Today in U.S. Naval History: July 18

Today in U.S. Naval History - July 18

1775 - Continental Congress resolves that each colony provide armed vessels

1779 - Commodore Abraham Whipple's squadron captures 11 prizes in largest prize value of Revolutionary War.

1792 - John Paul Jones dies in Paris, France

1813 - U.S. Frigate President captures British Daphne, Eliza Swan, Alert and Lion.

1920 - Naval aircraft sink ex-German cruiser Frankfurt in target practice.

1943 - German submarine shoots down K-74, the first and only U.S. airship lost during WW II.

1947 - President Harry S. Truman delegates responsibility for the civil administration of former Japanese mandated island to the Secretary of the Navy.

1966 - Launch of Gemini 10 with L.Cdr. John W. Young, USN as Command Pilot. Mission involved 43 orbits at an altitude of 412.2 nautical miles and lasted two days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes. Recovery was by HS-3 helicopter from USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7).

1973 - Task Force 78, Mine Countermeasures Force, departs waters of North Vietnam after completing their minesweeping operations of 1,992 tow hours for the cost of $20,394,000.

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