All Questions
Tagged with naval united-states
45 questions
115
votes
8
answers
23k
views
On 1941 Dec 7, could Japan have targeted the Panama Canal instead of Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack?
This question comes from a slightly related one.
At the time of WW2, most US industry was on the East Coast, including all of the shipbuilding for Carriers and Battleships. If the Panama Canal went ...
- 17.3k
27
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Why hasn't Russia maintained significant numbers of aircraft carriers?
The United States has 11 aircraft carriers in total. Russia has only one. This is reflective of the past, in which we saw that the USSR also didn't put much importance on constructing aircraft ...
user806
21
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Did the US and Soviet navies really come close to blows in the Indian Ocean in 1971?
In December 1971, Pakistan and India were at war over what would become Bangladesh. President Nixon ordered Task Force 74, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and ...
- 5,238
20
votes
1
answer
4k
views
About how many immigrants were on the Titanic?
All that I can find is that the majority of the 709 third class passengers were immigrants. Was it the vast majority, or nearly all of them?
Would there have been any immigrants in second class?
Is ...
- 3,338
19
votes
6
answers
10k
views
How was the USA able to win naval battles in the Pacific?
I have been researching the battles in the Pacific and it seems like in every engagement the USA was outnumbered or outgunned. Especially with the loss of the Pearl Harbor fleet, what made naval ...
- 313
19
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Was the US Navy larger in 1917, and if so, why?
Following the recent discussion in the third US Presidential Debate on Oct. 22, 2012 about the size of the Navy, there actually seemed to be a good discussion buried in there, primarily in this quote ...
- 122k
18
votes
1
answer
874
views
Are photos of WWII US Navy damage reports available online?
I have located a PDF of the USS Marblehead's Bomb Damage Report from 4 Feb 1942. The report lists plates of photographs which are not included in the report I have found.
Do copies of this report ...
- 365
17
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Did a Japanese medieval castle withstand US battleship fire during the Pacific War?
I have overheard the story from an US soldier that during the Pacific War the Japanese mounted a defense in an old medieval castle. The Americans asked for support from a battleship. The battleship ...
- 5,126
17
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Did the Americans trade destroyers in the "destroyer deal" that they would later need themselves?
In the fall of 1940, the U.S. and Great Britain made the so-called "destroyer deal," of 50 old American destroyers in exchange for the use of British bases ranging from Newfoundland to the Caribbean. ...
- 104k
16
votes
6
answers
2k
views
What does a "boat crimper" do?
Working with Census data and other 19th century sources, I occasionally come across the occupation of "boat crimper." I can't figure out what these boat crimpers do.
Based on the definition of "...
- 18.3k
15
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Has the U.S. Navy ever commissioned the building of a warship overseas?
Many foreign navies have commissioned foreign shipyards to build warships and submarines for them. Most recently, Russia purchased to amphibious dock landing ships from France (that sale is currently ...
- 5,238
15
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How many people worked to build one Liberty ship?
A lot of Liberty Ships were built during WW2. These were fairly large transport ships with a capacity of about 11,000 t deadweight tonnage. Wikipedia says the average build time was 42 days, and that ...
- 17.3k
14
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is the name "Tecumseh" used for US Navy ships?
It is common practice to name warships after historical heroes of a nation. The US Navy had four vessel named USS Tecumseh Two of them were tugboats, but the other two were a then-cutting-edge ...
- 4,324
14
votes
1
answer
991
views
What did the sympathies lie of the US Navy around the time of the American Civil War?
Around the time of the American Civil War the land military (that is the Army) had its sympathies on the cause of the Confederacy, in my opinion, due to the make up of the military officers of the ...
- 7,547
13
votes
1
answer
2k
views
When did navies stop giving out a drink ration to their sailors?
I seem to remember that the British Navy, and the US Navy maybe, used to give out a ration of alcohol to sailors each day. When did this practice stop, and why?
- 9,675
12
votes
9
answers
5k
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Why didn't Germany attack US ports with U-boats during WW II?
