Tuesday February 14, 2012
February 14, 1797 - Admiral Sir John Jervis (right) wins the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. Entering the Royal Navy in 1749, Jervis first came to prominence during the French & Indian War when he aided in guiding British troops up the St. Lawrence River prior to the 1759 Battle of Quebec. Seeing service during the American Revolution, he was knighted for his capture of the French ship of the line Pégase in 1782. Promoted to rear admiral in 1787, Jervis was given command of an expedition to the Caribbean six years later at the start of the Wars of the French Revolution. After a successful campaign, he assumed command of the Mediterranean Fleet and won a stunning victory off Cape St. Vincent in 1797, aided by his protégé, Horatio Nelson. Elevated to the peerage as Earl St. Vincent, he later commanded the Channel Fleet before becoming First Lord of the Admiralty in 1801. A zealous reformer, St. Vincent worked to eliminate corruption, introduce new technology, and reduce political influence in the promotion system. Leaving office in 1804, he briefly commanded the Channel Fleet again before retiring in 1807. Made acting Admiral of the Fleet in 1814, he was confirmed in the rank by King George IV six years later. One of the Royal Navy's great leaders, St. Vincent died in 1823.
French Revolutionary/Napoleonic Wars Naval Battles:
Photograph Source: Public Domain
Sunday February 12, 2012
February 12, 1935 - USS Macon (right) is lost in a storm off the coast of California. The sister ship of USS Akron, Macon entered service in June 1933. The last rigid airship built for the US Navy, Macon was able to carry up to five Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk fighters. These were launched and recovered using a hook and bar system which extended from the airship's belly. Intended as a scout for the US Navy's surface forces, Macon largely operated from Naval Air Station Sunnyvale (Moffett Field) in California. Taking part in numerous fleet exercises, the airship and its fighters proved effective in this role. On February 12, 1935, while returning from an exercise offshore, Macon was forced to make a water landing off Point Sur due to damage sustained in severe weather. Though the airship quickly sank, all but two of its 76-man crew was rescued. In the wake of Macon's loss, the US Navy abandoned its rigid airship program in favor of blimps.
US Navy Aircraft of World War II:
Photograph Courtesy of the US Navy History & Heritage Command
Friday February 10, 2012
Working to defend Hanover in 1759, Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick (right) advanced and attacked Frankfurt and Wesel. Defeated by the French at Bergen, he was forced to fall back allowing the enemy to occupy Minden. Seeking to recover lost territory, he lured the French army, led by Marshal Louis Contades, into battle on August 1. Advancing from a strong position, Contades hoped to destroy Ferdinand's army which he believed to be overextended. At the resulting Battle of Minden, Ferdinand won a key victory which saw a division of largely British troops misinterpret orders and advance on their own against the entire French cavalry. Repelling three cavalry charges, this force effectively broke the French army's spirit and after applying additional pressure Ferdinand was able to drive the enemy from the field. The victory at Minden secured Hanover for the remainder of 1759 and was part of Britain's Annus Mirabilis of 1759 which also saw victories at Quebec and Quiberon Bay.
Battles of the French & Indian/Seven Years' War:
Photograph Source: Public Domain
Wednesday February 8, 2012
Having successfully bombarded the British coast in December 1914, RAdm. Franz Hipper began planning for a raid on the enemy's fishing fleet at Dogger Bank the following month. Sailing with a force centered on three battlecruisers and an armored cruiser, he encountered a larger British force under VAdm. Sir David Beatty on January 24, 1915. Outnumbered and out-gunned, the Germans turned to escape back to Wilhelmshaven. Engaging the enemy, Beatty inflicted severe damage on Hipper's flagship, SMS Seydlitz, and sunk the armored cruiser Blücher (right). In return, his own flagship, HMS Lion, was disabled. An opportunity for a greater victory was missed when Beatty's subordinates misinterpreted a key signal after Lion was damaged. Following the battle, Kaiser Wilhelm II further limited the High Seas Fleet's operations for fear of losing additional warships.
World War I at Sea:
Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration
