioned 1925 - Alaskan Game Law enforced by Coast Guard 1931 - Submarine HMS Parthian commissioned 1936 - Destroyer HMS Intrepid laid down 1937 - Destroyer HMS Bedouin laid down 1940 - US freighter SS Narbo, bound for Italy, Yugoslavia & Greece, is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities. The Freighter SS Tripp, detained at Gibraltar by the British since 11 January, is released, but not before some items of her cargo are seized as contraband 1940 - U-101 launched 1940 - SS Sylvia sunk by U-20 NE of Aberdeen. All 20 crewmembers lost 1941 - RAF bombers strike the U-boat base at Lorient during the night of 13/14 January 1941 - U-597 laid down 1941 - Destroyers USS Laffey & Woodworth laid down 1942 - Despite opposition, Admiral Karl Donitz, Flag Officer U-boats, begins Operation "Drum Roll" (Paukenschlag), the use of U-boats in the waters off the eastern coast of North America. The submariners are surprised to find peacetime conditions on the US coast, with lighthouses and marker buoys still lit. In addition there is no radio silence and positions of merchant ships are frequently given away in radio communications. These conditions and the inexperience of the USN escort vessels lead to a loss of 150,000 tons in the first month of the operation. The fact that "Drum Roll" could not begin until some weeks after the German declaration of war on the US indicates how unprepared the Navy was for this sudden development 1942 - Nineteen West Coast shipyards adopt around-the-clock, seven-day-a-week work schedules 1942 - At 0118, SS Frisco was hit by two torpedoes from U-130 off Long Island & sank. The master, the first mate, the second mate/radio operator and an ordinary seaman were killed. In the afternoon of 14 January, the Danish merchant Mjoanes picked up three survivors in a lifeboat in 46°24N/57°20W and taken to North Sydney, arriving two days later. Another lifeboat with 9 men was never seen again 1942 - At 0948, the unescorted & unarmed SS Friar Rock was sunk by U-130 about 110 miles SW of Cape Race. Two of three torpedoes fired by U-130 had hit the vessel, which sank later in 45.51N/50.52W. A ship rescued only seven survivors. One of them, the second mate, died ashore 1942 - Corvette HMCS Shawinigan arrived St John's for Newfoundland Command 1942 - Destroyer USS Forrest commissioned 1942 - Inter-Allied Conference met in London 1943 - U-507 sunk NW of Natal, in position 01.38S, 39.52W, by depth charges from a USN VP-83 Catalina aircraft. 54 dead (all hands lost). U-507 (along with U-156 and U-506 and Italian submarine Cappellini) took part in the rescue operations after the sinking of SS Laconia in September 1942 off Africa. About 1500 men were saved by these boats and French ships from Dakar (which arrived on Sept 16, 4 days after the sinking) 1943 - Submarine USS Triton, on her fifth patrol, in the Bismarck Archipelago area, spots a large tanker while on the surface. In the morning twilight, Triton fires eight torpedoes. One hits & lightly damages Akebono Maru north of the St. Matthias Island group in position 00°45'S, 148°56'E 1943 - Submarine USS Whale, carrying out a submerged daylight patrol in the Marshalls on her second patrol, sinks SS Iwashiro Maru with three of four fish fired. The Japanese naval collier sinks about 40 miles north of Kwajalein in position 09°54'N, 167°07'E 1943 - U-421, U-536 commissioned 1943 - Corvette HMCS Ville de Quebec sank U-224 OLtzS Hans-Carl Kosbadt CO, West of Algiers, 36-28N 00-49E. Of U-224's crew of 45 there was 1 survivor. Ville de Quebec was escorting Gibraltar to North Africa convoy TE-13 when she detected U-224. She attacked with depth charges, which blew the submarine to the surface. Ville de Quebec then rammed the submarine just as the Weapons Officer, LtzS Dankworth, emerged from the conning tower hatch to survey the damage. He was thrown clear of the boat & became the only survivor. He was rescued 30 minutes later by HMCS Port Arthur. U-224 a VIIC type U-boat, built by F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, launched 7 May 42, commissioned 20 Jun 42, in service 7 months, with a record of sinking 2 ships, for a total of 9,614 tons. OLtzS Kosbadt was her only commanding officer. Hans-Carl Kosbadt was born in 1917, at Warnemünde. He joined the navy in 1937. At the start of the war, he served at the Second Torpedo Officer in destroyer Wolfgang Zenker from Apr to Oct 39. From Oct 39 to Oct 40 he served in two different training posts before transferring to the U-boat force. After introductory training he served in UAA (Mar-Jun 41) and then as the First Weapons Officer in U-94 (Jun 41 - May 42) commanded by the 'Ace' OLtzS Otto Ites, Knights Cross. He was promoted to OLtzS on 19 Sep 41. Selected for command, he took his U-boat Commander's course from May to Jun 42 & was appointed as the commissioning CO of U-224 on 20 Jun 42 1943 - Destroyer escort USS Frost laid down 1943 - During a meeting of the milk cow U-117 & U-455, the doctor from U-117 transferred to U-455 & remained onboard http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2005/0503/0503_images/0005030301bx.jpg 1943 - Sloop HMS Whimbrel commissioned 1944 - U-1201, U-1229 commissioned 1944 - U-1053, U-1208 launched 1944 - Destroyer escorts USS Albert T Harris & Charles E Brannon laid down 1944 - Light cruiser USS Duluth launched 1944 - While serving as a Flak boat, U-621 