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18 June 2024
Welcome back to our National Maritime Historical Society members and friends who share a love for naval history!
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Today marks the 212th anniversary of what some scholars have labeled the “Second American War for Independence” when Congress declared war against Great Britain over restrictions on trade with France and the impressment of American sailors. There is no greater symbol of America’s naval success during the War of 1812 than USS Constitution in Boston. Constitution is still a commissioned warship; it’s worth noting that her 78th commanding officer will take command of “Old Ironsides” during a change-of-command ceremony scheduled for this Friday at noon.
Constitution’s current and 77th commanding officer, Cdr. Billie J. Farrell, will be relieved by Cdr. Crystal L. Schaefer. The ceremony will be broadcast live on USS Constitution’s Facebook page (see link below). Schaefer recently completed a tour as the Assistant Reactor Officer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77). She is a native of Medford, Wisconsin, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. A Huzzah to Commander Farrell for a successful tour in command and Welcome Aboard Commander Schaefer!
Tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Philippine Sea (10–20 June 1944) which is covered in the climactic chapters of Evan Mawdsley’s recent title Supremacy at Sea: Task Force 58 and the Central Pacific. Dubbed “The Marianas Turkey Shoot,” the air battle that occurred in the wake of US landings on Saipan would savage Japanese naval aviation. Meanwhile the submarines Albacore and Cavalla would claim two Japanese carriers. Of note in the forthcoming Naval Institute Press memoir Destroyers at War: A Personal Retrospective of the Pacific Theater, the late Adm. James L. Holloway III makes passing mention of the battle, given his destroyer’s focus on supporting the Marines on Saipan with naval gunfire support. The NHHC summary of the Saipan operation is provided below.
Safe travels to those attending the joint North American Society for Oceanic History/Canadian Society for Nautical Research Conference kicking off on Thursday at Brock University at St. Catharines, Ontario. A list of paper abstracts and presenter biographies can be found HERE. We look forward to posting the John Lyman Book Award winners in our next edition!
Three cheers for the USS Arleigh Burke Association for initiating a project to capture the history of a destroyer that has entered her fourth decade of service. Details below.
In some sad news, Tuesday Tidings notes the passing of Master Chief William Goines, the Navy's first African-American SEAL. A recipient of the Navy Memorial’s 2023 Lone Sailor Award, Goines’s life story posted by the Navy Memorial can be found HERE.
This week for our Naval History Book Review, Cdr. Christopher Pieczynski reviews Operation Sheepskin: British Military Intervention in Anguilla, 1969. Given recent problems in Haiti, there are some invaluable lessons to be learned from this short study by Matthew J. Lord. Do check out our list. We still are expecting new titles next week!
Tuesday Tidings is compiled by Dr. David F. Winkler and Jessie Henderson as a benefit for members of the National Maritime Historical Society and friends of naval history.
As always, comments are welcome at nmhs@seahistory.org.
| ITEMS OF IMMEDIATE INTEREST | |
19 June 2024 – National Museum of the US Navy: “We are Not Invisible”
With retired Rear Adm. Sandra Adams and Master Chief Octavia Harris.
