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Quiz about The US Navy in the 20th Century

The U.S. Navy in the 20th Century Quiz

The U.S. Navy was put to the test on a number of occasions in the 20th century, especially in the Pacific Theater of WWII. The officers and men were up to the challenge. They upheld the highest traditions of the naval service, and will continue to do so.

A multiple-choice quiz by ncterp. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
ncterp

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
412,295

Updated
May 29 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
197

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the only U.S. naval officer to attain the rank of Admiral of the Navy, which was formally ratified in March 1903? Hint

Frank Fletcher

Walter Cowles

William Leahy

George Dewey

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was the U.S. naval officer who reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909? Hint

Richard Peary

Charles Brownell

Richard Byrd

Oliver Hazard Perry

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Question 3 of 10

3. In September 1918, a U.S. Navy ship was sunk by a German submarine U-152 resulting in the greatest combat loss of life on any U.S. Navy ship during WWI. What was the name of this vessel? Hint

USS Franklin

USS Summersby

USS Ticonderoga

USS Manmoth

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the Navy's first aircraft carrier, which was commissioned on March 20, 1922? Hint

USS Langley

USS Wasp

USS Monroe

USS Clinton

5. On April 4, 1933 the largest airship in the world crashed, killing 73 of the 76 personnel onboard and two rescuers. Built by the U.S. Navy she was 785 feet long. What was the name of this largely forgotten airship? Hint

USS Macon

USS Akron

USS Shenandoah

USS Los Angeles

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Question 6 of 10

6. Three Navy ships, plus Coast Guard cutters and numerous aircraft, were dispatched when Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. In what year did this occur? Hint

1940

1935

1937

1938

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Question 7 of 10

7. On July 30,1942 President Roosevelt signed an act allowing women to serve in the U.S. Navy. They were given the acronym WAVES. What does WAVES stand for? Hint

Women Aiding Volunteer Emergency Sailors

Women Assigned to Voluntarily Expedite Shipping

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service

Women Asked to Void Extraneous Statues

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Battle of Leyte Gulf has been called the "greatest naval battle in history". What was the Japanese code name for their attempt to inhibit the Allied landings in the Philippines? Hint

Operation Go

Operation Sho

Operation Asumi

Operation Kami

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Question 9 of 10

9. On September 2, 1945, the Japanese surrendered, bringing WWII to an official close. Who led the Japanese delegation at the surrender?

Hint

General Umezu

Foreign Minister Shigiatsu

Prime Minister Kuruzo

Major General Nagai

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1964, Operation Sea Orbit became the first nuclear-powered task group to circumnavigate the globe without doing what?

Answer: (think pumps)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the only U.S. naval officer to attain the rank of Admiral of the Navy, which was formally ratified in March 1903?

Answer: George Dewey

With Admiral Dewey's death in 1917, Congress abolished the rank. Admiral Dewey is perhaps best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. It was in recognition of this victory that the rank of "Admiral of the Navy" was created specifically for him.

2. Who was the U.S. naval officer who reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909?

Answer: Richard Peary

Commander Peary dropped a note in a glass bottle into a crevice in the ice that read: "I have this day hoisted the national ensign of the United States of America at this place, which my observations indicate to be the North Polar axis of the earth, and have formally taken possession of the entire region, and adjacent, for and in the name of the President of the United States of America."

3. In September 1918, a U.S. Navy ship was sunk by a German submarine U-152 resulting in the greatest combat loss of life on any U.S. Navy ship during WWI. What was the name of this vessel?

Answer: USS Ticonderoga

Seriously wounded early in the battle, the USS Ticonderoga's commanding officer LCDR James J. Madison remained on the bridge controlling the ship's fight until she was abandoned. The loss included 112 sailors and 101 soldiers.

4. What was the name of the Navy's first aircraft carrier, which was commissioned on March 20, 1922?

Answer: USS Langley

Langley was also the Navy's first electrically-propelled ship, capable of speeds of 15 knots. On October 17, 1922 the first plane was launched from the Langley's decks. On February 27,1941 the Langley was sunk by Japanese warplanes (with a little help from U.S. destroyers), and all of its 32 aircraft were lost.

Answer: USS Akron

The best-know airship accident is probably the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, which resulted in the loss of just 36 lives, yet the USS Akron crash was even more deadly. The fact that it took place at sea, rather than in the full view of the world's press, meant that it is now almost forgotten.

The USS Akron was a flying aircraft carrier designed to provide long-distance scouting in support of fleet operations of the U. S. Navy. The Akron crashed at sea during a storm off the coast of New Jersey after the ship's tail hit the water. Despite being a U.S. Navy vessel the ship carried no lifejackets, and only one rubber raft, and most of the crew drowned or died of hypothermia in the freezing water. Among those killed was Medal of Honor winner Rear Admiral W.A. Moffett.

Answer: 1937

On July 2,1937 Earhart's plane disappeared from radar. After an extensive search, her plane wreckage was never found, and she and Noonan were declared lost at sea. Despite numerous theories, their disappearance remains a mystery.

7. On July 30,1942 President Roosevelt signed an act allowing women to serve in the U.S. Navy. They were given the acronym WAVES. What does WAVES stand for?

Answer: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service

During WWII more than 80,000 officers and enlisted women served in the WAVES. The WAVES continued as a separate organization until 1978 when they were incorporated into the regular Navy.

8. The Battle of Leyte Gulf has been called the "greatest naval battle in history". What was the Japanese code name for their attempt to inhibit the Allied landings in the Philippines?

Answer: Operation Sho

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was fought over 100,000 miles of ocean between October 23-26, 1944. The Japanese Navy lost its remaining capital ships and was left as no longer an effective force.

9. On September 2, 1945, the Japanese surrendered, bringing WWII to an official close. Who led the Japanese delegation at the surrender?

Answer: Foreign Minister Shigiatsu

Foreign Minister Shigiatsu leaned on a cane to help support an artificial leg that had been lost in a bombing in Shanghai. He was later convicted of war crimes and sentenced to 7 years in prison. He was released in 1950.

10. In 1964, Operation Sea Orbit became the first nuclear-powered task group to circumnavigate the globe without doing what?

Answer: refuelling

The task group consisted of three nuclear-powered ships. The group travelled a total of 30,565 miles in sixty-five days.

Source: Author ncterp

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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