Naval History Blog

As a young officer, then-Lieutenant Commander (later Admiral) W.H. P. Blandy, USN, had a keen interest in gunnery. Writing for Proceedings in 1920 (“Director Fire a Century Ago”) and 1925 (“Possible Improvements in our Gunnery Training”), LCDR Blandy understood well the history of fire control and what could be done to improve its effectiveness. Ever forward-thinking, Blandy noted elsewhere in 1925 of what a remarkable device a fuze that would detonate based on its proximity to the target would be. The key would be to find a way to trigger the shell to that its fragmentation pattern would be effective,… Read the rest of this entry »

By Rear Adm. Kevin Slates Director, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division Ninety-eight years ago today, the Navy deployed a new technology on USS New Mexico (BB 40) that was then hailed as one of the most important achievements of the scientific age: the turboelectric drive. Before this major event, ships used a direct-drive steam turbine, which started with the HMS Dreadnought. Direct drive turbines were very efficient at faster speeds, but at slow speeds they wasted energy when the propeller turned too quickly, causing cavitation. Since the average underway speed of battleships was under 15 knots, this proved to be an… Read the rest of this entry »

The Navy’s first hydrofoil patrol craft was launched on this day 50 years ago, in 1962. Published in the September, 1963 issue of Proceedings, the following article describes the mechanics of the USS High Point, and the reactions from the people who witnessed the launch of the revolutionary craft. USS High Point (PCH-1) By Charles H. Nelson, Jr. Chief Journalist, U.S. Navy She took off quickly, flew quietly, and landed smoothly. Thus the first public “flight” of the Navy’s revolutionary hydrofoil patrol craft High Point was described just a few short weeks ago. The High Point is a unique blend… Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a snippet of history from Navy TV – a 1959 newsreel about Navy Frogmen, that demonstrates a long-endurance dive by Underwater Demolition Team “frogmen” who stayed underwater for a record 48 hours. Yes, dated and funny! And another one -about the UDTs (the precursor to the Seals) this is supposed to be a recruiting film – makes you think twice!! Hell Week, the Tower – the whole 1957 Underwater Demolition Team training. Dated, but exhausting.

Atomic bomb testing at Bikini Atoll is the subject of this 1946 Navy documentary.