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v t e  United States Navy
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Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 4-star admirals 3-star admirals 1864–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present 2-star admirals House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Structure	Navy Navy Reserve Fleet Marine Force Expeditionary Combat Command Merchant Marine Units Active ships Future ships Aircraft wings Aircraft squadrons Carrier strike group Installations Naval Observatory Master jet base Operating forces Fleet Forces Command Commander Pacific Fleet Commander Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa Naval Forces Central Command Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Reserve Forces Operational Test and Evaluation Force Naval Network Warfare Command Military Sealift Command Shore Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Air Systems Command Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Naval Supply Systems Command Naval Information Warfare Systems Command Fleet Cyber Command Naval Academy Naval Education and Training Command Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Office of Naval Intelligence Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center Naval Legal Service Command Naval Observatory Naval Safety Center Bureau of Naval Personnel Chief of Naval Personnel Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Installations Command Navy Working Capital Fund Fleets Second Fleet Third Fleet Fourth Fleet Fifth Fleet Sixth Fleet Seventh Fleet Tenth Fleet Ships A–B C D–F G–H I–K L M N–O P Q–R S T–V W–Z Aircraft carriers Airships Amphibious warfare ships Auxiliaries Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Escort carriers Frigates Mine warfare vessels Monitors Patrol vessels Registered civilian vessels Sailing frigates Steam frigates Steam gunboats Ships of the line Sloops of war Submarines Torpedo boats Torpedo retrievers Unclassified miscellaneous vessels Yard and district craft
Personnel and training	People Officers Insignia Designators Enlisted Rates Ratings Classification Personnel Chaplain Corps Chief Deputy Chief Explosive ordnance disposal Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical Service Corps Supply Corps Civil Engineer Corps JAG Corps JAG DJAG NCIS Boatswain's mates Hospital corpsman Naval Aviator SEALs Seabees Master-at-arms Operations specialist SWCCs Hispanic sailors Training Recruit Officer Candidate School STA-21 NROTC Naval University System (Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Academy, Naval Community College, Marine Corps University) BESS BFTT CNATT COMPTUEX NAWCTSD AIM Naval Chaplaincy School Naval Hospital Corps School Naval Justice School United States Armed Forces School of Music Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Navy Supply Corps School Nuclear Power School JMTC TOPGUN USNTPS Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Equipment	Uniforms Awards and decorations Badges Current fleet Future fleet Reserve fleet Current aircraft Weapons Naval reactors
History and traditions	History "Anchors Aweigh" Blue Angels Continental Navy Ensign Fleet bands Fleet Week Jack Line-crossing ceremony National Museum Navy Band Ceremonial Guard Navy Flag Navy Hymn Navy Memorial Navy service numbers Navy Weeks Revolt of the Admirals Sailor's Creed Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Ship naming conventions Tingey House USS Constitution WAVES Wetting-down United States battleship retirement debate

The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas." The U.S. Navy currently numbers nearly 500,000 men and women on active duty or in the Naval Reserve and consists of 281 ships and more than 4,000 operational aircraft.

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War but was disbanded not long afterwards in 1790. The 1789 ratification of the United States Constitution supported the existence of a standing navy by giving Congress the right "to provide and maintain a navy." Following conflict with Barbary Coast corsairs, Congress enacted this right in 1794 by ordering the construction and manning of six frigates, thus establishing a permanent U.S. navy. The U.S. Navy came into international prominence in the 20th century, especially during World War II. It was a part of the conflict from the onset of American involvement to the very end of the war and was a vital element in the success of the Allies. The U.S. Navy was also heavily involved in the subsequent Cold War, in which it participated in the Vietnam War and was responsible for patrolling the seas in support of allies with carrier battle groups, minesweeping patrol squadrons, and submarines.

The United States Navy still maintains its presence in the world, playing roles in Iraq and elsewhere. Its ability to project force is considered a key asset for the U.S. military. Despite decreases in the numbers of ships and personnel following the Cold War, the U.S. Navy remains the world’s largest navy with a tonnage greater than that of the next 17 largest navies combined. In addition, the Navy has focused on developing advanced technological capabilities, spending a high amount of funds relative to the spending of other nations.

History

In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, the establishment of an official navy was heavily discussed among the members of the Continental Congress. Supporters argued that a navy would protect shipping, defend the coast, and make it easier to seek out support from foreign countries. Detractors countered that challenging the Royal Navy, then the world's preeminent naval power, was a foolish undertaking. Furthermore, they stated that a true break from Britain was not yet certain. The existence of a navy implied independence and would work against any future attempts at reconciliation.

