Volume 2, Issue 6

A Newsletter for the Supporters of the Naval Museum

The USS Constitution, along with the ships USS A[gus, Enterprise, Siren and lntrep.id and several gunboats, on loan from the King of , give the American response to the pirates ' demands for more tribute, August 1804. (U.S. Navy photo ofan oil painting by Michel F. Corne) Hatnpton Roads' Oldest Enen1y ver since America became an "Hand to Hand is Not Return to : E independent country, it has been in conflict with the states of North Child's Play": 1801-1806 Sixth Fleet vs. , 1986 Africa, most notably Tripolitania/ by Joe Mosier by Matt Burchfield Libya. The Naval bases, ships and n May 14, 1801, Yusef ommodore crews of Hampton Roads have been Karamanli, Bashaw of Tripoli, wrote to the Secretary of the principle players in operations sent men to chop down the Navy in 1804 that "[the Barbary against these countries. The first O C flagpole in front of the American States] are a deep, designing, artful, article discusses the early 19th Consulate. In land barren of trees tall treacherous set of villains, and nothing century campaign against the pirates enough for replacements, this was the will keep them so quiet as a respectable of the Barbary Coast. The second accepted way to declare war. Tripoli, naval force near them." One hundred and article discusses the "Freedom of together with Tunis, Algiers and eighty-two years after Preble wrote these Navigation " maneuvers and strikes by , comprised the Barbary States. remarks, the situation between the two Norfolk-based warships against Col. Although nominally ruled from the powers had not changed that much. Gadhaffi 's forces 185 years later. Ottoman capital of Constantinople, each During the 1980's, the dictator of • Inside The Day Book was in effect a sovereign country. For Libya, Col. Mamommar Gadhaffi, had years one of the principal sources of planned and sponsored a series of Director's Column...... 2 income along the Barbary coast ofNorth incidents and acts ofterrorism against the Builder's Half-Models ...... 3 Africa was the seizure of foreign ships West, in an attempt to gain more prestige NADEP Exhibit...... 4 and the sale of their Christian crews and and influence among his Arab neighbors. Volunteer News & Notes ..... S passengers as slaves. Following the Among his more blatant attempts was the Museum Sage...... ! I American War of Independence, U.S. claiming of the , the body Barbary continued on page 6 Libya continued on page 8 Where in the World is the Hampton Roads Naval Museum? The Director's Column by Becky Poulliot e recently embarked on an museum operated by the Navy. retired. Modified videos will go to ambitious public relations We start by targeting interested schools, civic groups, corporations Wand marketing plan to segments of the audienc.e. Military and individual sponsors. The new make residents of Hampton Roads personnel will scion fi~d Speaker' s Bureau brochures should aware of our existence. In June, the advertisements in their bags when be mass mailed to area civic groups first phase of the plan was shopping at the Exchange or by the year's end. implemented. A local research firm Commissary. These advertisemenls Look for an advertisement conducted a phone survey of 325 will double as coupons and allo~ campaign in the local newspaper in respondents to determine aided and those who validate them at th:e the upcoming weeks, which will unaided awareness of our museum. museum to get discounts at loc~l make good use of a crisper logo and We fared poorly on unaided restaurants and ent9rtainment tag line. We are keeping the sloop­ awareness; no one listed us of-war USS Cumberland as the independently when asked to name Work is certainly needed museum ' s logo because of its museums in south Hampton Roads. in the area of military significance to our mission. For those However, when prompted, or aided, awareness, which we had of you who are not aware of it, 58% knew about us. The military and hoped would be much higher. Cumberland fought in the Civil civilian population were evenly split War's Battle of Hampton Roads and along awareness lines. It is our goal to imbue a sense was rammed by the ironclad CSS The findings, which are 90% ofownership for the region's . The museum is the only statistically accurate, contain a wealth only museum operated by the repository of its artifacts, which were of useful information to guide us in uncovered through an underwater future marketing efforts. It is a Navy. archaeology excavation. benchmark to measure against, and a facilities. These coupons will also be To ensure the professionalism of foundation to build upon. Work is inserted into the Flagship, the Naval our product, the museum is seeking certainly needed in the area of Base's official newspaper. the help of the American Association military awareness, which we had We also began the distribution of of Museums through their Museum hoped would be much higher. It is informational videos, mentioned in Assessment Program. Peers from the our goal to imbue a sense of the last issue, to target military field will examine how we discover, ownership for the region's only organizations, both active duty and interest and evaluate our audience. Before their visit, we are conducting About The Day Book HRNM Staff an in-house survey to determine The Day Book is an authorized publication ofthe Hampton Director visitor response to the permanent Becky Poulliot Roads Naval Musewn (HRNM). ltscontentsdonotnecessarily exhibits. That effort is being assisted reflect the official view ofthe U.S. Government, the Department Curator of Defense, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. MarineCorpsanddonot Joe Judge by docent Harold An ten and summer imply endorsement thereof. The HRNM is a museum dedicated Education Specialist interns Josh Brown and Matt to the study of 200 years of naval history in the Hampton Roads Bob Matteson Burchfield. Exhibits Specialist region. The musewn is open daily from I 0 am. to 5 p.m. With all these efforts, we should The Day Book's purpose is to educate and inform readers on Marta Nelson historical topics and musewn related events. It is written by the Museum Technician see an improved awareness level • staff and volunteers of the musewn. The newsletter takes its Ofelia Elbo when a second telephone survey is name from a 19th century Norfolk newspaper. Assistant Curator conducted next year. We' ll keep you Tom Dandes BTCS (SW) Questions or comments can be directed to the Hampton informed of how these projects go. Roads Naval Museum editor. The Day Book can be reached at HRNM LPO (757) 444-8971 , by fax at (757) 445-1867, or write The Day SK I Santos Vega Please drop in and examine the Book, Hampton Roads Naval Museum, One Waterside Drive, Editor of The Day Book written reports concerning the survey Suite 248, Norfolk, VA 23510-1607. The museum can be found Gordon Calhoun and the marketing and public Director, HRNHF on the World Wide Web at http://xroads.virginiaedu/-VAM/ relations plan. A vamhome.htrnl . The Day Book is published bi-monthly with a Maj.Gen.Dennis Murphy, circulation of I ,000. USMC (Ret)