Noon–1 PM (EDT)
19 June 2024 – Nauticus EdTalk: Black Cloud Rising
With David Wright
6:00–7:30 PM (In Person)
Norfolk, VA
20–22 June 2024 – North American Society for Oceanic History/Canadian Nautical Research Society conference
St. Catharines, Ontario
21 June 2024 – Change of Command Ceremony: USS Constitution (via Facebook)
Noon (EDT)
22 June 2024 – 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Philippine Sea
USS Hornet (CV 12) at the Battle of the Philippine Sea
With Russell Moore
1–2 PM (PDT)
USS Hornet Museum (In person)
23 June 2024 – Annual Tours of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CA
Noon–2 PM (PDT)
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Navy History Matters Reports on Operation Forager
Compiled by Brent A. Hunt, Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division
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An SBD Dauntless scout/dive bomber from USS Lexington (CV 16) flew over the assault transport area during the Battle of Saipan, June 15, 1944. Photo: National Archives | |
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Battle of Saipan at 80
Following intensive naval gunfire and bombing by carrier-based aircraft, Task Force 52 landed Marines of the 2nd and 4th Divisions on Saipan, June 15, 1944. The island was the first relatively large and heavily defended land mass in the Central Pacific to be assaulted by US amphibious forces. Just before dawn on the opening day of operations, the Marines were served a hearty breakfast, and then it was time to board the amphibian tractors. Fifty-six of these vehicles proceeded in lines of four toward the eight designated landing beaches. Tens of thousands of Japanese personnel, with artillery rounds at the ready, held their fire as the amtracs traversed the reefs and arrived in the lagoon. Then, with a barrage of Japanese rounds, it became clear that the preparatory bombardment of shoreline defenses had not done enough to weaken enemy defenses. In addition, the Japanese were hidden well in Saipan’s topography, which featured high ground within range of the lagoon and reefs—a natural obstacle for US forces and a focal point for Japanese fire. Deadly complications besieged American forces all at once. The intensity of the enemy’s defense resulted in some chaos as Marines tried to get a footing on shore, and the sheer number of US troops storming the beach was an easy target for Japanese mortars and other projectiles. Nevertheless, the Marines managed to get to dry ground before the projected timeline had passed. Then came another obstacle. The amphibian tractors were not functioning as planned. Their armor was not heavy enough to withstand the barrage of Japanese artillery, and their agility on the rough terrain proved less than optimal. Marines scattered in several directions as hilltop snipers tried to pick them off one by one. Eventually, the Americans reestablished order and proceeded with the assault.
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View of wrecked LVTs (landing vehicles, tracked) on the second day of operations during the Battle of Saipan, June 16, 1944. Photo: National Archives | |
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The Japanese resistance was far greater than anticipated because intelligence reports had underestimated Japanese troop levels. US forces expected there to be about 31,000 enemy troops, but in reality there were about twice that many. For at least a month, the Japanese had been fortifying the island and bolstering its forces as well. During the first day of the assault, American casualties were high, with as many as 3,500 in the first 24 hours, despite having 20,000 troops on shore by sunset with more on the way. Reinforcements could not come quickly enough as the Japanese defense doubled down and changed tactics by deploying tanks and infantry in the darkness of night. Conditions improved the following day when a new group of battleships arrived to bombard the coast. In response to difficulties on the ground, US forces postponed the invasion of Guam and the operation’s reserve, the Army’s 27th Infantry Division, was called in to assist the Marines.
The unexpected difficulties on the beaches prompted the Fifth Fleet commander, Adm. Raymond Spruance, to commit more ships to the operation. Spruance had good reason to worry about the beachheads, although they appeared to be secured by the second day of the battle. “The [Japanese] are coming after us,” Spruance said, and they were bringing with them 28 destroyers, 5 battleships, 11 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 9 carriers with somewhere near 500 aircraft. The resulting engagement, Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19–20), was a decisive victory for the Allies that nearly eliminated the Japanese ability to wage war by air. Notably, during the operation known as “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” the US destroyed nearly 600 enemy aircraft, sank two enemy fleet carriers, a light carrier, and two oilers, killing nearly 3,000 of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s pilots and sailors.
Read full article>>
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With an objective to preserve the legacy of the Admiral and his ship, the USS Arleigh Burke Association is collecting histories of those that contributed to the success of Arleigh Burke. This started with the title “Oral History,” but the association is now using the more general title “History Project,” recognizing that submissions are also coming in as written answers to questions and in the form of documents they are capturing to archive.
Initial focus is the Arleigh Burke to Sea period, including design, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, deployment preparations, and first deployment. Time is of the
essence as we are starting to lose the heroes that made Arleigh Burke to sea a reality.
But any Arleigh Burke (ship or admiral) related oral history is appreciated. The first three interviews are complete and posted.
The association has a long (and growing) list of folks to interview and is looking for volunteers to conduct interviews and to process the resulting audio files for posting. Interviews can be done in person, via phone, or over video. The association needs an audio file captured for transcription. Time investment is approximately two hours for the interview, plus preparation with questions, practice recording, scheduling, & uploading the completed audio file.
Oral History Release
Oral History Questions
Oral History ROE
Processing the captured audio into a usable transcript takes about two to four times the interview time and some computer skill, and it helps to have some knowledge in the topic area, mostly to recognize acronyms that stump the AI.