Two events would ultimately end the debate in favor of a navy. The first occurred on October 5, 1775, when Congress received word that two unarmed British supply ships were heading towards Quebec from England without escort. Plans were made to intercept the ships, but the armed vessels to be used were owned by individual colonies and not the Continental Congress. Of greater significance, then, was an additional plan for the equipping of two ships that would be the first to operate under the authority of Congress to attack British shipping far from the shore. The plan was not carried out until October 13, 1775, when George Washington announced that he had established three armed schooners under Continental authority to intercept any British supply ships near Massachusetts. With the revelation that three armed ships were already under Continental control, the decision to add two more was made easier for the Continental Congress delegates. The plan was ratified and October 13, 1775 would later become known as the United States Navy's official birthday.

The Continental Navy operated some 50 ships over the course of the war, primarily in an anti-shipping and raiding role. However, American ships were not meant to do battle with opposing British men-of-war, and such engagements were avoided as much as possible. After the war, as attention turned towards securing the western border of the new United States, a standing navy was deemed less important and within a span of two years, a cash-strapped Congress sold the surviving ships and released the seamen and officers.

The United States would be without a navy for over a decade. The impetus to reestablish one came about, though, not because of a threat from a sovereign country, but from pirates. In response to attacks on American shipping by corsairs from the Barbary Coast, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates on March 27, 1794. Three years later the first three were welcomed into service: the USS United States, USS Constellation and USS Constitution.

Following this Quasi-War, the U.S. Navy would come into service in the War of 1812, where it defeated rival British frigates on more than one occasion and emerged victorious in battles at Lake Champlain and Lake Erie. However, the U.S. Navy was not strong enough to prevent the British from blockading American ports and landing troops at will. Following the war, the U.S. Navy again focused its attention on protecting American shipping assets, sending squadrons to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Pacific. With the exception of the Mexican-American War, where the Navy was assigned the task of transporting soldiers in the invasion of Mexico and assisting in claiming California, and the show of force by Commodore Matthew Perry to force Japan to open ports for trade, resulting in the Convention of Kanagawa, the U.S. Navy was not given any major national responsibilities.

Naval power would ultimately play a significant role during the Civil War, where the Union had a distinct advantage over the Confederacy on the seas. A Union blockade on shipping handicapped the Southern effort throughout the entire conflict. The two American navies would help usher in a new era in world naval history by putting ironclad warships into combat for the first time. The Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862, which pitted USS Monitor against CSS Virginia, became the first engagement between two steam-powered ironclads. After the war, however, the U.S. Navy slipped into obsolescence.

A modernization program beginning in the 1880s brought the U.S. into the first rank of the world's navies by the beginning of the 20th century, and several of the Navy's fleets were showcased in a circumnavigation of the world in 1907. Dubbed the Great White Fleet, the trip, ordered by President Theodore Roosevelt, served to demonstrate the Navy's might and capabilities to extend to the global theater.

The Navy saw little action during World War I, but grew into a formidable force in the years before World War II. Japan unsuccessfully attempted to allay this strategic threat with a late-1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Following American entry into the war, the U.S. Navy grew tremendously as the United States was faced with a two-front war on the seas. It achieved notable acclaim in the Pacific Theater in particular, where it was instrumental in the Allies' successful "island hopping" campaign. Some famous World War II battles in which the U.S. Navy participated are the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Battle of Okinawa. By war's end in 1945, the United States Navy had added hundreds of new ships, including 18 aircraft carriers and 8 battleships.

With the potential for armed conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the U.S. Navy continued to advance technologically by developing new weapons systems, ships, and aircraft. United States naval strategy changed to that of forward deployment in support of U.S. allies with an emphasis on carrier battle groups. The Navy played key roles throughout the Cold War, including the naval blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and also heavily participated in the Vietnam War and, through the use of ballistic missile submarines, became an important aspect of the United States' nuclear strategic deterrence policy. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 predictably led to budget cuts, but the U.S. Navy stayed committed to establishing and maintaining technologic superiority.

The United States Navy continues to support American interests in the 21st century. Playing a key role in the United States-led War on Terrorism, the Navy has shifted its focus from a large-scale naval conflict with the Soviet Union to special operations and strike missions in support of regional conflicts. The Navy participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Iraq War largely in this capacity. Development continues on new ships and weapons, including the CVN-21 aircraft carrier and the Littoral combat ship. Due to its size, weapons technology, and ability to project force far from American shores, the current U.S. Navy remains one of the most potent assets for the United States Commander-in-Chief.