2 Shipbuilding and Design with Half a The Museum Collection of 19th century Half-Models by Dana Wagner and Joe Judge ' f the many ship models in the out of thick laminations of Hampton Roads Naval wood call "lifts." Pine was a OMuseum's collection, the most popular wood used to make important are "builder' s models." these lifts. Sometimes the Builder's models are ship models used designer alternated woods and by naval architects as an aide in design used, for example, pine and and production of the ship itself. Naval cedar lifts. For larger vessels, design and policy makers can use such lifts were planned down to models to debate features of a ship. represent one or two feet of Two examples of these builder' s thickness on the hull of the real models at the museum are the ship. the ship of the half model's hull by · drawing it full sized on the mould loft floor. These skilled craftsmen easily noticed errors in smooths, or fairing, at this stage. Thin planks were cut and pieced together to match the lines on the floor, creating full-sized patterns called "moulds." These moulds were taken out to the shipyard to guide the cutting out of the ship's frames. The entire process is known as "lofting." USS Virginia (BB-13) and the aircraft Shown above is a builder's halfmodel ofthe 74- After lofting, the half model had gun ship-of-the-line USS Delaware. Loftsmen carrier USS America (CV -66). served its purpose. Some became would build a ship by reproducing a foil-size copy A special kind of builder' s ofthe model. The model itselfis only about three kindling on chilly mornings at the model is a "half-model." Half models feet in length. But, it was detailed for workers to shipyard. Other were nailed or glued represented half of a ship's hull, usually be able to produce a hull several hundred feet back together for display in the yards long. The final product of the above half-model the starboard side. The museum has or in designer's offices. Many have is shown below. two excellent examples of half models in its collection: the 74-gun ship-of-the­ line USS Delaware and the 12-gun brig USS Truxtun. Half-models like these were important design tools for a ship's hull. Hull design established the speed, capacity, safety and reliability of a ship. The earliest recorded half model used in the was that of the ketch Eliza, built in 1794. The Delaware model dates from 1817 while the Truxtun was commissioned in 1843. These half models are easily the oldest ships models in the museum The designer relied on his practiced survived to this day, including the two exhibits. sense of touch to carve the model and examples in the museum. • The half-model, like its modern scrape it smooth. Then the model was Both Delaware and Truxtun are counterpart, was part of the design brought to a large room, often the upper mounted on backboards. Originally process for the ship, and the ship floor of a warehouse with an backboards were carved out, or designer personally carved the half unobstructed flat floor called a "mould relieved, to accept the model. This model to a specific scale. In most cases, loft." Here workers called Ioftsmen relief process helped to hold the lifts the scale was a derivative of one inch, disassembled the model lifts. Using together and aided the measurement so that one inch might equal eight feet dividers and long battens, strips of work in the loft. Some models that did or four feet or two feet on the original wood used to fasten canvas, as not have backboards had them added ship. The designer made the models measuring devices, Ioftsmen recreated Half Models continued on page 4

