Today in U.S. Naval History: August 6

MarineLink.com August 6, 2013

"The Union Gun-boat Essex (Commander Porter) Destroying the Rebel Iron-clad Ram Arkansas, in the Mississippi" Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly," 1862. CSS Arkansas was run ashore and burned to prevent capture when her engines failed during this encounter with USS Essex, on August 6, 1862. (U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph)

Today in U.S. Naval History - August 6

1862 - CSS Arkansas destroyed by her commanding officer to prevent capture by USS Essex.

1943 - Battle of Vella Gulf begins. U.S. destroyers sink three of four Japanese destroyers.

1945 - Atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima, Japan. Navy weaponeer, Captain W.S. Parsons, USN, armed the atomic bomb on the B-29 bomber, Enola Gay.

1990 - President George Bush orders Operation Desert Shield, largest overseas deployment since Vietnam, to protect Saudi Arabia after Iraqi's invasion of Kuwait.

1997 - Naval Forces on Guam help rescue and begin providing medical care to survivors of Korean Airlines Flight 801 that crashed on Guam.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.