During WW2, Germany owned ships along the eastern US coast with U-boats pretty much unopposed.
So... why didn't Germany head into US ports and destroy infrastructure? Why did they keep their actions ...
- 223
12
votes
3
answers
1k
views
In World War II, why was the ratio of killed to wounded of the Royal Navy twice that of the US Navy?
Casualty numbers for Navy personnel killed and wounded in WWII cited by Wikipedia (for the Royal Navy) and the National World War II Museum in New Orleans (for the US Navy) show a big difference in ...
- 108k
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Question about Medals of the U.S. Navy
What do medals say about a sailor, diver or serviceman? This picture is all my grandfather's medals. He was in the U.S. Navy from 1945 - 73. I know a lot of his story. He started out an E1 and went as ...
- 233
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why was the ship "Palmyra" so named?
On November 7, 1802, the American trading ship Palmyra, under Captain Cornelius Sawle, was shipwrecked on the reef, which took the vessel's name and now is known as Palmyra Atoll.
Does anybody know ...
- 211
9
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What other ships were with USS Saratoga when it was hit by a torpedo on 1942 Jan 11?
USS Saratoga (CV-3) was a Lexington-class Carrier of the USN. On 1942 Jan 11 it was hit by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-6, and then went in for repairs.
However, I would like to know what ...
- 17.3k
9
votes
2
answers
657
views
Which US naval ship from 1905 is depicted on this photo?
I found this photo in a relatives old photo collection. Most of the photos were taken around 1905 so I assume the ship photo was taken around that time. A lot of the photos were taken in upstate NY ...
8
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why did the US Navy and Marine Corps use satanic symbolism in WW2?
When you look at certain names and symbols used by the U.S. Navy (USN) and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) during WW2, you could see they are heavily loaded with satanic symbols. You have the F6F Hellcat ...
- 11.3k
8
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What kind of wood was the standard decking for aircraft carriers in World War 2?
I know that both Japan and the United States used wooden decks on their WWII Aircraft Carriers. Was there a specific, "ideal" standard type of wood that was utilized by either country? If so, what ...
- 1,606
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What impact does colonial legacy have on current US presence in the South China Sea dispute?
In recent years, the South China Sea has become somewhat important from a geo-political standpoint. China is building military bases, among many other things, and the US has been speaking about ...
- 7,519
7
votes
5
answers
10k
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Difference between V-5 and V-12 Navy programs during WWII
I was curious if there was a difference between the V-5 and V-12 Navy programs during World War II. I have found a lot of information on V-12 program specifically but I haven't been able to find to ...
- 173
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How did the USS Reprisal sink?
USS Reprisal was the first ship of what was to become the United States Navy. Wikipedia says:
On September 14, 1777, Reprisal left France, for the United States.
About October 1, Reprisal was ...
- 315
6
votes
2
answers
851
views
Why is the nuclear powered USS Nautilus (SSN-571) a museum, when nuclear aircraft carriers are not converted to museums?
My understanding is that the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear submarine is now a museum. This boat was a real nuclear vessel, so it should have all the hazards associated with a decommissioned nuclear ...
- 1,000
6
votes
1
answer
898
views
What was the exact path of the Doolittle Raid?
I'm trying to find the exact path that the Doolittle Raid took from its rendezvous point near Hawaii to the launch point near Japan. I would like to be able to see this path on a map so I can ...
- 17.3k
5
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How did the US Navy raise sunken battleships in WWII?
I recently got the opportunity to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial. In the informational video that they show guests, they mentioned a detail I found fascinating: most of the ships sunk in the ...
- 2,337
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why did carrier battle groups require multiple carriers?
During the Pacific War, both USN and IJN operated (or at least preferred to) carrier battle groups composed of multiple carriers plus their screening ships. IJN's Kidō Butai - which carried out the ...
- 14.5k
5
votes
4
answers
775
views
What was the purpose of a division staff in a US Navy Task Force/Fleet in WWII?