3 . -!.... . - -;, ·~·

This is the builder's half-model of the brig USS Truxtun. Both half-models ofTruxtun and Delaware are currently on display in the museum 's Age of Sail gallery. (HRNM photo) Half Model continued from page 4 later, often with sternposts, keels, plates used to make metal hulls. The Half models are testimony to an age stacks, stubs, masts, propellers and plates were drafted in India ink on the when as much art as science went into deck detail added to give a more surface of the half model, sometimes ship design. They are practical and realistic effect. One very rare type of with written notations as to size and beautiful reminders of our maritime half model is known as the "hawk nest" plate thickness. Plating half models history. J!b. style, in which the hull represented by became prevalent during the 1880's The editor would like to thank Dana Wagner frames overlaid with battens, gives· a when ship design required advanced for his contribution to this issue. Mr. Wagner is lattice-work appearance. computations and scientific methods. the U.S. Navy 's Curator of Models and is responsible for the care and maintenance of the The naval revolution from wooden With the advent of computers in the Navy 's collection of ship models. He works for to iron ships did not eliminate the value early 19M's, ·half models became the Naval Sea Systems Command in Patuxent ofhalfmodels. During the 1840's half obsolete as design tools. Ship models River, MD which is responsible for research and models called "plating model" were are still used in the ship design process, devlopment offoture Navy warships and systems. used to determine the size and but they are primarily full-hulled curvature of the iron (and later steel) models used in hydrodynamic testing. NADEP, Norfolk Exhibit Now on Display by Joe Judge new exhibit utilizes material and the last two decades, when work years. The biggest artifact in the exhibit given to the museum by the on the A-6/ntruder bomber and F-14 will be a 1"= 1 ' scale model of an A -6 A Naval Aviation Depot, Tomcat fighter won the Depot praise under repair, built by Mr. Jim Ryan. Norfolk (see last issue). The exhibit, The exhibit is mounted on the entitled "Without Us, They Don't Fly" outside wall of the museum, which is is primarily a photographic graciously being made available by the retrospective of the aircraft facility's National Maritime Center. The exhibit • history from 1917 to the present day. opens for the official Sept. 25 The exhibit illustrations begin with decommissioning of the Depot, and views of the canvas hangers, home to will remain in place until February of the aircraft and workers who came to 1997. the Norfolk waterfront in the infancy The Hampton Roads Naval Museum of aviation. It follows the story through invites all former NADEP employees, World War II, when the Assembly and from all quarters. The exhibit features their friends, families, or anyone Repair Department worked two ten examples from the Depot's decal shop, interested in Naval aviation to view the hour shifts, seven days a week. Two which produced colorful logos for exhibit "Without Us, They Don't Fly." other sections treat the Cold War-era commands and squadrons over many ;lb. 4 'Vo1~~e:r N"e~s &N"o~s by Edward Lane Thanks for the Help Birthdays! when painting historical scenes. This This summer, museum staff have September will take place at 2:00 p.m. outside had the assistance of two interns: the Nauticus Theater. Matt Burchfield and Joshua Brown AI Petrich '0 .... The next quarterly docent both of Catholic High School. Matt meeting for the docents will be Sept. Jack Robertson. c ~ '#. ~J , ~. , , is here for his second year of Matt Burchfield, " 26. This will take place at 9 a.m. at volunteer service. The two of them ' 0 the 232 Main Street, downtown have been a great help, especially Norfolk. We hope to have as good a October ~ 0 , .,, , 0 ' ' ' with conducting the museum visitor turn out for this one as we have had survey. We hope to have them back Robert Deegan '. in the past. 01 ',,:- .'J .. u? •,:)·: next year. BobTye , ~ . . Bob Comet ' • r. ., We would also like to thank Leo 0 Jefferson Award Grudinski, Jenro Lambaiso and Tom Duggan ° , 0 • i: ,, Volunteer docent Hunt Lewis has Charlie Devine for their John Simanton been nominated for the Jefferson participation in the " Yes We Can" Award. This award is a prestigious program. Upcoming Events national honor to recognize Thanks also to the docent picnic On Sept. 4, Dr. Harold Langley, individuals throughout the country committee for helping put together Curator of Naval History at the for performing great public service. yet another successful annual Smithsonian Institute's Museum of The award is given out by the summer picnic. Harold Anten, American History and author of American Institute for Public Preston Turpin, Tom Duggan and Medicine in the Early U.S. Navy, will Service. EMl Francis Cannon were the discuss the perils and health hazards volunteer members. of shipboard life. He will focus on Final Note the years 1790 to 1842 in relation to We are working on a new lecture Awards Norfolk. This will take place at 7:00 series for 1997. This series plans to There is only one award this issue p.m. in the Galley Resturant at offer nationally known speakers in a and that goes to the before mentioned Nauticus. lunchtime or other daytime format. summer intern Matt Burchfield who On Oct. 16, well known historical More details of this exciting new has achieved his pin for 100 hours of artist, Tom Freeman, will present a project will be forthcoming in the volunteering. discussion on how he researches his months ahead.l.!!> paintings and researching in general edicine M in the Early U.S. Navy

r. Harold Langley, Curator of Naval History, Museum of American DHistory of the Smithsonian Institution and author of Medicine in the Early U.S. Navy, will discuss the perils and health hazards of shipboard • life, focusing on the years 1790-1842 in relation to Norfolk. Make it a point to attend this memorable presentation. Free and open to the public. Wednesday September 4th 7:30pm Nauticus Theater

Presented by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. For additional information please call 444-8971

