History Trivia Thread Reducks

[Caliga]

I like the naval theme and shall continue with it.

What extraordinary feat is the British submarine HMS Venturer noted for, which no other submarine had ever achieved before nor has achieved since?

[The Brain]

Sinking an enemy submarine.

[Strix]

Sinking an enemy submarine while both submarines were submerged.

I fixed that for you!

[Caliga]

Correct.  There is speculation that US-Soviet subs have collided, but the Venturer is the only sub that destroyed an enemy sub with a torpedo while both were submerged.

[The Brain]

Whatever. I'm shooting from the hip here.

THE LADIES KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

[Caliga]

Whatever. I'm shooting from the hip here.

Your guess (while very close) didn't quite cut the mustard because there were other instances during WWII of subs sinking each other when at least one was surfaced.  I think one of the giant Jap sub carriers was sunk by a US submarine, and I believe a Japanese sub actually sunk a US sub on another occasion.

[The Brain]

Whatever. I'm shooting from the hip here.

Your guess (while very close) didn't quite cut the mustard because there were other instances during WWII of subs sinking each other when at least one was surfaced.  I think one of the giant Jap sub carriers was sunk by a US submarine, and I believe a Japanese sub actually sunk a US sub on another occasion.

Why do you want to discuss my failure at length? Is this a Kentucky thing?

[Agelastus]

I like the naval theme and shall continue with it.

What extraordinary feat is the British submarine HMS Venturer noted for, which no other submarine had ever achieved before nor has achieved since?

Good Grief, I feel old...I remember asking that question on the old board.

[Octavian]

Slavery was more or less officially established in Virginia in 1654, when land owner Anthony Johnson convinced a court that his black indentured servant John Casor was his for life. The court ruled in Johnson's favor. Johnson eventually became very wealthy and began importing black slaves from Africa.

What makes the above even more interesting?

[Grey Fox]

Oh I know this one!

It's : irony.

[Pedrito]

L.

[Admiral Yi]

Anthony went by the nickname "Magic."

[Syt]

Slavery was more or less officially established in Virginia in 1654, when land owner Anthony Johnson convinced a court that his black indentured servant John Casor was his for life. The court ruled in Johnson's favor. Johnson eventually became very wealthy and began importing black slaves from Africa.

What makes the above even more interesting?

He was the first Englishman to own African slaves?

[Agelastus]

 

Anthony Johnson was black?

[Answer based on the, ahem, "interesting" responses so far to this question.]

[Oexmelin]

Yes, he was black - a good way to show how slavery at first wasn't especially «racialized», but a more transitory status, based on circumstances. It took more or less 30-40 years before being a slave became associated with being black, and before black slave owners were ousted / chased / re-enslaved in Virginia.