John White News

Japan's advanced attack Soryu submarine carried out drills with Australia's navy on Tuesday as a German company launched a campaign to advertise its expertise - as a race for a A$50 billion contract to build Australia's next submarine fleet neared a climax. Industry sources told Reuters the Australian government is speeding up its decision on the contract - France is the other major bidder - with a winner now expected to be announced by the end of the month. Australia intends to buy 12 new submarines, a centrepiece of its defence strategy unveiled in February, which called for an increase in military spending of nearly A$30 billion over the next 10 years to protect strategic and trade interests in the Asia-Pacific.

Today in U.S. Naval History - June 7 1819 - Lt. John White on merchant ship Franklin, anchored off Vung Tau is first U.S. naval officer to visit Vietnam 1917 - U.S. subchasers arrive at Corfu for anti-submarine patrols 1942 - Battle of Midway ends with loss of USS Yorktown 1944 - Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages begins off Normandy coast 1991 - Joint Task Force Sea Angel ends relief operations in Bangladesh after Cyclone Marian For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center website at www.history.navy.mil.

1819- LT John White on merchant ship Franklin, anchored off Vung Tau is first U.S. naval officer to visit Vietnam   1917 - U.S. subchasers arrive at Corfu for anti-submarine patrols   1942 - Battle of Midway ends with loss of USS Yorktown   1944 - Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages begins off Normandy coast   1991 - Joint Task Force Sea Angel ends relief operations in Bangladesh after Cyclone Marian   Source: Navy News Servic

1819- LT John White on merchant ship Franklin, anchored off Vung Tau is first U.S. naval officer to visit Vietnam 1917 - U.S. subchasers arrive at Corfu for anti-submarine patrols 1942 - Battle of Midway ends with loss of USS Yorktown 1944 - Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages begins off Normandy coast 1991 - Joint Task Force Sea Angel ends relief operations in Bangladesh after Cyclone Marian (Source: Navy News Service)

From the Navy News Service 1819 - Lt. John White on merchant ship Franklin, anchored off Vung Tau, is first U.S. naval officer to visit Vietnam. 1917 - U.S. subchasers arrive at Corfu for anti-submarine patrols. 1942 - Battle of Midway ends with loss of USS Yorktown (CV 5). 1944 - Construction of artificial harbors and sheltered anchorages begins off Normandy coast. 1991 - Joint Task Force Sea Angel ends relief operations in Bangladesh after Cyclone Marian.