5 Barbary continued from page 1 on May 4, 1803, "I have not heard from ships had lost the relative immunity they you since the 30th Nov l802.. .1t is a serious had enjoyed while still apart ofthe British concern that we have not heard from you. I Empire. As more captures occurred, newly presume it would be superfluous to remind elected President decided you ofthe absolute necessity ofyour writing to send an American squadron to the frequently and keeping us informed of all Mediterranean to protect our country's your movements." shipping. In April1803, Morris, now with New Capt. Thomas Truxton was initially York as flagship, finally gathered his forces given charge of this squadron but for a close blockade. Ironically, just as resigned in a huff from the Navy after Morris finally began to campaign in earnest, being refused a flag captain to oversee Secretary Smith decided to relieve him. President while he held overall squadron Morris was relieved by Capt John Rodgers. command. , Virginia-born A Court of Inquiry found that he "did not was appointed in his stead, conduct himself, in his command of the and the 44-gun President departed Mediterranean squadron, with the diligence Hampton Roads on July 2, 1801 . Other or activjty necessary to execute the ships in this frrst Med squadron were the important duties of his station." President , 38, and Essex, 32, Jefferson then dismissed Morris from the Lt. avenges his brother's death and the fast Enterprise of 12 by dispatching the gunboat captain who shot him Navy. His replacement, Commodore guns. during the assault on the Tripoli gunboat Edward Preble in Constitution, departed Dale met immediate success on his squadron. Behind Decatur, the sailor Reuben for the Medon Aug. 15. arrival at when the two largest James stops a pirate from slicing Decatur 's head Commodore Preble's squadron reflected off See page 7 for more on this heroic act. Tripolitan corsairs were discovered (Original 19th century engraving in author's the lessons learned in blockading by the first fitting out nearby. While they could not possession.) two squadrons. In addition to the frigates, be captured in neutral territory, the watch the vote that broke the tie between Constitution and Philadelphia, there were on them was so tight that they were Jefferson and Aaron Burr and gave the the smaller and hence more useful brigs effectively removed from the war. Dale's former the presidency. If Dale's Siren and Argus as well as two plan was to maintain a blockade of performance had been only moderately built on Enterprise's lines, Nautilus and Tripoli with one frigate while convoying effective, Morris' tenure was to prove Vixen. Enterprise herself would once American merchant ships with the others. disastrous. The commodore's mobility was . again be retained in the Med. At the time President Jefferson felt that even though hampered by the fact that Chesapeake was of Preble's arrival, the Emperor of Tripoli had declared war on the U.S., the in terrible material condition following a Morocco had begun to send out corsairs Congress had not authorized war against period in ordinary at Gosport Navy Yard. against American shipping. To deal with Tripoli. As a result, Dale was forbidden Far more detrimental to the performance both threats simultaneously, Preble sent to take prizes and any captured of Morris was the presence onboard of Philadelphia and Vixen to continue the Tripolitans were to be placed ashore as his wife and son. Mrs. Morris, referred blockade of Tripoli, while the remainder quickly as possible. In an to by Chesapeake's officers as "the of the squadron as well as Rodgers now extreme example, Lt. Andrew Sterrett Commodoress," was described by in New York, descended on . The commanding Enterprise had captured the Midshipman Henry Wadsworth. "Her Emperor quickly reasserted his affection corsair Tripoli off on 1 Aug. knowledge of geography, history, etc. for the United States and re-signed the following an intense three-hour battle. are extensive & a passion for reading is peace treaty of 1787 between the two Given his orders, however, Sterrett predominant. Her person is not beautiful, countries. Preble was enroute to Tripoli released the ship after he completely or even handsome, but she looks very when he received the disastrous news that stripped it. On March l 0, 1802, Dale well in a veil." The problem lay in Philadelphia had run aground and been departed for America, arriving at Morris' overly solicitous attitude toward captured off that city on Oct. 31 . Hampton Roads on April14. his wife's comfort, particularly after she The presence of Philadelphia in Capt. Richard V. Morris was became pregnant in October. As a result, enemy hands created a new set of appointed to command the next Chesapeake spent little time at sea. concerns for Preble as the frigate could Mediterranean squadron. In addition to Before returning to the United States in be repaired. Some 307 Americans in the his flagship, the frigate Chesapeake, April 1803, the frigate was in harbor 65% Bashaw's dungeons gave Karamanli Morris' squadron consisted ofthe frigates of the time and appeared before Tripoli great negotiating strength. Cutting out Constellation, Adams, New York for only five days. or destroying the frigate looked and John Adams. Morris' primary As galling as this inactivity was to impossible as it was moored under the qualification for the job seems to have Navy Secretary Robert Smith, he was castle's guns. Fortunately, the been the fact that his brother, Vermont even more upset by Morris' failure to Enterprise, now commanded by Lt. Congressman Lewis R. Morris, had cast keep him informed. Smith wrote Morris Barbary continued on page 7