Please contact us if you can support the project.
Completed Interviews:
CAPT John Ingram, USN, Ret – 5 Oct 2023
LCDR Ray Weber – USN, Ret – 23 Feb 2024
CAPT Brian Perkinson, USN, Ret – 20 Feb 2024
Andy Summers – 26 March 2024 – in final review
On deck:
Steve Adams – BIW
Dale Dailey – BIW
John Mason – BIW
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS | |
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Operation Sheepskin: British Military Intervention in Anguilla, 1969 By Matthew J. Lord, Warwick: Helion & Company, (2023)
Reviewed by Cdr. Christopher Pieczynski, USN (Ret)
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...Command and Control: The Premier of the Associated State of St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla has requested military assistance as shall be kept appraised of developments.
The local population welcomed the “occupiers” and saw it as an opportunity to convince the British government to allow Anguilla to continue as a British territory and not as a vassal of St. Kitts and Nevis. Lord highlights this as the underlying cause of the unrest and by interspersing the concurrent political negotiations with the military operation, Lord brings out the all-of-government approach and involvement in Anguilla.
Operation Sheepskin is short at 89 pages, but Lord provides so much information on all aspects of the operation that it is easily the definitive account. The work is full of images of the operation, uniform and weapons drawings, organizational diagrams, and examples of occupied island life supported by a large bibliography of primary and secondary source material with extensive endnotes from the narrative. Operation Sheepskin: British Military Intervention in Anguilla, 1969 is number 38 in the Latin America @ War Series. While the operation does not compare in size and scope to some of the other accounts in the series (it is kiddingly called the “Bay-of-Piglets”), Matthew Lord’s comprehensive presentation of the operation from myriad perspectives is not to be missed.
Read review>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW | |
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NHHC Anchored in History Podcast
Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Operation Neptune, the naval component of Operation Overlord—more formally known as D-Day, Small Arms and Ordnance Curator of the NHHC Curation Branch Dave Manning and Museum Specialist Jennie Ashton discuss several historical artifacts within the Navy’s collection that play a pivotal role in storytelling about the largest amphibious invasion in history.
Listen here>>
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The Society for Military History announces a call for papers for its 90th Annual Meeting in Mobile, Alabama, 27–30 March 2025, at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and the
Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
The Program Committee’s objective is to create a slate of panels that represent the breadth of expertise and interests as well as the overall diversity of the Society’s wide-ranging membership. Individual paper and panel proposals on all facets of military history broadly defined will be considered for inclusion. Members in the academic community, the armed forces and governmental agencies, museums and archives, and independent scholars, as well as international members, are encouraged to participate.
Priority will be given to individual paper and panel submissions that highlight the presentation of original research, new interpretations, topics of immediate interest to our membership, and cutting-edge trends and subject matter. Submission of roundtables is encouraged, but preference will be given to panels that present new, original research.
All submissions will be judged on their merit using the above criteria.
Submission Instructions:
Individual paper proposals must include a 250-word abstract of the paper, and a one-page vita with contact information and email address. If selected, individual papers will be assigned by the program committee to an appropriate panel with a chair/commentator.
Panel proposals must include a panel title and 250-word abstract summarizing the theme of the panel; paper titles and a 250-word abstract for each paper proposed; and a one-page curriculum vitae for each panelist (including the chair and commentator) that includes institutional affiliation, email address, and other contact information.
Roundtable proposals must include a roundtable title, the full name and institutional affiliation of each participant, a 250-word abstract summarizing the roundtable’s themes and significance, and a one-page curriculum vitae for each participant.
Members who wish to volunteer to serve as chairs and commentators should send a one-page curriculum vitae.
Send all materials to the Program Committee Chair before October 18, 2024 at smhconferences@gmail.com.
