This Day in Naval History - Dec. 28

By Navy News Service

1867 - U.S. claims Midway Island, first territory annexed outside Continental limits.

1905 - Drydock Dewey left Solomon's Island, MD, enroute through the Suez Canal to the Philippines to serve as repair base. This, the longest towing job ever accomplished, was completed by Brutus, Caesar, and Glacier on 10 July 1906.

1941 - Chief of Bureau of Yards and Docks requests that construction battalions be recruited.

1982 - Recommissioning of USS New Jersey (BB-62), the first of four Iowa-class battleships that were returned to service in 1980s.

1990 - LCDR Darlene M. Iskra becomes commander of USS Opportune, a salvage vessel.

1998 - USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and USS America (CV-66) Carrier Battle Groups deploy from Norfolk, VA, for Middle East to join Operation Desert Shield.