was attacked by an RAF 59 Sqn Liberator & suffered 1 man killed and 6 wounded. Matrosengefreiter Heinz Thomas was mortally wounded and later buried at sea. The commander decided to abort the patrol. U-621 took ten days to limp back to Brest 1944 - Frigate HMS Inman commissioned 1944 - Destroyer escort USS Hissem commissioned 1944 - Submarine HMS Vigorous commissioned 1944 - U-231 sunk NE of the Azores, in position 44.15N, 20.38W, by depth charges from RAF 172 Sqn Wellington. U-231 also shot down a Wellington from the same squadron in this action 1945 - Destroyer USS Myles C Fox launched 1945 - Heavy cruiser USS Bridgeport laid down 1945 - U-2357, U-3024 commissioned 1945 - U-2540, U-2541 launched 1945 - The following U.P. report was released to the newswires - Despite punishing Allied blows, the Nazis are still able to operate as many as one hundred U-boats in the Atlantic, constituting a continued serious menace to Allied supply lines, British naval circles said tonight. However, insofar as is generally known here, there is no evidence that the Germans ever have attempted to launch flying bombs from submarines, despite Vice Admiral Jonas H. Ingram's warning that the US Atlantic coast might be hit by V-bombs landed from U-boats. There is also a general tendency here to doubt the statement attributed to Admiral Ingram that the Nazis have three hundred submarines in the Atlantic. British naval spokesmen and commentators are more inclined to believe that Germany's overall submarine strength is three hundred - a force that probably would permit from fifty to one hundred undersea craft to be actually operative at one time. To keep a force of three hundred U-boats within the Atlantic operating zone, a total force of approximately one thousand submarines would be necessary, one spokesman said, and added that Germany's submarine strength at its peak was 1500. The spokesman said that although the Allies had captured or bottled up all of Germany's Bay of Biscay submarine bases, she still had more and better bases than during the first World War, when she launched a highly successful U-boat campaign. The latest improvement publicized is a device enabling U-boats to recharge batteries beneath the surface 1945 - U-275 sailed on her final patrol 1945 - U-532 sailed from Jakarta on her final patrol 1945 - Just before 0900, a kamikaze carrying two 250 kg. (551-pound) bombs crash Casablanca-Class escort aircraft carrier USS Salamaua's flight deck killing 15 and wounding 80+. Damage is extensive; the flightdeck, the hangar deck, and spaces below blazed with a multitude of fires. One of the bombs, failing to explode, punches through the starboard side at the waterline. Power, communications, and steering fail; one of her engine rooms floods and the starboard engine quits. But, by 0910 hours, her gunners had splashed two of the kamikaze's compatriots. Temporary repairs enable the ship to return to San Francisco; arriving on 26 February 1946 - Frigate HMCS Longueil sold for scrapping Victoria BC. Superstructure scrapped Victoria 1947 & hull sunk as a breakwater Kelsey Bay BC in 1948 1964 - USS Manley evacuates 54 American and 36 allied nationals after Zanzibar government is overthrown 1965 - USS Bon Homme Richard returned from Vietnam deployment 1968 - USS Yorktown port call Pearl Harbor 1976 - USS Oriskany port call Subic Bay 1978 - Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey died in Waverly, Minn 1982 - Air Florida Flight 90 crashes into the Potomac River. Coast Guard units, including the cutters Capstan and Madrona, assist in the rescue of surviving passengers and the recovery of the aircraft's wreckage 1984 - Destroyer HMCS Qu'Appelle completed life extension refit 1994 - Destroyer HMCS Fraser relieved HMCS Provider in Haitian Blockade 2003 - Commodore Roger Girourd replaced Commodore Dan Murphy as Commander of the Canadian Naval Task Group in the Gulf of Oman & was responsible for two to six coalition naval vessels. HMCS Montreal was his flagship until replaced by HMCS Algonquin 2003 - SS Wright activated from RRF 2005 - IHC Holland Delta Shipyard received the order for the engineering, construction and delivery of three (3) Delta Multi Purpose Pusher Tugs from SMIT Transport Europe B.V. The Vessel, a Delta Multi Purpose Pusher Tug 2500 (DMPT 2500) can be used for a wide range of marine operations in sheltered, shallow waters and open sea up to 200nm, including pushing, pulling, buoy handling, dredging support work, anchor handling, ferrying of goods and personnel, fuel oil and water supply. The Vessel’s technical concept combines performance with operational reliability. The layout shows a raised and spacious superstructure above the half raised forecastle deck forward and large work deck aft. The superstructure is placed well inboard to prevent it from being damaged when the vessel is moored along high objects and rolling, and to create a safe walkway to the fore deck. The first two vessels have a fixed wheelhouse; the third Vessel has a wheelhouse of a risible type. In case of pushing barges the skipper is able to raise the wheelhouse with 5 meters to improve his sightline. Propulsion is by two main diesel engines, each driving a fixed pitch propeller in a fixed nozzle through a reverse-reduction gearbox and in-line shafting. The twin propulsion system ensures operational safety and good