Organization

The Navy is administered by the Department of the Navy, led by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The most senior naval officer is the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), who is a four-star admiral immediately under the Secretary of the Navy. At the same time, the Chief of Naval Operations is one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is the second-highest deliberatory body of the armed forces after the National Security Council, although it only plays an advisory role to the President and does not nominally form part of the chain of command. The Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations are responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Navy so the Navy is ready for operation under the command of the Unified Combatant Commanders.

Fleets

Under current United States military organization, fleets take on the role of force provider. They do not carry out military operations independently, instead training and maintaining naval units that will subsequently be provided to higher echelon joint commands operating in the same geographic jurisdiction. The United States Navy is presently composed of five active fleets, each commanded by a Vice Admiral.

• Second Fleet operates in the Atlantic Ocean from the North to South Pole, from the Eastern United States to Western Europe and Africa, and along both the eastern and western shores of Central and South America. 2nd Fleet is the sole operational fleet in the Atlantic Fleet and provides its forces to Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM). 2nd Fleet also doubles as NATO's Commander Striking Fleet Atlantic, making it the overseer of any multinational NATO naval force in the Atlantic. 2nd Fleet is based in Norfolk, Virginia and its flagship is USS Wasp (LHD-1).
• Third Fleet's jurisdiction is the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Pacific Ocean along with the West Coast of the United States. Normally, units assigned to 3rd Fleet undergo training cruises prior to deployment with either the 5th Fleet or 7th Fleet and are not intended for immediate use in battle. Only in the event of general war does 3rd Fleet participate in active combat operations. Forming one half of the Pacific Fleet, 3rd Fleet is a part of Pacific Command (USPACOM) and is based in San Diego, California with USS Coronado (AGF-11) as its flagship.
• Fifth Fleet's area of responsibility is the Middle East, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and parts of the Indian Ocean. Consisting of around 25 ships, including a carrier strike group and an expeditionary strike group, 5th Fleet provides forces to NAVCENT, the naval component of Central Command (USCENTCOM). 5th Fleet is headquartered at Manama, Bahrain.
• Sixth Fleet deploys in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, serving as the naval force provider for European Command's naval component NAVEUR. 6th Fleet also commands NATO's Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe (STRIKFORSOUTH), a multinational force supporting NATO objectives in the Mediterranean. 6th Fleet is based in Gaeta, Italy and its flagship is USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20).

• Seventh Fleet, the largest forward-deployed U.S. fleet, operates in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, stretching to the Persian Gulf and including much of the east coast of Africa. It forms the fully combat ready second half of the Pacific Fleet and provides naval units to USPACOM unified command. At any given time, 7th Fleet consists of 40-50 ships operating from bases in South Korea, Japan, and Guam. It is headquartered at Yokosuka, Japan with USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) as its flagship.

The Coast Guard is often incorrectly believed to act as the First Fleet in wartime. However, the United States has never officially used this reference and it is informal at best. A First Fleet did exist for a period of time in the Pacific, but it was decommissioned in the early 1970s. Likewise, Fourth Fleet has not been in operation for some time and no other active fleet has been renamed as such.

Shore establishments

Shore establishment commands exist to support the mission of the afloat fleets through the use of facilities on land. Focusing on logistics and combat-readiness, they are essential for the full, smooth, and continuous operation of operating forces. The variety of commands reflect the complexity of the modern U.S. Navy and range from naval intelligence to personnel training to maintaining repair facilities. Two of the major logistics and repair commands are Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command. Other commands such as the Office of Naval Intelligence, the United States Naval Observatory, and the Navy War College are focused on intelligence and strategy. Training commands include the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center and the United States Naval Academy.

The Navy also maintains several "Naval Forces Commands" which operate naval shore facilities and serve as liaison units to local ground forces of the Air Force and Army. Such commands are answerable to a Fleet Commander as the shore protector component of the afloat command. During times of war, all Naval Forces Commands augment to become task forces of a primary fleet. Some of the larger Naval Forces Commands in the Pacific Ocean include Commander Naval Forces Korea (CNFK), Commander Naval Forces Marianas (CNFM), and Commander Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ).

Personnel

Sailors prove they have mastered skills and deserve responsibilities by completing Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) tasks and examinations. Among the most important is the "warfare qualification," which denotes a journeyman level of capability in Aviation Warfare, Special Warfare, Surface Warfare, or Submarine Warfare. Many qualifications are denoted on a sailor's uniform with U.S. Navy badges and insignia.

In 2003 the United States Navy launched the Sea Power 21 transformation plan in an effort to make the Navy more flexible and more agile to effectively meet future threats. A significant portion of the plan was Sea Warrior, which intends to link the fleet's personnel processes (recruiting, training, and assigning) with acquisition processes (buying ships, aircraft, etc.) in a way that also improves each individual sailor's ability to guide his or her own career in a satisfying direction. Sea Warrior's aim is to more efficiently muster the right number of sailors with the right skills and seniority at each ship, squadron, and duty station, thereby enhancing the joint warfighting effectiveness of the entire Navy.

