This Day in Naval History - Sept. 17

From the Navy News Service

1861 - Union landing party from USS Massachusetts takes possession of Ship Island south of New Orleans. This was the headquarters for Adm. David Farragut's Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron.

1895 - Battleship Maine commissioned.

1902 - Detachment of Sailors and Marines land from cruiser Cincinnati (C 7) to protect American property at Colon, Panama.

1944 - Navy Task Force lands Army troops on Angaur, Palau Islands, supported by Navy carrier aircraft and shore bombardment.