The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley became the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship, attacking and destroying the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor. The Hunley also sank with all hands shortly after.
Columbia-Class vs Ohio-Class SubmarinesAfter a tied Electoral College, the House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson as the third President on the 36th ballot. Jefferson would create the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and launch the war against the Barbary Pirates.
The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley became the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship, attacking and destroying the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor. The Hunley also sank with all hands shortly after.
Columbia-Class vs Ohio-Class SubmarinesGeneral Sherman's forces captured Columbia, South Carolina, the capital of the first state to secede. Much of the city burned in a conflagration that symbolized the Confederacy's collapse.
The Blaine Act was passed by Congress, beginning the process of repealing Prohibition. The military had largely ignored Prohibition on overseas bases, and its end restored normalcy to servicemember life.
The British Army conducted trials of the Cierva C.30 autogyro for artillery spotting, pioneering the use of rotary-wing aircraft that would evolve into military helicopters.
China launched a massive invasion of northern Vietnam with 200,000 troops, punishing Vietnam for its invasion of Cambodia. The brief but bloody war killed tens of thousands and demonstrated the limits of Chinese military power.
The battleship USS Missouri launched Tomahawk cruise missiles during Desert Storm, one of the last combat actions by an American battleship and a bridge between old and new naval warfare.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, a culmination of the 1999 NATO intervention. NATO KFOR peacekeepers continued to maintain stability in the new nation amid Serbian opposition.
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Legendary basketball player whose father, James Jordan Sr., was a career military man. Jordan's competitive mentality was shaped by military discipline, and his cultural impact included USO visits and troop morale events.
New Yorker journalist and one of the finest war correspondents of WWII, covering D-Day and the liberation of Paris. His combat reporting set the standard for American military journalism.
Apache leader who evaded the U.S. Army for decades across the American Southwest and Mexico. His guerrilla warfare tactics are still studied at military academies as examples of asymmetric warfare.
10 military events occurred on February 17, spanning multiple centuries. Key events include: CSS Hunley Becomes First Submarine to Sink a Warship (1864), Thomas Jefferson Elected President by House of Representatives (1801), U.S. Navy Raids Truk Lagoon, Japan's "Gibraltar of the Pacific" (1944), Union Forces Capture and Burn Columbia, South Carolina (1865).
The most significant military event on February 17 is CSS Hunley Becomes First Submarine to Sink a Warship (1864). The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley became the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship, attacking and destroying the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor. The Hunley also sank with all hands shortly after.
Notable military figures born on February 17 include Michael Jordan (1963–present), A.J. Liebling (1904–1963).
Events on February 17 span the Civil War, the Colonial & Revolutionary era, World War II, the Cold War, the Interwar Period, the Modern Era, covering 10 events across 4 centuries of military history.
Events on February 17 involve 4 branches of the U.S. and allied armed forces, reflecting the global scope of military operations throughout history.
Explore military history from the day you were born.
June 6
The Allied invasion of Normandy, the largest amphibious assault in history.
December 7
Japan attacks the U.S. Pacific Fleet, bringing America into World War II.
September 11
The deadliest terrorist attack in history transforms U.S. national security.
August 6
The first atomic bomb is dropped on a city, ushering in the nuclear age.
May 8
Nazi Germany surrenders unconditionally, ending World War II in Europe.
November 11
Armistice Day marks the end of World War I and honors all who served.
June 4
The turning point of the Pacific War as the U.S. Navy destroys four Japanese carriers.
July 4
The Declaration of Independence is adopted, sparking the American Revolution.
The Columbia-class will replace the aging Ohio-class as America's sea-based nuclear deterrent. Here is how the two compare and why the program matters.
15 essential WW2 books covering every theater. Narrative histories, memoirs, and visual references ranked.
On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers did something no one thought possible: they launched from the deck of an aircraft carrier, flew 650 miles to Japan, and bombed Tokyo. Every aircraft was lost. The damage was negligible. The consequences changed the war.
Compare 85+ WW2 scale model kits across aircraft, tanks, and ships. Beginner builds from $9 to museum-grade showpieces at $580. Covers Tamiya, Eduard, HK Models, Trumpeter, and more with honest reviews, trade-offs, and pricing.
