1530 Spanish conquistadores, led by Nuño de Guzmán, overthrow and execute Tangaxuan II W
1778 The United States flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time, when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte renders a nine gun salute to USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones. W
1779 American Loyalists are defeated by Patriots at Kettle Creek, Ga. H
1797 The Battle of Cape St Vincent: British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeats larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. H
1855 During the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea, Corporal Lendrim superintended 150 French Chasseurs in building No. 9 Battery left attack and replacing the whole of the capsized gabions under a heavy fire. On 11 April he got on top of a magazine under fire, and extinguished burning sandbags, making good the breach. On 20 April he was one of four volunteers who destroyed the screen which the Russians had erected to conceal their advance rifle-pits. W
1862 Galena the 1st US iron-clad warship for service at sea, launched H
1879 Chilean troops occupy Antofagasta v H
1912 1st US submarines with diesel engines commissioned, Groton, Connecticut H
1916 Near Hooge, Belgium, when the enemy exploded a mine, Lieutenant McNair and a number of men were flung into the air and many were buried. Although much shaken, the lieutenant at once organised a party with a machine-gun to man the near edge of the crater and opened rapid fire on the enemy who were advancing. They were driven back with many dead. Lieutenant McNair then ran back for reinforcements, but the communication trench being blocked he went across the open under heavy fire and led up the reinforcements the same way. His prompt and plucky action undoubtedly saved a critical situation. W
1919 The Polish-Soviet War begins. H
1940 British merchant vessel fleet is armed H
1941 German Afrika Korps lands in Tripoli, Libya H
1942 In the Java Sea, off Malaya, HMS Li Wo, a patrol vessel, formerly a passenger steamer, commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson, sighted two enemy convoys, one escorted by Japanese warships, The lieutenant told his crew he had decided to engage the convoy and fight to the last in the hope of inflicting some damage, a decision that drew resolute support from the whole ship's crew. In the action that followed, a Japanese transport was set on fire and abandoned, and Li Wo engaged a heavy cruiser for over an hour before being hit at point-blank range and sunk. Lieutenant Wilkinson ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he went down with the Li Wo. W
1942 Japanese parachutists land near oil center Palembang, Sumatra H
1942 World War II: Battle of Pasir Panjang contributes to the fall of Singapore. H
1943 German offensive against US troops through de Faid-pass, Tunisia begins, starting the Battle of Sidi Bou Zid H
1943 The Soviet Union recaptures the city of Rostov-on-Don, liberating Russia from the German 17th Army during WWII H
1944 World War II: In the action of 14 February 1944, a Royal Navy submarine sinks a German-controlled Italian Regia Marina submarine in the Strait of Malacca. W
1945 Second day of the bombing of Dresden by Allied air forces H
1945 World War II: Prague is bombed probably due to a mistake in the orientation of the pilots bombing Dresden. H
1945 World War II: Mostar is liberated by Yugoslav partisans. H
1992 Cease fire in Somalia begins H
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