6 A L G E R

OROCCO

Barbary continued from page 6 combustibles to bum the Philadelphia. caused a sensation when it reached the Stephen Decatur, captured an enemy Although the two ships approached United States. Decatur was promoted to ketch, Mastico, which Preble renamed Tripoli on Feb. 8, heavy gales blew them Captain (at 25 the youngest ever to hold Intrepid. This vessel offered the off station. The next week was a horror the rank in the U.S. Navy) and presented possibility of entering Tripoli harbor and story for those onboard Intrepid. In a a sword in the name of Congress. attacking the frigate in secrecy. Decatur small ship in heavy seas, with no room Preble arranged for the loan of six volunteered for the job. A survey board to move about, sleeping literally on top gunboats and two bombards (mortar­ had found Enterprise rotten and not of the barrels of combustibles, the men equipped vessels) from the King of seaworthy during the winter months. This were further depressed to discover that Naples. In mid-July Constitution, meant he and his men were available for the rations provided were rotten. Nautilus and Enterprise departed the raid. Intrepid sailed from Syracuse Amazingly then, when the winds fmally Syracuse with the gunboats in tow. On in the company of the brig Siren abated on 16 February, Intrepidwas able the morning of Aug. 3, each gunboat was commanded by Decatur's childhood to enter the harbor at Tripoli, tie up manned by I 5 Neapolitan and 25 friend, Charles Stewart. The ketch was alongside Philadelphia, board it, set it on American sailors. The boats were manned by 75 sailors and marines led by fire and wiihdraw to the open sea without divided into two divisions of three boats four officers and loaded with sufficient sufferin an losses. News of the action Barba continued on a e I 0 Who Saved Decatur?: The Hero Question ~eofthe U.S. Navy's most enduring EnterprisewhichDecaturhadcornmanded themsevere;mebadwoundacrossthewrist Vstories of heroism and self-sacrifice since November 1803. Bodt were helping and seven slightly about his hands'' wounds occurred during the first gunboat battle to man Gunboat Nr. 4 during the atlack. that fit the popular recounting of the act before Tripoli on Aug. 3,1804. Lt Stephen James' chief support appears to coote James is not IGed on the report A more Decatur,jr., in command ofGunboat Nr. 4, from Decatur himself. Decatur apparently direct denial of James' role comes in Ned led a boarding party into a fierce struggle to told his friends it had been James who Myers "as-told-to" autobiography written captureaTripolitangunboat Decaturended saved him. Decatur is unlikely to have byJamesFenimoreCooperin 1843. Myers upwrestlingonthedeckwithamuch larger confused James for Frazier. Historian had met James while both were patients at enemy captain. A Barbary sailor tried to Alexander S. MacKenzie seems to have the Naval Hospital in Washington in aid his captain by striking Decatur in the relied particularly on the remembrances of October 1838. AccmJingtoCooper, Mym; head with a scimitar. An American sailor, one friend, Charles Stewart, in writing this said, "[James] had the credit of saving although already so badly wounded as to section of his 1841 biography of Decatur. Decatur's life before Tripoli; but he owned be unable to use his arms, saved Decatur by MacKenzie adds in an appendix to the work to metbathe was not the person who did it blockingtheswordthrustwithhisownhead. that he became convinced of James' He was in the fight and boarded with Decatur, who had the good sense to come heroism "after examining all the testimony Decatur, but did not save his commander's to a sword fight armed with a pisto~ then on the subject, and having recently life." The only difficulty in trusting shot the Tripolitan captain and the enemy conversed with officers, who had the Cooper's writing is his long-slanding and defense collapsed. particulars of the encounter from Reuben bitterfeudwitbMacK.enziewhichmayhave Thehistoricalquestionarisingfromthis James himself, and who saw the deep givenhimapersonalagendainthisinslance. incident is which American sailor actually wound in the head, which he received on Perhaps both sailors deserve saved Decatur? The candidates are Reuben the occasion." commendation and remembrance. There JamesandDanieiFrazier. Jameswasa27- The best documentary evidence issomehintofthisinaletterwrittenamonth year old Quartermaster from Sussex supports Daniel Frazier. Norfolk-born afterthebattlebyPurserNoadiahMorrisof County, Delaware. Seaman Daniel Frazier Lewis Heerman was surgeon aboard the Constitution who stated "[Decatur's] life was in reality James North ofDorchester schooner Enterprise. lnhismedicalreport wastwicesavedbyhisgallanttars." ltmay County, Maryland. Both men were after the battle, he lists Frazier as receiving be that h2th James and Frazier were crewmen on the United States Schooner ''two incised wounds on the head, one of responsible for saving Decatur. -J.M

