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Naval

There are many ships of all sizes on display in the Great Lakes, as well as a number of shipwrecks.  Here is what we are writing about lately.

  • USS Henry B. WilsonMatt Rudy
    The USS Henry B. Wilson has made it around the world leaving its mark along her journey; starting right here in the Great lakes region. The USS Henry B. Wilson ...
  • Action at Nottawasaga RiverYiliang Li
    The action at Nottawasaga happened in 1814, which was part of the battle late in the War of 1812. The purpose of this action was wrecking the supply base of ...
  • SS-RasherSam Schmitt
    The SS-Rasher (SS/SSR/AGSS/IXSS-269) was one of the most dangerous and effective submarines in its class during its service over three decades. It was Built and launched in 1942, and commissioned ...
  • Lake MI, Corsair Fails to Land on USS WolverineDevon Smith
    Carl H. Johnson of the United States Naval Reserve was completing his training to land naval aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier in mid June of 1943. Flying in his F4U-1A ...
  • USS Lawrence and NiagaraKai Wilkinson
    The US gun-brigs Lawrence and Niagara were sister battle ships built for Master Commander Oliver Hazard Perry’s fleet to fight the British Navy on the Great Lakes in the War of ...
  • Naval Tactics in the Battle of Lake ErieSteven Maurer
    During the War of 1812, the United States had lost control of Lake Erie to the United Kingdom, this posed a large threat of UK invasion into Ohio, Pennsylvania, and ...
  • The Importance of the Battle of Lake Erie VictoryKollin Long
    On September 10, 1813, the fairly new and undisciplined American navy, under command of Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, defeated Great Britain in the Battle of Lake Erie. This victory was ...
  • USS CourtneyCollin Staudacher
    The USS Courtney was built by the Defoe Shipbuilding Company located in Bay City, Michigan in the year 1954. It was a Dealey class destroyer escort which would be used ...
  • USCGC Mackinaw Ice BreakerNathan Comar
    The USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) was commissioned on June 10, 2006 to maintain large scale ice breaking abilities in the Great Lakes region (5).  WLBB-30 replaced its predecessor, USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB-83) ...
  • Battle of Lake Erie – Robert Heriot BarclayBrian Shane
    Many people often forget the losing commanding officer in a war or battle. Sometimes it is at the fault of the commanding officer for the outcome of the battle, and ...
  • USS Silversides (SS-236)Gabe Witner
    Named for a small fish with silvery stripes down the length of its body, the USS Silversides (SS-236)* is a submarine of the mass produced Gato-class that played a vital ...
  • SS-265 USS Peto, First Freshwater Built SubmarineDan Killick
    The SS-265 USS Peto was the first United States Gato class submarine built by a freshwater shipyard, the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company. The shipyard was located on Lake Michigan in the ...
  • USS Patriot Mine Countermeasures (MCM-7)Kyle Petermann
    Built by the Marinette Marine Corporation and christened on May 15, 1990, the USS Patriot (MCM-7) is an Avenger class mine countermeasures ship that was commissioned by the Navy on ...
  • The USS MichiganJames Dykstra
    The USS Michigan was commissioned in 1843 and was the U.S. Navy’s first iron hulled warship. It was a paddle steamer though it still had full sails. It was built ...
  • Sparton Corporation SonobouyBrian Flachs
    Sonar has been an integral part of war since WWI, used to detect enemy mines and submarines. However in WWI the technology was still new and we relied on passive sonar ...