Commissioned officer

Commissioned officers in the Navy have paygrades ranging from O-1 to O-11, with O-11 as the most senior rank. The rank of O-11 is only used during the time of war. The last being during WWII. There is also a special rank of officer called Admiral of the Navy, which is the only rank higher than an O-11 Fleet Admiral. The last, and only, Admiral Of The Navy was George Dewey in 1899. Officers with paygrades between O-1 and O-4 are designated junior officers; officers between O-5 and O-6 are dubbed senior officers; officers in the O-7 to O-10 range are called flag officers. In the event that officers demonstrate superior performance, they are given an increase in paygrade; the official Navy term for this occasion is to be promoted.

Commissioned officers belong to one of the following communities:

• Unrestricted line: Surface Warfare, Aviation Warfare, Submarine Warfare, Special Warfare, Nuclear
• Restricted line: Engineering Duty, Aerospace Engineering Duty, Aerospace Maintenance Duty, Cryptologic, Naval Intelligence, Public Affairs, Meteorology and Oceanography, Information Professional, Human Resource
• Staff corps: Several staff corps are maintained which augment the line community and whose personnel are assigned to both line and staff commands. Members of the Staff Corps are specialists in fields that are themselves professional careers and not exclusive to the military, for example physicians and lawyers. Staff Corps officers wear distinct insignia on their uniforms to indicate their specialty. The Staff corps consists of Navy Dental Corps, Navy Chaplain Corps, Navy Civil Engineer Corps (which includes the Seabees), Navy Judge Advocate General (also known as JAG), Navy Medical Corps, Navy Medical Service Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, and Navy Supply Corps.

The term "line" officer means someone who may command a warship or an aviation unit. It is a carryover from the 18th-century British tactic of employing warships in a "line" to take advantage of cannons on each side of the ship. The captains of such vessels commanded "ships of the line." Today, all Navy line officers wear a star on the sleeves of uniforms near the cuff braid that denotes rank. Staff officers wear different insignias. Note: Marine Corps officers, also part of the Department of the Navy, are all considered "line" officers because they are qualified as troop commanders in addition to their specialties.

Commissioned officers originate from the United States Naval Academy, Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS), direct commission, and other commissioning programs (such as Limited Duty Officer programs).

Enlisted

Enlisted members of the Navy have paygrades from E-1 to E-9. Enlisted members with superior performance may be advanced in paygrade. Two notably significant advancements are Seaman to Petty Officer Third Class (E-3 to E-4) and Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer (E-6 to E-7). Advancement to Chief Petty Officer is especially significant, marked by a special initiation ceremony.

All new active-duty enlisted members receive basic training ("boot camp") at the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. Those who have a contract for a specific rating continue onto "A" schools for training in the rating. Those who don't have a specific rating go into the fleet to learn on the job and later strike for a rating. Some members may go to additonal training in a "C" school either before a tour of duty, or after a tour of duty. A "C" school assigns a member a Navy Enlisted Classification code, or NEC, which shows that a sailor is able to perform a specific task requiring that NEC, such as NEC 2780 - Network Security Vulnerablity Technician.

Enlisted members of paygrades E-4 and above are said to be "rated" and have a rating: an occupational specialty. Paygrades E-1 to E-3 can also be "rated" and have a 'rating', but do not necessarily have to be. All ranks of E-4 and above have 'ratings'. As of June 2005, there are more than 50 ratings, including Boatswain's Mate, Quartermaster, Engineman, Damage Controlman, Electronics Technician, Information Systems Technician, Air Traffic Controller, Fire Control Technician, Gunner's Mate, Sonar Technician, Construction Mechanic, Hospital Corpsman, Yeoman, Disbursing Clerk, Culinary Specialist, Photographer's Mate, Musician, Master-at-Arms, Aviation Electronics Technician, and Cryptologic Technician. Some ratings have subspecialties acquired either through an initial "A" school for training (such as Cryptologic Technician Technical and Cryptologic Technician Collection) or through a separate "C" school (such as Aviation Electronics Technician Organizational and Aviation Electronics Technician Intermediate.)