7 Libyans continued from page 1 water bordering the Libyan coast, as his own. This claim led to incidents between U.S. Navy carrier aircraft and Libyan fighters. The most famous of these being the 1981 "U.S. 2, Libya 0" incident, named for the Time magazine headline which reported the skirmish, in which two F-14 Tomcats shot down two Libyan SU-22 Fitters after the Tomcats were fired upon. Tensions skyrocketed as Gadhaffi began to sponsor a series of terrorist strikes against the West. These had included the seizing of the cruise ship Along with three aircraft carriers, the Sixth Fleet also had in its iiTVentory,for their premier usage in Achilie Lourel in which a Jewish­ combat, the revolutionary AEGIS-type USS Ticondergoa (CG-47) (shown above) and USS American was murdered and the Yorktown (CG-48). Ticondergoa formed the centerpiece of a surface group which first crossed hijacking and bombing of a TWA flight Libya 's so-called "Line ofDeath . " Yorktown sunk a Libyan missile corvette with anti-ship in . Tensions reached a climax missiles on March 25, 1986. Both were homeported in Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo) after two very bloody bombings at a an imaginary line which Gadhaffi used warship. A few hours later, A-6's from Rome and Vienna airport. to claim the Gulf of Sidra as his own. Coral Sea and Saratoga attacked and In January 1986, the United States Gadhaffi announced that his forces would sunk three more missile corvettes/ heeded Preble's advice and began to attack anything that crossed it. gunboats using Harpoons and Rockeyes. assemble a very respectable Naval force On the first day of the maneuvers, The next day, a fifth gunboat was under the command of the Sixth Fleet. March 24, Libya held fast to its words. dispatched by USS Yorktown using two This force included the Norfolk-based Upwards of six Soviet-made SA-5 Harpoon missiles. In relation for the aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea (CV -43), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) were fired SAM attack, A-7 Corsairs from Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-60) and USS at F/A-l8's from a site in Sitre, Libya. launched a night attack against the SAM America (CV -66), the state-of-the-art The Hornets had little trouble evading sites. Using HARM anti- missiles, Aegis-type cruisers USS Ticondergoa the missiles as they were frred at extreme the Corsairs disabled the sites. (CG-47) and Yorktown (CG-48), twenty range. That night, a French-made La It should be noted that Libya did have other warships and over two hundred Combattante-class missile corvette, quite a significant military. Gadhaffi had more than just missile corvettes, SAMs and fighter aircraft in his inventory. He also had at least eight Soviet-built Foxtrot . However, the United States had four nuclear attack submarines in the area which deterred the Libyans from sortieing their boats. Success had seemingly been grasped by the Americans. Little had occurred since the attacks ofMarch 24. The United States maintained its firm strength by keeping many of the Sixth Fleet ships below the "Line of Death." Libyan The "Ageless Warrior, " the Norfolk-based USS Coral Sea (CV-43), conducts operations off the contacts had been at a minimum. Most coast of Libya during Operation El Darando Canyon. This was Coral Sea's ninth deployment to of the contacts were curious MiG-25's the Mediterranean and ninth combat deploymerlt in its historic 44 year career. (U.S. Navy photo) and MiG-23's fighters were promptly aircraft. It was the largest battle fleet ever armed with Exocet-anti ship missiles, shooed away by F-l4's and F/A-l8's assembled in the Mediterranean since approached the western part of the fleet. without incident. World War II. With the rules of engagement having The situation seemed to be completely By late March, the fleet had assembled been satisfied, the U.S. responded to the resolved. On April9, the majority of the off the Libyan coast. Called "Freedom hostile approach of the Libyan corvette. task force made plans either to return of Navigation" maneuvers, the Sixth An A-6 Intruder from America frred a home or to make liberty calls in . Fleet began to move ships southward into Harpoon anti-ship missile and dropped A bombing of a Berlin nightclub, in the Gulf ofSidra and Gadhaffi's so-called a Rockeye cluster bomb on the corvette. which two American servicemen were "Line ofDeath" atthe mouth of the gulf, Both struck home and crippled the enemy Libyan continued on page 9

