1628 Swedish warship Vasa (64), Cptn Söfring Hansson, capsized and sank, a few minutes after departure on her maiden voyage, in the Saltsjon, Stockholm. Besides being designed by an unqualified naval architect (the king), there was a flaw in construction. Two teams of builders worked Vasa, one port, one starboard. It was discovered the measuring sticks used were different by half an inch.
1932 RinTin Tin, c. 15, German Army veteran and American movie star, dies.I
1916. The first naval aircraft production contract begins when the Bureau of Construction and Repair contacts Glenn H. Curtiss via telegram asking him to supply 30 school hydro aeroplanes. The N-9s become the Navy's most popular training aircraft during World War I.
1944. Smokey the Bear born.
1946. The Italian battleship Conte di Cavour possesses one of the most unique – and dubious – distinctions in naval history.
On the night of November 11, 1940, Conte di Cavour was in company with several other Italian battleships in Taranto Harbor, on the instep of the Italian boot, when a squadron of Royal Navy Swordfish torpedo bombers off HMS Illustrious put a fish into her, causing her to settle on the bottom of the shallow anchorage. She was shortly raised, and towed to Trieste, where repairs were begun. These dragged on for nearly two years. Then, on the night of September 9, 1943, Italy having concluded an armistice with the Allies, Conte di Cavour was scuttled in shallow water to prevent her capture by the Germans. The Germans seized the sunk vessel, raised her, and commenced desultory repairs. These were not yet completed when American heavy bombers once again sank her, on February 15, 1945.
Amazingly, in 1946 Conte di Cavour was raised once again, shortly to be towed to a breaker’s yard, and there scrapped.
Thus, Conte di Cavour has the dubious distinction of being the only battleship that was not only sunk three times, but also salvaged three times.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2023, 09:39:27 AM by besilarius »
"These things must be done delicately-- or you hurt the spell." - The Wicked Witch of the West.
"We've got the torpedo damage temporarily shored up, the fires out and soon will have the ship back on an even keel. But I would suggest, sir, that if you have to take any more torpedoes, you take 'em on the starboard side." Pops Healy, DCA USS Lexington.