Major naval bases

The size, complexity, and international presence of the United States Navy requires a large number of naval installations to support its operations. While the majority of bases are located on the West and East coasts of the United States, the Navy maintains a significant number of naval facilities abroad, either in U.S.-controlled territories or in foreign countries under a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

• Hampton Roads, Virginia — The world’s largest naval base, Hampton Roads consists of a significant number of Navy installations spread over 36,000 acres of land in southeastern Virginia. These include Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Naval Air Station Oceana, and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. Hampton Roads is also the homeport of the Atlantic Fleet and the location of Northrop Grumman Newport News, a privately owned company that builds the Nimitz class aircraft carrier.
• San Diego, California — The second largest U.S. Navy base, San Diego hosts a large complex of facilities, including Naval Station San Diego and Naval Air Station North Island. The Naval Special Warfare Center, the main training center for SEALs, is also located here.
• Jacksonville, Florida — The third-largest naval base in the country, it contains Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, among others. Jacksonville has had a long tradition in naval aviation and trained the first jet carrier air groups.
• Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — Located on the south end of the island of Oahu, Pearl Harbor is the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet and a large number of its subordinate commands.
• Puget Sound, Washington — The collection of naval installations in the Puget Sound area include Naval Station Everett, Naval Base Kitsap, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Completed in 1994, Naval Station Everett is one of the newer Navy bases in operation and the Navy states that it is its most modern facility.
• Yokosuka, Japan — Yokosuka was a major United States base of operations during the Korean War. Since then it has become the homeport for the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet and is the largest overseas U.S. naval installation.
• Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — Leased by the United States in 1903, Guantanamo Bay is the oldest overseas U.S. military installation. It is currently the location of Camp Delta, a detention facility for Al Qaeda, Taliban, and other detainees captured during the War on Terrorism.
• Pensacola, Florida — This base in northwestern Florida is the primary site for training Navy and Marine aviators. Because of its long history in advancing Navy flight, it has been dubbed “the Cradle of Navy Aviation.”

Ships

The names of commissioned ships of the U.S. Navy start with "USS", designating 'United States Ship'. Non-commissioned, civilian-manned vessels of the U.S. Navy have names that begin with "USNS", standing for 'United States Naval Ship'. Additionally, each ship is given a letter-based hull classification symbol (for example CVN and DDG) to indicate the vessel's type and a hull number. The names of ships are officially selected by the Secretary of the Navy and are usually those of U.S. states, cities, towns, important people, famous battles, fish, or ideals. All ships in the U.S. Navy inventory are placed in the Naval Vessel Register, which tracks data such as the current status of a ship, the date of its commissioning, and the date of its decommissioning. Vessels that are removed from the register prior to disposal are said to be stricken from the register.

The U.S. Navy pioneered the use of nuclear reactors aboard naval vessels. Today, nuclear energy powers most U.S. aircraft carriers and submarines. In the case of a Nimitz-class carrier, two naval reactors give the ship almost unlimited range and provide enough electrical energy to power a city of 100,000 people. The U.S. Navy previously operated nuclear-powered cruisers and destroyers as well, but all have been decommissioned.

Aircraft carriers

Aircraft carriers are considered the most important and most powerful warships in the United States Navy. Their ability to put most nations within striking distance of U.S. air power makes carriers the cornerstones of the United States’ forward deployment and deterrence strategy. Multiple carriers are deployed around the world at any given time to provide military presence, respond quickly to crises, and participate in joint exercises with allied forces. The power and operational flexibility of a carrier naturally lie in the aircraft of its carrier air wing. Made up of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, a carrier air wing is able to perform over 150 strike missions, hitting over 700 targets a day, protect friendly forces, conduct electronic warfare, assist in special operations, and carry out search and rescue missions. In addition to their airborne capabilities, carriers are also important as command platforms for large battle groups or multinational task forces.

A carrier is typically deployed along with a host of additional vessels, forming a carrier strike group. The supporting ships, which usually include three or four Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers, a frigate, and two attack submarines, are tasked with protecting the carrier from air, missile, sea, and undersea threats as well as providing additional strike capabilities themselves. A carrier strike group also has a combined ammunition, oiler, and supply ship for ready logistics support. Modern aircraft carriers, since the deployment of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), with the exception of USS Nimitz (CVN-68), have been named for living or dead politicians important to the Navy. Previous aircraft carriers were named for battles and past famous fighting ships of the Navy.

• Kitty Hawk class (1 in commission, 2 decommissioned)
• Enterprise class (1 in commission)
• John F. Kennedy class (1 in commission)
• Nimitz class (9 in commmission, 1 under construction)

Amphibious warfare vessels

Amphibious assault ships are the centerpieces of U.S. amphibious warfare and fulfill the same power projection role as aircraft carriers except that their striking force is comprised of land forces instead of aircraft. They deliver, command, coordinate, and fully support all elements of a 2000-strong Marine Expeditionary Unit in an amphibious assault using air and amphibious vehicles. Resembling small aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships are capable of V/STOL, STOVL, VTOL, tiltrotor, and rotary wing aircraft operations. They also contain a welldeck to support the use of Landing Craft Air Cushion and other amphibious assault watercraft. Recently, amphibious assault ships have begun to be deployed as the core of an expeditionary strike group, which usually consists of an additional amphibious transport dock and dock landing ship for amphibious warfare and an Aegis-equipped cruiser and destroyer, frigate, and attack submarine for group defense. Amphibious assault ships are typically named after World War II aircraft carriers, a name source carried over from the earliest assault ships which actually were converted WWII carriers.