8 Libyan continued from page 8 among the dead, changed all plans to a postponement ofthe attack, but decided been struck. Four MiG-23s, two IL-76 relax. Based on an intercepted Libyan not to in the end. early warning aircraft, two helicopters telex, which gave its congratulations to During the early hours of April 15, and two prop planes were destroyed on the terrorists for a "successful" attack, the over 30 aircraft roared off the decks of the ground as a result of the airfield United States decided to attack Libya Coral Sea and America. America's A- attacks. Unfortunately, so were more proper. Ships and aircraft began to re­ 6s raced towards Benghazi while F/A- than 100 civilians were killed or hurt, ann, pilots were re-qualified for daylight 18s from Coral Sea providea air and including one of Gadhaffi's adopted and night landing and a target list was SAM suppression cover for the incoming sons, an incident which the dictator used drawn up. FB-111 s. Despite the leak and much to to maximum propaganda value. A few The Saratoga battlegroup had already the relief of Navy commanders, the foreign embassies in Tripoli located returned home having been at sea for a element of s'urprise had been preserved. near targets had also suffered light very long time in the before No Libyan aircraft challenged the assault damage. But, with loss of only one FB- being called into action. This left only and the streetlights in Benghazi were still 111, due to an engine malfunction, the two carriers for the strikes. However, the lighted. attack was declared a success. Both the carriers were backed up by the The attacks went very well as all Coral Sea and America battlegroups availability of U.S Air Force FB-111 Aardvarks based in England. As the crow flies, it is not that far from England to Libya. Unfortunately, not all of America's allies, most notably , agreed with the strikes and refused to allow the FB-111 s to fly over their air space. As a result, the FB-I II s had to fly to Libya via the Straits of Gibraltar. They would have to refuel six times in the air each way. The Sixth Fleet decided to use the veteran A-6 aircraft to strike the Benina Airfield outside the city of Benghazi. The Air Force bombers would strike two barracks and an airfield in A Marine Corps F/A -18 Hornet from the VFMA-314/"Biack Knights " squadron, prepares for Tripoli. launch aboard USS Coral Sea (C V-'43) during Operation El Darando Canyon. The strikes against The Sixth Fleet counted on the Libya was the first use of the FIA -18s in combat where they successfully fired HARM anti-radar element ofsurprise to pull off a successful missiles at surface-to-air missile sites and intercepted Libyan MiGs. (U.S. Navy Photo) attack with minimum losses. This targets were hit and suffered light to headed for Hampton Roads on Aprill8. element, however, was severely moderate damage. A-6 pilots reported The operation was over. compromised and undermined by media that the Benina airfield was last seen News of the strikes surprised the reports that leaked the target list and the ablaze. Other pilots reported several world. The attacks caused some short­ times of attack. As a result of the leak, SAM sites were left smoldering and term strain between the United States Naval commanders seriously considered targets in Tripoli and Benghazi had and its allies. However, this was the price for the United States taking a strong stand The U.S. Navy vs. Libya, 1986 against Gadhaffi and his policy of state­ USS Yorktown sinks sponsored terrorism. The number of A-6's & FB-llls a missile boat. (March, 1986) terrorist attacks connected to Libya A-6s knock out airfield bomb city. (April, 1986) I dropped off significantly in the years to and bomb city. (April, 1986) come . .d!r '---~T~ • "Line of Death" I The statement that the United States made in 1986 still echoes today. Gadhaffi ~ ~· ur missile boats sunk is still in power. Recent reports state that -6s. (March, 1986) he is building a nerve gas facility deep Gulf of Sidra inside a mountain away from the / Sitre watchful eyes of U.S. Navy aircraft. FIA-18s knock out SAM sites (March, 1986) The 190-year conflict with the is far from over. Matt Burchfield has been a summer intern at the museum for the past two years. He is a/ Oth grade student at Catholic High School in Virginia Beach.

