Official U.S. Navy photo USS Stark (FFG 31) lists to port after being struck by two Iraqi air-to-surface Exocet missiles, May 17, 1987. The attack killed 37 Sailors and wounded 21 more.

1800 - Capt. Edward Preble in Essex arrives in Batavia, Java, to escort U.S. merchant ships.

1942 - First Naval Air Transport Service flight across Pacific.

1991 - Amphibious Task Force arrives at Chittagong, Bangladesh, for relief operations after Cyclone Marian.

May 16

1820 - Congress becomes first U.S. warship to visit China.

1919 - Three Navy flying boats begin first trans-Atlantic flight from Newfoundland.

1965 - First U.S. gunfire support in Vietnam by USS Tucker (DD 875).

May 17

1940 - FDR announces plans to re-commission 35 more destroyers.

1942 - USS Tautog (SS 199) sinks Japanese sub, I-28; while USS Triton (SS 201) sinks I-164.

1951 - Aircraft from carriers attack bridges between Wonsan and Hamhung, Korea.

1962 - Naval amphibious ready group lands Marines to guard Thailand's borders from Communist probes.

1966 - Naval Support Activity Saigon established.

1973 - First woman to hold a major Navy command, Capt. Robin Lindsay Quigley assumes command of Navy Service School, San Diego.

1987 - USS Stark (FFG 31) struck by Iraqi Exocet missile in Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors; 21 were wounded.

1990 - USS Roark (FF 1053) rescues 42 refugees from unseaworthy craft in South China Sea.

May 18

1775 - Benedict Arnold captures British sloop and renames her Enterprise, first of many famous ships with that name.

1798 - Appointment of Benjamin Stoddert as first Secretary of the Navy.

1969 - Launch of Apollo 10, dress rehearsal for first lunar landing mission. Cmdr. John W. Young was the command module pilot and Cmdr. Eugene A. Cernan was the lunar module pilot.

May 19

1882 - Commodore Shufeldt (Swatara) lands in Korea to negotiate first treaty between Korea and Western power.

1912 - Navy establishes North Atlantic Ice Patrol following RMS Titanic disaster.

1965 - 30th Naval Construction Regiment activated at Danang, Vietnam.

May 20

1801 - Four warships sent to Mediterranean to protect American commerce.

1815 - Commodore Stephen Decatur (Frigate Guerriere) sails with 10 ships to suppress Mediterranean pirate raids on U.S. shipping.

1844 - Constitution sails from New York on 'round-the-world cruise.

1943 - Establishment of 10th Fleet in Washington, D.C., under command of Adm. Ernest King, to coordinate U.S. antisubmarine operations in Atlantic.

May 21

1850 - Washington Navy Yard begins work on first castings for the Dahlgren guns.

1917 - USS Ericsson (DD 56) fires first torpedo of war.

1944 - Accidental explosion on board an LST unloading ammunition in West Loch, Pearl Harbor, and the resulting fire and other explosions sink five LSTs.

1964 - The initiation of the standing carrier presence at Yankee Station in the South China Sea.