• Tarawa class (4 in commission, 1 decommissioned)
• Wasp class (7 in commission, 1 under construction)

Amphibious transport docks are warships that embark, transport, and land Marines, supplies, and equipment in a supporting role during amphibious warfare missions. With a landing platform, amphibious transport docks also have the capability to serve as secondary aviation support for an expeditionary group. All amphibious transport docks can operate helicopters, LCACs, and other conventional amphibious vehicles while the newer San Antonio class of ships has been explicitly designed to operate all three elements of the Marines' "mobility triad": Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles (EFVs), the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and the previously mentioned LCACs. Amphibious transport docks are named for cities, except for USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), named for Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, and two of the three ships named in memory of the September 11, 2001 attacks: USS New York (LPD-21), for the state of New York, and USS Somerset (LPD-25) for Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

• Austin class (10 in commission, 1 decommissioned, 1 converted to an auxiliary command ship)
• San Antonio class (1 in commission, 4 under construction, 4 more planned)

The dock landing ship is a medium amphibious transport that is designed specifically to support and operate Landing Craft Air Cushions, though it is able to operate other amphibious assault vehicles in the United States inventory as well. Dock landing ships are normally deployed as a component of an expeditionary strike group's amphibious assault contingent, operating as a secondary launch platform for LCACs. All dock landing ships are named after locations in the United States.

• Whidbey Island class (8 in commission)
• Harpers Ferry class (4 in commission)

Surface vessels

Cruisers are large surface combat vessels that conduct anti-air/anti-missile warfare, surface warfare, undersea warfare, and strike operations independently or as members of a larger task force. Modern guided missile cruisers were developed out of a need to counter the anti-ship missile threat facing the United States Navy. This led to the development of the AN/SPY-1 phased array radar and the Standard Missile 2 with the Aegis combat system coordinating the two. Ticonderoga-class cruisers became the first to equip Aegis and were put to use primarily as anti-air and anti-missile defense in a battle force protection role. Later developments of vertical launch systems and the Tomahawk missile gave cruisers additional long-range land and sea strike capability, making them capable of both offensive and defensive battle operations. All cruisers since CG-47 have been named for famous battles with USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) as the only exception. Previously, cruisers were either named for cities (until CG-12), former important navy figures (CG-15 to CG-35), or states (CG-36 to CG-42).

• Ticonderoga class (23 in commission, 5 decommissioned)

Destroyers are multi-mission medium surface ships capable of sustained performance in anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and offensive strike operations. Like cruisers, the guided missile destroyers of the Navy are primarily focused on surface strikes using Tomahawk missiles and fleet defense through Aegis and the Standard missile. Destroyers additionally specialize in anti-submarine warfare and are equipped with VLA rockets and LAMPS Mk III Sea Hawk helicopters to deal with underwater threats. When deployed with a carrier strike group or expeditionary strike group, destroyers and their fellow Aegis-equipped cruisers are primarily tasked with defending the fleet while providing secondary strike capabilities. Destroyers have been named for important navy personnel and heroes since the USS Bainbridge (DD-1).

• Arleigh Burke class (48 in commission, 6 under construction, 8 more planned)

Modern U.S. frigates mainly perform undersea warfare for carrier strike groups and amphibious expeditionary groups and provide armed escort for supply convoys and merchant shipping. They are designed to protect friendly ships against hostile submarines in low to medium threat environments using torpedoes and LAMPS helicopters. Frigates are also able to launch Standard missiles to supply limited protection against anti-ship missiles. Independently, frigates are able to conduct counterdrug missions and other maritime interception operations. The U.S. Navy expects to retire its current class of frigates by 2020. As in the case of destroyers, frigates are named after naval heroes.

• Oliver Hazard Perry class (30 in commission, 20 decommissioned)

All U.S. battleships have been decommissioned and have been stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. In their zenith, battleships were the Navy's largest and most important warships and were designed to battle other battleships in open sea battle. The rise of aircraft carriers in World War II led to the declining importance of battleships, and the Navy relegated them to the roles of fire support and escort. Following a long period of inactivity, the Iowa class battleships were recommissioned in the 1980s to augment the Navy's size and were upgraded with Tomahawk cruise missile capability. They were decommissioned for the final time in the early 1990s due to the belief that their high maintenance cost and the Cold War's end made continued operation unnecessary. All battleships except USS Kearsarge (BB-5) were named for states.