9 Barbary continued from page 7 compared to 17 Tripolitans dead, four became known to history, had gained each, the first under wounded and three taken prisoner. As great experience and were still ready to of Nautilus and the Decatur wrote to a friend after the battle; fight. Unfortunately, Barron arrived very second under Decatur. At 1430, Preble "I fmd hand to hand is not child's play, 'tis sick and the pace became less active. made the signal to commence the attack. kill or be killed." U.S. Naval Agent The two bombards commanded by For the next month Preble continued convinced Barron ofthe advantages ofusing officers from Constitution, located on the to pressure Tripoli using the gunboats and Yusef Karamanli's brother Hamet to west end of the battle line, began high bombs. Tripolitans seemed to have learned trajectory firing at the castle. The that the Americans could buckle swash with Tripolitan gunboats were divided into the best and refused any further engagement three divisions, numbering nine in the with their boats. On Aug. 7, the attack van, seven in the center and five in the concentrated on the batteries to the west of rear. the town. In the artillery battle that ensued By 1500, the American boats were in the Americans lost Gunboat No. 9 with 10 close action with the enemy. Three of the killed and 6 wounded. In the early morning American gunboats, No. 6 (Lt. John hours of Aug. 24, the squadron again Trippe), No. 2 (Lt. James Decatur, bombarded Tripoli. The fourth attack Stephen's younger brother) and No. 4 occurred on Aug. 29 when each of the (Lt. Stephen Decatur), succeeded in American boats fired more than 40 rounds as as closing with and boarding enemy vessels. closing to within 600 yards ofthe castle. A century aircraft carriers bearing the same name, In each case, the combat was the stuff final general attack was conducted on Sept. the 12-gun schooner Enterprise, dignified itself during the Barbary campaigns by serving as the swashbuckler movies are made of. 3 after Tripolitan galleys and gunboats chase ship for the American blockade. ( 1806 Trippe suffered eleven wounds in hand appeared to the east of the town. Preble etching by Baugean) to hand combat with the captain of the sent his gunboats after them while threaten the Bashaw. Leading a force of boat he had boarded. James Decatur had simultaneously committing the bombs to an Arabs, Greeks and Americans, Eaton was just gone aboard a boat which had struck attack on the castle. The Tripolitan vessels able to convince Karamanli to negotiate a its flag in surrender when the enemy quickly withdrew, and, after a sudden peace. U.S. Consul Tobias Lear, anxious in change in the wind, the American vessels turn to show up Eaton, obtained peace with were recalled. Peace initiatives from Preble Tripoli on June 4,1805 by paying $60,000 were ignored. to the Bashaw. Preble now knew that a new squadron Bey Hamuda ofTunis saw the potential under Hampton-native Commodore for good profit in taking up the fight against Samuel Barron was on its way to the Med. the Americans and sent his cruisers to sea. Desperate to achieve success before losing These thoughts quickly died when a command of the squadron, Preble agreed squadron of 16 warships, including 4 to a plan to convert Intrepid into a floating frigates, under the command of Capt. bomb. Loaded up with 100 barrels of Rodgers appeared off the coast of Tunis. gunbowders and 150 shells, Lt. Richard The Bey made peace in June 1806. Somers and crew sailed into the harbor. With peace now secured, American Pictured here is the pride of the Gosport Shipy ard, the 36-gun frigate Chesapeake. Somers and the other officers swore before operations began to wind down. The Chesapeake served as the flagship ofthe second that if they were boarded they would blow remnants ofPreble' s squadron were ordered expedition against/he Barbary Pirates in 1802 themselves up to prevent the munitions home. The remaining American ships under the command of Capt. Richard Morris. falling into enemy hands. At 214 7 on Sept. began a round of port visits and cruising skipper mortally wounded him with a 4, only shortly after Intrepid had entered that would seem farn iliar to today' s sailors. pistol shot and then veered away. the harbor, it prematurely blew up in a In early June 1806, the entire American Decatur had already seized one gunboat gigantic explosion that killed all thirteen squadron departed from Gibraltar for the when word came to him ofhis brother's aboard. Whether this was accidental or United States. The Mediterranean treacherous murder. He turned over the intentional remains one of the great Squadrons under Dale, Morris, Preble, prize to his second in command and mysteries of the U.S. Navy. Barron and Rodgers were crucial to the later sailed in pursuit ofthe fleeing enemy. He Dispirited by the loss ofIntrepid's crew, success of the U.S. Navy. The campaign managed to close with it and boarded low on ammunition and with harsh winter introduced the American frigate, arguably with a party often American sailors. The weather expected, the squadron returned to the most powerful in their class, to the navies ensuing struggle lasted twenty minutes. Syracuse. With the arrival of Barron's ofEurope. It also served as the schoolhouse It featured one of the enduring acts of command, the frigates President, Congress, for the officers who would make their fame heroism in U.S. Navy history (see page Essex and Constellation, American strength during the . Most of all, they 7). In the end the Americans captured reached an all time high. "Preble's Boys," provided the traditions still valued in today' s the boat at a cost of three men wounded as the junior officers of that squadron American Navy. ~

10 he [,l(useum Saoe Time for Another Sage StumperI The all-wise Sage has a doozie of a boat and Monitor­ trivia question on Hampton Roads type coast defense vessels. It was Naval history. Here it is : called "The Flying Squadron." Why During the early stages of the was it called by this name? Spanish-American War, the U.S. Navy If you know the answer, call the sage based a squadron in Hampton Roads at (757) 444-8971, ext. 122. The first consisting of the USS two correct answers will get, as always, (flagship of the a beautiful Hampton Roads Naval squadron) and , the cruisers USS Museum coffee mug, courtesy of the Brooklyn, Minneapolis and Columbia, Hampton Roads Naval Historical along with several torpedo boats, Foundation. Ooops ... The sage apparently jumped the gun a little when he mentioned two issues ago that the model of the attack USS Norfolk (SSN-714) was going to be put on display. W~ll, with the curator's and exhibit specialist's assurance, the sage can now safely say that the model ison display. What is this a model of, you may ask? USS Norfolk is the 26th member of the highly successful Los Angeles­ class of nuclear attack submarines. Its keel was laid down by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in 1979, launched in 1981 and commissioned into the fleet in 1982. Norfolk is homeported at the Norfolk Naval Station along with 21 other submarines. It displaces over 6,900 tons and is about 300 feet in length. It has a speed of about 32 knots, has four torpedo tubes and carries 26 weapons. These weapons include the Mk 48 torpedo, Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile and the Tomahawk anti-ship/ land attack cruise missile. More information about this class On the Lighter Side of Things ... • of submarine and the submarine force The above cartoon appeared in an ships down to 60 in less than ten years. in general can be found in the 1881 issue of Puck magazine and However, many of the officers who "Keepers of the Undersea" article in shows several U.S Navy officers, served in the Civil War retained their the 1996 Jan.-Feb. issue of The Day drawn as birds, commanding one sailor commissions for many years after the Book or several other books we have and one marine on an obsolete wooden war and as a result, the officer corps here at the museum. sailing ship. The cartoon, titled "Our was severely bloated. The cartoon also The 1852 seaman's jacket is also Top-Heavy Navy, A Roost for Useless was attempting to shed light on the now on display in the museum's Age Birds," is a criticism of the post-Civil current state of the fleet which lacked of Sail gallery. War Navy which went from over 600 modem, steel warships and weapons.

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