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The Submarine That Became a Legend.⚓🇺🇸🫶USS Harder was one of the most aggressive American submarines of World War II.Dur...
09/04/2026

The Submarine That Became a Legend.⚓🇺🇸🫶

USS Harder was one of the most aggressive American submarines of World War II.

During her fifth patrol in June 1944, she attacked Japanese naval forces near Tawi-Tawi and sank several destroyers in just a few days. Commander Samuel D. Dealey was known for taking extraordinary risks, including the dangerous “down-the-throat” torpedo attack against approaching warships.

But Harder’s story ended two months later.

On August 24, 1944, off Luzon, the submarine attacked a Japanese es**rt vessel. Her torpedoes missed, and the es**rt responded with depth charges. USS Harder was lost with all 79 men aboard.

For 80 years, she remained on the Navy’s “Eternal Patrol.”

In 2024, the Lost 52 Project located the wreck more than 3,000 feet beneath the West Philippine Sea. The submarine was found remarkably intact, with damage visible near the conning tower.

Today, USS Harder remains a protected war grave — and a lasting reminder of the men who served aboard her.

One of the most dramatic photos from World War II shows the aftermath aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on May 11, 1945. Wi...
08/30/2026

One of the most dramatic photos from World War II shows the aftermath aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on May 11, 1945. With the war nearing its end, the carrier endured a devastating attack that left large sections of her flight deck shattered and burning.

Yet Bunker Hill's story did not end that day. The ship survived, becoming a lasting symbol of the courage, endurance, and determination that defined the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Today, this image remains a powerful reminder of a chapter of history that should never be forgotten. ⚓🇺🇸

The Hellcat That Missed the Deck 🇺🇸On August 14, 1943, Lieutenant Charles W. Harbert was attempting to land his F6F Hell...
08/22/2026

The Hellcat That Missed the Deck 🇺🇸

On August 14, 1943, Lieutenant Charles W. Harbert was attempting to land his F6F Hellcat aboard the USS Charger (CVE-30) when the approach went badly. He missed the flight deck and crashed into the carrier’s stern, leaving the aircraft wedged beneath the deck.

The Hellcat was badly damaged, but Harbert survived the violent impact. Remarkably, his injuries were limited to a bruised left shoulder and abrasions across his chest.

A dramatic reminder of how dangerous carrier landings could be during World War II.

The Mystery of the Arizona’s Oil LeakThere is something unusual happening beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor.More than 8...
08/17/2026

The Mystery of the Arizona’s Oil Leak

There is something unusual happening beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor.

More than 80 years after USS Arizona sank on December 7, 1941, small amounts of fuel oil are still making their way to the surface. The slow-moving sheen has become one of the most recognizable signs of the sunken battleship.

What makes it remarkable is that researchers still cannot pinpoint exactly where the oil is escaping.

The reason is simple: much of the ship is out of reach. Arizona rests in relatively shallow water, but its lower sections are buried beneath decades of accumulated harbour sediment. That hidden portion has never been completely accessible for inspection.

Instead of disturbing the wreck, researchers have studied the parts they can safely observe. Since 1998, the National Park Service and the University of Nebraska have examined how the battleship’s steel is aging underwater. Their research uses the layers of marine material covering the hull to help estimate the rate of corrosion without cutting into the historic wreck.

The results have offered some reassurance. The steel has not been deteriorating as quickly as some might expect. Marine growth covering the hull, combined with the low-oxygen environment around the wreck, appears to provide some natural protection.

An estimated 500,000 gallons of fuel may still remain inside the ship, but current research does not indicate that a sudden large-scale release is imminent.

The oil continues to rise from the wreck, while the exact source remains hidden beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor.

On January 14, 1969, what began as a routine morning aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) quickly became one of the worst peac...
08/14/2026

On January 14, 1969, what began as a routine morning aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) quickly became one of the worst peacetime disasters in U.S. Navy history.

The aircraft carrier was operating off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, preparing for deployment to Vietnam. At approximately 8:18 a.m., the hot exhaust from an MD-3A aircraft starter unintentionally ignited a Zuni rocket mounted beneath an F-4 Phantom II. The rocket fired, rupturing a nearby fuel tank and spilling JP-5 jet fuel across the flight deck.

The fire spread rapidly. As temperatures rose, stored ordnance began to cook off, triggering a series of powerful explosions involving additional rockets and 500-pound Mk-82 bombs. The blasts tore through sections of the armored flight deck, while burning fuel poured into the hangar bay and lower compartments, making the situation even more difficult to control.

Enterprise's crew, assisted by nearby U.S. Navy ships, battled the fire for hours while the carrier was turned into the wind to help clear thick smoke. Their determined damage-control efforts ultimately prevented the disaster from becoming even worse.

