Naval History

Highlights from Naval History

Lessons From the Introduction of Radar: Innovation Matters Little Without Proficiency

By Ensign Jack Montgomery, U.S. Navy

June 2025

Just as radar was key to winning at night in the Pacific during World War II, innovative and disruptive technologies will be vital to any future high-intensity conflict.

Retribution: The Greatest Loss of Warships in History

By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)

June 2025

Admiral von Reuter decided on the one thing left to him to thwart the Allies’ intentions was to scuttle his fleet rather than leave it to 'the enemies’ discretion.'

Imperial Gamble: Lessons from Japanese Sea Denial during the Battle of Okinawa

By Majors Sean Harper, Patrick Reilly, and Aaron Barlow, U.S. Marine Corps

June 2025

The Japanese had conducted kamikaze attacks intermittently throughout 1944, but the Battle of Okinawa was defined in part by the volume and intensity of such attacks.

Timeless Lessons From the Messaging After Midway

By Lieutenant Jack Tribolet, U.S. Navy

June 2025

Third Prize Winner, 2024 CNO Naval History Essay Contest (Rising Historian Category)

“More Beer and Better Movies:” Managing Resiliency on the Picket Line at Okinawa

By Commander Christopher Waddell, U.S. Navy

June 2025

Naval officers must be prepared to address not just the tactical and material problems of sustained combat, but the limits of human resiliency.

The Brown Shipbuilding Company's Rise During World War II

By Eric Pearson

June 2025

The Brown brothers did not see the company’s lack of shipbuilding experience as a deterrent, believing that with the right men a contractor can build anything.

Emergence: The U.S. Navy’s Debut as a Sea Power – 1898-1918

By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)

June 2025

On the morning of 11 November 1918, U.S. Navy sailors elevated a 14-inch/50 caliber Mark IV naval gun to the angle appropriate to hit an assigned target more than 20...

Recalling the Bird Dog’s Heroic Carrier Landing

By Ed Offley

June 2025

‘Flight to Freedom’ event honors 50th anniversary of an inspiring incident in the wake of the fall of Saigon.

Voices from Vietnam

By Barrett Tillman

June 2025

The experiences of naval aviators who served in the Southeast Asian conflict underscore how ‘the Vietnam legacy—written in blood, skill, and commitment—still lives on.’

Bravery in the Chaos: Operation Frequent Wind, April 1975

By Ed Offley

April 2025

Fifty years ago, as Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces, the U.S. Navy carried out an epic evacuation of American personnel and South Vietnamese refugees.

19 October 1987: The Iranian oil platform Rostam is ablaze after being shelled by four U.S. Navy destroyers in response to an Iranian missile attack on a reflagged Kuwaiti super tanker.

The Tanker War

By Second Lieutenant Quentin Zimmer, U.S. Marine Corps

June 2025

The impact of mines—and mine countermeasures—in the 1980s Persian Gulf showdown offers potent lessons for today’s Marine Corps.

Edward “Ned” Low was transformed by tragedy from a happy husband to a rage-filled pirate—a distinctly elusive one.

The Hunt for the Pirate Ned Low

By Nicky Nielsen

June 2025

The notorious Edward “Ned” Low was akin to a cat with nine lives as colonial authorities repeatedly failed to nab the globe-trotting brigand.

The storied U.S. Sixth Fleet—75 years young in 2025.

U.S. Sixth Fleet Celebrates 75th Anniversary

June 2025

The U.S. Sixth Fleet held a joint celebration of its 75th anniversary and the Navy’s upcoming 250th birthday on board its flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) in February.

View Current Issue

The Tanker War

Okinawa and the Triumph of American Naval Power in the Pacific

The Hunt for the Pirate Ned Low

Bravery in the Chaos: Operation Frequent Wind, April 1975

Lessons From the Introduction of Radar: Innovation Matters Little Without Proficiency

Retribution: The Greatest Loss of Warships in History

Imperial Gamble: Lessons from Japanese Sea Denial during the Battle of Okinawa

Timeless Lessons From the Messaging After Midway

“More Beer and Better Movies:” Managing Resiliency on the Picket Line at Okinawa

The Brown Shipbuilding Company's Rise During World War II

Emergence: The U.S. Navy’s Debut as a Sea Power – 1898-1918

Recalling the Bird Dog’s Heroic Carrier Landing

Voices from Vietnam

Bravery in the Chaos: Operation Frequent Wind, April 1975

The Tanker War

The Hunt for the Pirate Ned Low

U.S. Sixth Fleet Celebrates 75th Anniversary

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