maneuverability. To improve the maneuverability in difficult situations a hydraulically driven bow thrust unit (150kW) which can be remotely controlled from the wheelhouse is installed 2005 - HMCS Montreal deployed from Halifax to join the first Standing NATO Reaction Force Maritime Group at Den Helder 2005 - Western Canadian Coal Corp began loading its first coal ship at Ridley Terminals, Port of Prince Rupert BC. Upon completion of loading, the "M/V Pacific Success" will sail for South Korea where POSCO, one of the world's foremost steel producers, will use the Company's Burnt River pulverized coal injection (PCI) coal to make steel 2005 - Canada's troubled second-hand submarine HMCS Chicoutimi finally headed home -- welded to a giant Norwegian freighter. The Norwegian semi-submersible transporter Eide weighed anchor in Faslane, Scotland, ending days of delays due to bad weather. Chicoutimi had been in the Scottish port since last October, when it was towed there after catching fire during its maiden voyage to Canada 2005 - HMAS Kanimbla arrives off Banda Aceh to assist in the disaster relief effort in Indonesia. The ship is carrying Sea King search and rescue helicopters and heavy construction equipment. It is also carrying a crew of about 300, including engineers, and a diving team, yet another example of the assistance the Australian military is providing to Indonesia during its time of crisis. Personnel have been providing fresh water, medical care and conducting air operations 2005 - The Indian Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the revised Proposal for time bound implementation of the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) in Cochin Port on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. The contract for the project will be awarded to Dubai Ports International, Dubai, UAE (DPI) 2005 - Solent Coastguard undertook an intensive search of the Newhaven Harbor area overnight after a missing crew man from the Sardinia Vera was reported at 2300 the previous day. Solent Coastguard were alerted by a call from Newhaven Port Control reporting that the vessel was along side at the harbor and the crewmember had last been seen filling the fresh water tanks at about 2200 and was reported missing shortly afterwards. Solent Coastguard immediately scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, India Juliet which is fitted with FLIR (forward looking infrared) for nighttime searching. Coastguard Rescue Teams from Newhaven and Birling Gap undertook a shore line search of the area and Newhaven RNLI Lifeboat and it's tender boat searched on the water. An intensive search was carried out in the harbor area and up to two miles upriver to account for an incoming tide, but no sign of the crew member was found other than his cap found in the water close to the vessel 2005 - USS Carl Vinson sailed out of Bremerton on Thursday, offering a 30-second blast of its horn in final farewell to the home port it leaves behind after almost eight years. The aircraft carrier and its 3,200 sailors leave for a six-month round-the-world deployment in the western Pacific. In November, the carrier heads for Norfolk, Va., for a 3 1/2-year refueling overhaul. The Vinson, known as the "Gold Eagle," arrived in Bremerton on Jan. 17, 1997. It has been replaced by the carrier USS John C. Stennis, which arrived Saturday with more than 2,500 sailors 2005 - Liverpool Coastguard received MAY DAY alert at 2207 by mobile phone from the fishing vessel Siskin reporting that they were in difficulty and were taking to a life raft, moments later, communications were lost. The Siskin was 10 miles West of St Bees Head. Communications were re-established by mobile phone and the crew reported that all three were in the life raft and that the vessel had now capsized. Liverpool Coastguard requested attendance of Workington and Ramsey RNLI lifeboats and Rescue Helicopter 177 from Prestwick. Workington lifeboat was first on scene and assisted in the safe transfer of all three crew in the life raft to the rescue helicopter that took them to St Bees Head to be met by Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team. Workington lifeboat has recovered the inflated liferaft 2006 - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov discusses prospects of bilateral cooperation with his Japanese counterpart Fukushiro Nukaga in Moscow ============================================================= Sources: NOAA, MARAD, Marine Digest, Leo Pettipas, Kommersant, Samuel Loring Morison, Frank Pierce Young, Navy Times, Naval Institute Proceedings, www.uboat.net, Andrew Etherington, John Nicholas, US Naval Historical Center, Ministry of Defense, US Coast Guard, Thomas N. Carlson, Jack Arrowsmith, Allan Snowie, Ken Hansen, Andy Barber, John Weiss, Jack McKillop, Bernard de Neumann, Sympatico Today in History, Washington History Link, Lloyds List, Fairplay, New York Times, I-Newswire and other news sources in the public domain. Additions, submissions and corrections are always welcomed. ============================================================= Copyright 2006 Seawaves Publishing Inc ISSN 1710-6966 104-277 Mountain Highway North Vancouver BC V7J 3T6 Canada Tel: (604) 924-5401 Fax: (604) 924-5403 Subscribe - TDIH_sub@seawaves.com Unsubscribe - TDIH_unsub@seawaves.com Photos courtesy of US Naval Historical Center unless otherwise noted