Command History (Reports) A Chief of Naval Operations' instruction (OPNAVINST 5750.12A) required all commissioned ships in the Navy to submit an annual Command History Report. This report covered the operational and administrative actions of the command for each calendar year. To provide the crew of the current commissioned ship with a better understanding of its history, and in concert with the histories in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, the annual history/command operational reports are posted for reference purposes. It appears that this requirement began with calendar year 1969 while in 1968 it was a ComDesRon Sixteen requirement, Instruction P5000.1A. Prior to 1968 few reports of this type have been located. As will be seen, over the years they increased in size, detail and content. Normally there is only one report covering each year. There is also typically an attachment or two with more details -- things like the CO bio, etc. One attachment is usually an outline of the ship's operations for the year with months and dates. Ref: http://www.history.navy.mil/Commands/index.htm