[A6BSTARM]

1952
The Third Marine Aircraft Wing is activated to provide air support for the 3rd Marine Division. The 3rd Marine Division was being employed in Korea after relieving the First Marine Division.

1964
VADM H. G. Rickover, USN, Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Ships for Nuclear Propulsion, retires from active duty, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64. He immediately returns to active duty in a retired status.

1966
The US Navy's Deep Submergence Systems Project, DSSP, becomes a separate activity under the Chief of Naval Material. The project had previously been managed by the Navy's Special Projects Office. The SPO, which is responsible for strategic missile systems. Captain William Nicholson, USN, is named director of DSSP. He succeeds Dr. John Craven. Dr. Craven was the chief scientist for SPO.

1967
3 US Marine Battalions being Operation Prairie II, designed to counter North Vietnamese infiltration and VC operations in the northern half of the Quang Tri Province. Operation Independence begins as well. Independence involves 2 USMC Battalions southwest of Da Nang. Prairie II will end on 18MAR67 and these same forces will be used for Operation Prairie III.

1968
Unification of the Canadian military services occurs today. The Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, and Canadian Army are united to become the Canadian Armed Forces.

1969
As part of the Vietnamization process the US Navy transfers 25 river gun boats to the South Vietnamese Navy in the Mekong Delta.

1973
3rd Fleet is reactivated at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. The "new" 3rd Fleet comes from the merger of the 1st Fleet and the Anti-Submarine Forces, Pacific Fleet. The 3rd Fleet will assume responsibility for Pacific Operations from the US West Coast to International Date Line and from Alaska down south to the tip of South America.

1975
The Soviet Union will ask Portugal to make a seaport available for use by its fishing fleet.

1977
US Secretary of Defense Harold Brown will announce the establishment of the Military Airlift Command as a specific command that will report to National Command Authorities through the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. MAC will remain under USAF control for administration and logistics support.
Tenneco Inc. The owners of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, sign a letter of intent with Globtik Tankers Limited to construct a fleet of nuclear powered oil tankers. However, these ships will not be built.

1978
A Tomahawk cruise missile is successfully launched from the USS Barb, SSN 696, operationing off the coast of California. This is the first Tomahawk launched from a submerged submarine. The missile travels from the waters off Point Mugu, CA and successfully strikes a target on the range at Naval Weapons Station China Lake, CA.

1983
Exercise Ahuas Tara begins in Honduras. US and Honduran forces conduct counter-insurgency training. US Navy ships participate in the operation.