This Day in Naval History - July 31

1815 - Commodore Stephen Decatur concludes agreement with Bey of Tunis to compensate U.S. for seizure of merchant ships during the War of 1812.

1865 - East India Squadron established to operate from Sunda Strait to Japan.

1874 - Commissioning of USS Intrepid, first U.S. warship equipped with torpedoes.

1912 - First attempt to launch an airplane by catapult made at Annapolis.

1933 - USS Constitution commences tour of principal U.S. seaports.

1964 - All-nuclear task force with USS Long Beach (CGN 9), USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Bainbridge (CGN 25) leaves Norfolk, Va., to begin voyage, Operation Sea Orbit, to circle the globe without refueling. They returned October 3.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.