The incident claimed the lives of 28 sailors, injured 314 others, destroyed 15 aircraft, and caused extensive damage to the carrier. The lessons learned led the U.S. Navy to introduce major improvements in firefighting procedures, ordnance handling, and damage-control training—changes that continue to influence carrier operations today.

One Explosion. Forty-Seven Heroes Lost. A Day the U.S. Navy Never Forgot.⚓🇺🇸🕊On April 19, 1989, USS Iowa (BB-61) suffere...
08/11/2026

One Explosion. Forty-Seven Heroes Lost. A Day the U.S. Navy Never Forgot.⚓🇺🇸🕊

On April 19, 1989, USS Iowa (BB-61) suffered a tragic explosion inside Turret Two during a live-fire exercise near Vieques, Puerto Rico. The blast and resulting fire claimed the lives of 47 sailors and remains one of the most devastating peacetime incidents in U.S. Navy history.

The ship's built-in safety systems helped contain the damage, preventing an even greater catastrophe and saving the battleship itself.

Today, we remember the 47 sailors who lost their lives, honor their families, and recognize the courage of the crew who responded in the aftermath. Their sacrifice and service will never be forgotten.

This image captures the retired USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) during a RIMPAC SINKEX exercise, demonstrating just how dur...
08/09/2026

This image captures the retired USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) during a RIMPAC SINKEX exercise, demonstrating just how durable the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were.⚓🇺🇸

The ship initially survived three Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a Hellfire missile, remaining afloat despite the heavy damage. It was finally sunk only after additional Harpoon and Hellfire strikes, a Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo, a 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway bomb, and a 2,000-pound Mk 84 bomb.

That resilience had already been demonstrated during operations in the Persian Gulf in the 1980s, when several ships of the class sustained combat damage yet remained afloat. Their ability to withstand significant damage and continue operating became one of the defining characteristics of the design.

Although never intended to be heavily armored warships, Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates earned a lasting reputation for exceptional survivability, making them among the U.S. Navy's most resilient frigate designs.

A Routine Mission Turned Into an Unexpected Collision in One of the World's Busiest Waterways.On August 12, 2012, the gu...
08/08/2026

A Routine Mission Turned Into an Unexpected Collision in One of the World's Busiest Waterways.

On August 12, 2012, the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) was involved in a collision with the Japanese-owned oil tanker M/V Otowasan while operating in the Strait of Hormuz.

Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported among the crews of either vessel. Although USS Porter sustained damage, both ships remained afloat, and the situation was brought under control without further complications.

At the time, USS Porter was deployed with the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, conducting routine maritime security operations and supporting regional stability in one of the world's most strategically important sea lanes.

Following the collision, the U.S. Navy launched a formal investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including navigation procedures, vessel movements, traffic conditions, and communications between the two ships.

The incident serves as a reminder that even the most capable naval vessels can face unexpected challenges when operating in one of the world's busiest and most complex maritime environments.

On December 1, 1942, the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36) rests at Tulagi after suffering severe torpedo damage dur...
08/02/2026

On December 1, 1942, the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36) rests at Tulagi after suffering severe torpedo damage during the Battle of Tassafaronga just hours earlier.

Despite losing much of her bow, the ship remained afloat thanks to the determination and skill of her crew. This photo captures the moment repair teams began cutting away the shattered wreckage, marking the first step in an extraordinary recovery.

USS Minneapolis would later return to service, becoming a lasting example of the resilience and fighting spirit of the U.S. Navy during World War II.

A remarkable chapter of naval history—one that deserves to be remembered.

When the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-18) was heavily damaged in a collision with the fast minesweeper USS Hobson (DMS-...
08/02/2026

When the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-18) was heavily damaged in a collision with the fast minesweeper USS Hobson (DMS-26) on April 26, 1952.

The incident occurred during nighttime flight operations in the Atlantic while the task force was en route to Gibraltar. In the darkness, USS Wasp collided with USS Hobson, and the impact split the smaller ship in two. Rescue teams saved 61 crew members, but 176 sailors lost their lives in one of the U.S. Navy's most tragic peacetime naval accidents.

Although USS Wasp suffered no crew casualties, the carrier's bow was heavily damaged. With growing operational commitments in the Mediterranean, the Navy moved quickly to return the ship to service. Wasp entered drydock at Bayonne on May 8, where workers removed the damaged bow. In an extraordinary engineering effort, the bow from USS Hornet (CV-12), then undergoing modernization at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was fitted to Wasp.

The entire repair was completed in just 10 days. USS Wasp returned to sea on May 21 and resumed her Mediterranean deployment only three days later—an extraordinary demonstration of American naval engineering, industrial capability, and the dedication of the shipyard workers who made it possible.

Today, the collision is remembered both for the sailors of USS Hobson and for one of the fastest major aircraft carrier repairs in U.S. naval history.

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