Submarines

The primary missions of submarines in the U.S. Navy are peacetime engagement, surveillance and intelligence, special operations, precision strikes, battlegroup operations, and denial of the seas. The U.S. Navy operates two types: ballistic submarines and attack submarines. Ballistic submarines have only one mission: to carry and launch the nuclear Trident missile. Attack submarines have several tactical missions, including sinking ships and subs, launching cruise missiles, gathering intelligence, and assisting in special operations. Sea attack submarines are typically named for cities while land attack submarines (Virginia- and converted Ohio-class boats) are typically named for states. Earlier attack submarines were named for "denizens of the deep", while earlier ballistic missile submarines were named for "famous Americans" (although many of them were actually foreigners).

• Ohio class (18 in commission) — ballistic missile submarines with four to be converted into guided missile submarines
• Los Angeles class (49 in commission, 13 decommissioned) — attack submarines
• Seawolf class (3 in commission) — attack submarines
• Virginia class (1 in commission, 3 under construction, 7 more planned) — attack submarines

Historically significant vessels

There are several historically significant vessels worth mentioning. First, USS Constitution (nicknamed "Old Ironsides") is currently the oldest commissioned warship afloat. It first became famous in the War of 1812 and is currently part of Boston's Freedom Trail, docked in the Boston Navy Yard. The USS Monitor was the first U.S. ironclad warship and also pioneered the rotating gun turret. In the Battle of Hampton Roads, it faced the CSS Virginia, which was formerly the wooden USS Merrimack. The Merrimack had been captured and rebuilt by the Confederates. USS Alligator was the first submarine built by the U.S. Navy, although it sunk while being towed during a storm and never saw combat. Also during the American Civil War, the H.L. Hunley, although technically never a part of the U.S. Navy, was the first submarine to sink a ship in a combat engagement by hitting the USS Housatonic with a spar-mounted torpedo. Unfortunately, the H.L. Hunley itself was lost during the operation. It was built by Confederate inventor Horace L. Hunley, who lost his life while operating the ship during a trial run. In 1954, the USS Nautilus was commissioned, becoming the first nuclear-powered warship in the world. USS Long Beach was the first nuclear-powered surface warship in the world and the first large ship in the U.S. Navy to have guided missiles as its main weapon.

Aircraft

Aircraft are a critical component of the United States Navy’s fighting capacity. Together with the carriers from which they launch, aircraft form the core of the U.S. Navy's forward presence around the world. The ability to conduct sustained air attacks from anywhere in international waters provides United States leaders with significant diplomatic and crisis-management options. Through air power, the Navy is able to strike air, sea, and land targets far from a carrier strike group while protecting its own ships from enemy aircraft, ships, and submarines. Aircraft supply significant logistics support to maintain the Navy’s readiness and, through helicopters, provide platforms with which to conduct search and rescue missions and special operations.

The U.S. Navy began to research the use of aircraft at sea in the 1910s and commissioned the very first aircraft carrier, USS Langley, in 1922. United States naval aviation fully came of age in World War II, when it became clear following the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the Battle of Midway that aircraft carriers and the planes that they carried had replaced the battleship as the greatest weapon on the seas. Navy aircraft also played a significant role in conflicts during the following Cold War years, with the F-4 Phantom II and the F-14 Tomcat becoming military icons of the era. The Navy's current primary fighter and attack airplanes are the multi-mission F/A-18 Hornet and its newer cousin, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Weapons systems

Current U.S. Navy shipboard weapons systems are almost entirely focused on missiles, both as a weapon and as a threat. In an offensive role, missiles are intended to strike targets at long distances with accuracy and precision. As unmanned objects, missiles also allow for attacks on heavily defended targets without risk to human pilots. Land and sea strikes are the domain of the BGM-109 Tomahawk, which was first deployed in the 1980s and is continually being updated to increase its capabilities. While the Tomahawk can be used in an anti-ship capacity, the Navy's dedicated missile for this role is the AGM-84 Harpoon. To defend against enemy missile attack, the Navy operates a number of systems that are all coordinated by the Aegis combat system. Medium-long range defense is provided by the Standard Missile 2, which has been deployed since the 1980s. The Standard missile doubles as the primary shipboard anti-aircraft weapon and is undergoing development for use in theater ballistic missile defense. Short range defense against missiles is provided by the Phalanx CIWS and the more recently developed RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile. In addition to missiles, the Navy also employs various types of torpedoes and mines.

