Ships | War History

Century-Old ‘Experimental’ Submarine Discovered Off the Coast of Long Island

Defender dry-docked

A “experimental” submarine dating back well over a century has been discovered off the coast of Long Island by a team of divers. Known as…

USS Harder (SS-257): The WWII-Era Submarine That Took Out Five Enemy Destroyers In Four Days

USS Harder (SS-257) sailing close to shore + USS Harder (SS-257) at sea

The USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine, served in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and…

The History of the US Navy’s Canceled World War II-Era Battleships

Model of a South Dakota-class battleship between two supports

The Second World War produced many legendary battleships – Bismarck, HMS Hood (51), Yamato, Roma (1940) and USS Iowa (BB-61). That being said, the conflict…

NR-1: The Smallest Nuclear Submarine In US Military History

NR-1 anchored at port

Submarines are typically built to house a sizeable crew, given the amount of time they’re expected to serve beneath the ocean’s surface. There was one,…

The 50-Year Battle to Clear Charles McVay III In the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) at sea + Military portrait of Charles McVay III

The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the US Navy in 1932. She was the flagship of Scouting Force 1 prior to the…

The USS Lexington Wreck Was Discovered Over 75 Years After the Battle of the Coral Sea

USS Lexington (CV-2) at sea

The sinking of the USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of many to occur during the Second World War, and her wreck has remained on the seafloor…

The Devastating Fire That Caused $700 Million In Damages to the USS Miami (SSN-755) and Forced Her Decommissioning

Sailors standing atop the USS Miami (SSN-755) while at port + Flames

The submarine USS Miami (SSN-755) was decommissioned as a result of a planned fire that caused significant damage. Although there appeared to be no malicious…

SS Normandie: The French Ocean Liner Lost to a Suspicious Fire During World War II

SS Normandie at sea

The SS Normandie was one of the grandest ocean liners to see service during the 1930s. When the Second World War broke out, she found…

Four Men Aboard the USS California (BB-44) Were Awarded the Medal of Honor

USS California (BB-44) at sea

The attack on Pearl Harbor was disastrous for American vessels, particularly those moored along Battleship Row. The nine were the primary targets of the Japanese,…

Two Aircraft Carriers Were Stationed In the Great Lakes During WWII

USS Sable (XI-81) sailing through Lake Michigan

If there’s one thing aircraft carriers were known for during the Second World War, it was their role in changing the face of aerial combat.…

After 80 Years, the Fate Of the USS Cythera (PY-26) and Her Crew Still Remains a Mystery

USS Cythera (PY-26) anchored at a dock

The USS Cythera (PY-26) has several distinctions. She started out life as a civilian yacht before being acquired by the US Navy, and later went on…

100 Years After She Sank, The Mystery of USS San Diego’s (ACR-6) Tragic End Was Finally Solved

Painting of the USS San Diego (ACR-6) sinking at sea

Shortly after 11:00 AM on July 19, 1918, the Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser USS San Diego (ACR-6) – formerly known as the USS California – was…