Navy Day

Several nations observe or have observed a Navy Day to recognize their navy. The term is also used in Britain to mean an open day at a dockyard such as HMNB Portsmouth, when the public can visit military ships and see air displays, roughly along the lines of an American Fleet Week [1].

Argentina

The Argentine Navy day is celebrated on May 17, anniversary of the victory achieved in 1814 in the Battle of Montevideo.^[1]

Australia

The Royal Australian Navy celebrates Navy Day in March.

Chile

The Día de las Glorias Navales is a public holiday in Chile on May 21. It commemorates the Battle of Iquique on May 21, 1879, in the War of the Pacific.

The date also marks the opening of ordinary Parliamentary season (through September 18, Independence Day) and is the traditional day for the President's State of the Nation address.

Principal civic acts are performed in Santiago de Chile, Iquique and Valparaíso, where the Chilean Navy Headquarters are located.

Although it's recognised as a public holiday, in recent times it had been cared less by people each year, like other holidays such as the 18th of September.

Croatia

The Day of the Croatian War Navy is celebrated on September 18 on the anniversary of Army Day.

India

4 December is celebrated as Navy Day in India. This was the day when the Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbor in the 1971 war. The name given to the attack was Operation Trident which was launched on December 4. Owing to its success, the day of the attack has been celebrated as Navy Day ever since.

Israel

In Israel, Navy Day (יום חיל הים) is celebrated in October. In the year of 2009 Navy Day is celebrated in September

Iran

November 28 is Navy day in Iran. It commemorates a major Iranian naval victory over Iraq during the Iran Iraq war.

Italy

In Italy, Navy Day is December 4 and it is not a national holiday.

Japan

"Shining Navy Anniversary Day" official poster in 1942

In Empire of Japan, Navy Anniversary Day (海軍記念日,Kaigun Kinen'bi) was May 27 from 1906 until 1945. It was in commemoration of the Battle of Tsushima.

Mexico

In Mexico, The Mexican Navy celebrates Navy day on June 1.^[2]

Netherlands

In The Netherlands the navy days ("vlootdagen") are mostly held on the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July.

Peru

In Peru, Navy Day is a national holiday celebrated on October 8 in commemoration of the Battle of Angamos in 1879 and the anniversary of Peruvian Navy creation in 1821.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, Navy day is celebrated on September 8 in commemoration of the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965.

Russia

In Russia, Navy Day is a national holiday that normally takes place on the last Sunday in July.

Romania

In Romania, Navy Day is a national holiday that takes place on August 15.

Ukraine

In Ukraine, Navy Day is a national holiday that normally takes place on August 1.

United States

Ships anchored on the Hudson River for the 1945 Navy Day.

In the United States, the Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on October 27 because it was the birthday of the navy-obsessed President Theodore Roosevelt. Although meeting with mixed reviews the first year, in 1923 over 50 major cities participated, and the United States Navy sent a number of its ships to various port cities for the occasion. The 1945 Navy Day was an especially large celebration, with President Harry S. Truman reviewing the fleet in New York Harbor.

In 1949, Louis A. Johnson, secretary of the newly created Department of Defense, directed that the U.S. Navy's participation occur on Armed Forces Day in May, although as a civilian organization the Navy League was not affected by this directive, and continued to organize Navy Day celebrations as before. In the 1970s, the "birthday" of the Continental Navy was found to be October 13, 1775, and so CNO Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define October 13 as the new date of Navy Day. However, Navy Day in the United States is still largely recognized as October 27th.

See also

• Fleet Week
• Armed Forces Day

References

1. ^ Historia de la Armada Argentina (in spanish)
2. ^ http://www.semar.gob.mx/sitio/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1361&Itemid=300