Just watching Midway, and in the scene of Raymond Spruance taking command of the Midway Task Force, I remembered an old question that nagged me. Apparently, the US Navy equipped task forces and fleets ...
- 331
5
votes
2
answers
232
views
In early WW2, how much of the merchant marine was American?
WW2, before the US entered, ran from 1939 Sep 01 to 1941 Dec 07. During this time, a lot of merchant vessels sailed in convoy to Britain.
I am wondering, of all the people who crewed those vessels, ...
- 17.3k
5
votes
1
answer
289
views
In the First Barbary War, how long was the USS Philadelphia aground?
During the First Barbary War. The USS Philadelphia was giving chase to a Barbary Corsair in the bay of Tripoli when she ran aground October 31, 1803. Captain Bainbridge at first gave orders to put ...
user27618
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why is USS Saratoga (CV3) nicknamed "Sara Maru"?
Why is USS Saratoga (CV3) nicknamed "Sara Maru"?
"Maru"(丸) is a term widely used to name ships in Japan.
- 228
4
votes
2
answers
453
views
Why were Japanese escort ships not numerous at the battle of Bismarck Sea?
During the battle of Bismarck sea, Allied units performed air attacks that resulted in the nearly destruction of Japanese fleet.
I understand the reasons why the Allies obtain such a success, namely:
...
- 7,392
4
votes
1
answer
475
views
What was the US Navy's "fleet marine force" in 1944-45?
My dad joined the navy in 1944. After he pissed off his Navy chief in boot camp, he was assigned to what he called the Fleet Marines. Whenever I try and look up fleet marines it always tries to give ...
4
votes
1
answer
390
views
Did the Soviet ever attempt "innocent passage" thru American waters?
In 1986 and 1988, the US Navy sent warships into Soviet Crimean Sea territorial waters as exercises of innocent passage (which essentially means that you can sail through an unfriendly nation's waters ...
- 482
3
votes
3
answers
137
views
Where can I find an official record of names and service dates for commanding officers of former US Navy vessels?
I'm particularly interested in records for the Indiana-class pre-dreadnought battleship named USS Massachusetts (BB-2). Can this information be found online?
- 285
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How could the USS Maine explosion have been investigated?
After the explosion of the USS Maine in 1898, was it possible for the United States to ask Spain if their mine had sunk the USN Battleship?
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
275
views
What can we deduce about the expected career of a US Navy "lifer" in 1972?
In 1972, a member of the U.S. Navy who's already accumulated several years of service mentions that he's expecting to spend his entire working life in the USN. What does that imply about his ...
- 223
3
votes
1
answer
671
views
Were there crewmen from other USN ships on USS Missouri when the Japanese surrendered?
I have tried finding a list of the crewmen on the USS Missouri at the time of the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, or at least some general information about who was on the ship at ...
- 271
3
votes
1
answer
192
views
Did Admiral Ghormley have access to intellegence reports on Japanese movements prior to the Battle of Savo Island?
We know that Admiral Turner, the commander of the Landing Force at Guadalcanal had received (heavily flawed) reports on the movements of Admiral Mikawa's force, prior to the Battle of Savo Island. My ...
- 247
2
votes
3
answers
751
views
Were US Navy WWII-era submarine crewmen allowed on deck?
Similar to Were German WWII-era U-Boat crews allowed on deck? except for the USN. There's a whole lot of ocean between the mainland and Hawaii, and between Hawaii and the Imperial Japanese Navy, and ...
- 482
2
votes
0
answers
84
views
Where from, and in what way, did the first detailed account of the use of self-propelled torpedoes reach the RN and USN?
Three possible candidates seem to exist for the first verified (non-participant) observation of a torpedo boat assault. The options are the Russo-Turkish War, at Caldera Bay, or at Weihaiwei, all of ...
- 10.8k
1
vote
1
answer
443
views
What were common crew ranks on US Navy flying boats and bombers?
historians! I asked this question over on the Aviation SE, but was also suggested to ask here. Below is a copy of my question from over there.
I have been trying to figure this out for some time, but ...
- 163