ON THE COVER:
One of the toughest jobs in the United States Coast Guard falls to the crews of the Surf Rescue Boats that head out in all sea conditions to rescue mariners in distress. (USCG)

FEATURES:

“SALVAGE SUBMARINE SQUALUS”
When the order came through to raise the sunken Navy submarine, many involved thought the mission to be impossible / by C.A. Bartholomew

BATTLE OFF SAMAR
Outnumbered and under gunned, the ships of Taffy 3 faced a difficult task — take on the might of the Imperial Japanese Navy / by Carsten Fries

OLD CHINA HAND
The river boat USS Oahu would die fighting in a war for which she was not designed / by Rand Blickson

INVASION!
To commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the battle that changed the world, we present paintings by US Navy artists that were in the thick of the fighting / by Rod Elmsdorf

DEPARTMENTS

MUSEUM NEWS
Repairing the glorious HMS Victory

INTEL FILE
Ship discoveries from the first half of 2026 — some dating back 500 years

LOST AT SEA
Ships whose sailing days are over / by Susan Duprey

YOUR NAVY
Latest images from the Navy’s top photojournalists / by Howard Carter