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For The Trafalgar Chronicle
Publication Date: FALL 2025
Theme: Naval Leadership in the Georgian Era
For the 2025 edition of The Trafalgar Chronicle, the editors seek carefully researched, scholarly articles on “Naval Leadership in the Georgian Era.” We invite essays that provide examples of exemplary and questionable leadership in the predominant navies of the Georgian maritime era (1714–1837). We are interested to know about unique and far-reaching ways in which naval officers and administrators made crucial decisions and took significant actions affecting their futures, men, fleets, enemies, combat tactics and strategies, ships, policies and regulations, and naval doctrine itself. Additional topics: We also seek general-interest articles with unique perspectives on the maritime and naval history of the Georgian era. We invite biographical portraits, articles about battles at sea, maritime economics, exploration of foreign shores, foreign relations, politics, etc. We also welcome well-documented reports on preservation efforts regarding the artifacts, graves, memorials, and monuments of the Nelson era. Proposal Submission Guidelines: Please submit a proposal/abstract of no more than 500 words and a paragraph about your background (a biographical sketch). Proposals are due by 1 September 2024. Applicants will be notified of acceptance status by 1 October 2024. Submit all proposals and inquiries to tc.editor@1805Club.org.
Detailed author guidelines are available upon request. Article Guidelines: Articles should be 3,000 to 5,000 words long in MSWORD (unprotected) following the New Oxford Style Manual. Please include three to six high-resolution illustrations, each in a separate file (jpeg, pdf, or tiff). Articles are due 1 February 2025, at which point they will be edited and, in some cases, submitted to peer review. Articles will be returned to authors for revisions by 1 April 2025.
Revisions are due by 1 May 2025. Publication will be Fall/Autumn 2025. While we do not pay our contributors, each author will receive a copy of The Trafalgar Chronicle upon publication. Non-members of the 1805 Club will receive a free one-year membership. All authors will also receive a PDF of their published article for their portfolio. Authors retain copyright of their articles. Our Contributors: We welcome articles from 1805 Club members and anyone with an interest in the history of the Georgian Navy and other navies of the period. Our articles have come from writers of varied backgrounds: historians, journalists, university students, military personnel, preservationists, and novelists. Contact tc.editor@1805Club.org for additional information. The Trafalgar Chronicle is the scholarly flagship publication of the 1805 Club, a charity registered in England and Wales (number1202272) with an international membership of scholars and enthusiasts of the Georgian maritime era. The 1805 Club takes its name from the iconic Battle of Trafalgar that gave Nelson his place in history and confirmed the role of the Royal Navy in asserting Britain’s sea power. Seaforth Publishing is our publisher.
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UPCOMING NAVAL & MARITIME HISTORY GATHERINGS | |
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19–21 July 2024: National Maritime Historical Society Annual Meeting, Peekskill, New York
16–19 September 2024: Historic Naval Ship Association (HNSA) Symposium, USS Midway, San Diego
9 November 2024: Steamship Society of America, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
27–30 March 2025: Society for Military History (SMH) Annual Meeting, Mobile, AL
9–11 April 2025: Council of American Maritime Museums Annual Meeting, Pensacola, FL
24–28 September 2025: 12th Maritime Heritage Conference, Buffalo, NY
| PREBLE HALL NAVAL HISTORY PODCAST | |
A naval history podcast from Preble Hall – the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. Preble Hall will interview historians, practitioners, military personnel, and other experts on a variety of naval history topics from ancient history to more current events.
Click here for the latest episode: 233: David Patraeus on CONFLICT>>
Click here for all Preble Hall Podcasts >>
| DRACHINIFEL YOUTUBE CHANNEL | |
Welcome to Navy History Matters, Naval History and Heritage Command’s biweekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every other week, they gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources that link to related content at NHHC’s website, your authoritative source for Navy history.
Click here for most recent article>>
| INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAVAL HISTORY | |
The International Journal of Naval History (IJNH) provides a preeminent forum for works of naval history, researched and written to demonstrable academic standards, with the goal of stimulating and promoting research into naval history and fostering communication among naval historians at an international level. IJNH welcomes any scholarly historical analysis, focused on any period or geographic region, that explores naval power in its national or cultural context. The journal is independent of any institution and operates under the direction of an international editorial board that represents various genres of naval history.
Click here to read the February 2023 edition and archived issues on the IJNH website >>
| SUPPORTING US NAVAL HISTORY & HERITAGE | |
With the 250th anniversary of the US Navy on the horizon, NMHS seeks your support as we plan to honor those who have provided for our maritime security.
Click here to donate today >>
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