The primary offensive aircraft of the U.S. Navy are the F/A-18C/D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. They employ much of the same weapons as the United States Air Force for both air-to-air and air-to-surface combat. Air engagements are handled by the heat-seeking Sidewinder and the radar guided AMRAAM missiles along with the M61 Vulcan for close range dogfighting. For surface strikes, Navy aircraft utilize a combination of missiles, smart bombs, and dumb bombs. On the list of available missiles are the Maverick, SLAM-ER, and JSOW. Smart bombs include the GPS-guided JDAM and the laser-guided Paveway series. Unguided munitions such as dumb bombs and cluster bombs round out the rest of the aircraft deployed weapons.

The U.S. Navy is capable of deploying nuclear weapons through two means: ballistic missile submarines and aircraft. The Ohio-class submarine carries the latest iteration of the Trident missile, a three stage, underwater launched, nuclear ICBM with MIRV capability. The current Trident II (D5) version is expected to be in service past 2020. The Navy’s other nuclear weapon is the aircraft-deployed B61 nuclear bomb. The B61 is a thermonuclear device that can be dropped by strike aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet at high speed from a large range of altitudes. They can be released through free-fall or parachute and can be set to detonate in the air or on the ground.

Special warfare

The major players in U.S. Navy special operations are Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCCs, pronounced “swicks”). The SEALs derive their name from the environments in and from which they can operate: SEa, Air, and Land. As befitting their title, the SEALs are a flexible group of elite soldiers trained to conduct clandestine warfare in any setting, most often in small-unit actions. They specialize in maritime operations — striking from and returning to the sea. Working in conjunction with the SEALs are the SWCCs, who are trained in small ship and watercraft operations in the Navy. Organized into Special Boat Teams, SWCCs specialize in the insertion and extraction of SEALs in hostile territory, coastal patrol and surveillance, and the boarding and searching of vessels.

Navy special operations fall under the jurisdiction of Naval Special Warfare Command, the Navy branch of United States Special Operations Command. Within Naval Special Warfare Command are six operational entities: four Special Warfare Groups, the Special Warfare Development Group, and the Special Warfare Center.

• Naval Special Warfare Group ONE and Group TWO each consist of four teams of Navy SEALs and a few Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Units. NSW units are charged with overall command and control and planning of special operations within their geographic jurisdiction.
• Group THREE is made up of SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Teams and one Special Boat Team that is shared with Group FOUR. SEALs who are assigned to SDV teams specialize in the use of SDVs and Advanced SEAL Delivery Systems (ASDSs). These watercraft are submersibles that are designed to insert SEAL operators from long distances offshore.
• Group FOUR is comprised of all of the Navy's Special Boat Teams.
• The Navy Special Warfare Development Group, also known as Dev Group or DEVGRU, is the United States military's premier maritime counter-terrorist unit. While the Navy confirms the existence of the unit, it merely states that the role of Dev Group is to test, evaluate, and develop technology and maritime ground and airborne tactics for Navy Special Warfare. No official mention of counter-terrorism concerning DEVGRU is made. Though much of the information regarding this unit is classified, it is estimated that the group consists of approximately 200 active operators.
• The Naval Special Warfare Center, located in Coronado, California, is the main training center for Navy special operations personnel. It is here that SEAL recruits undergo the initial six-month-long Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) course. Following three weeks of additional parachute training with the Army, recruits return to Coronado for the 19-week SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), after which they are officially named a SEAL.

Although not under the jurisdiction of NSW Command, Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Units often work closely with special operations teams. Trained to be combat-ready and highly mobile, EOD units are entrusted with nullifying hazardous ordnance in a number of different maritime environments. They are also able to conduct underwater anti-mine operations using marine mammals.

Coastal warfare

Protection of naval assets and coastal and harbor defense are placed under the jurisdiction of two Naval Coastal Warfare Groups: one for the Pacific Fleet and one for the Atlantic Fleet. Within these groups are Mobile Security Squadrons and Naval Coastal Warfare Squadrons. MSSs deploy Mobile Security Detachments that protect high value naval targets from terrorist attacks in ports and harbors where U.S. shore infrastructure is limited or does not exist. Naval Coastal Warfare Squadrons provide surveillance and security in harbors, coasts, and inshore areas. They are comprised of Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Units (MIUWUs) and Inshore Boat Units (IBUs). MIUWUs are charged with security, observation, and communications support for commanders operating in an inshore/coast environment, including anchorages and harbors. In the same operating environment, IBUs manage security and surveillance water craft for interdiction and surveillance.

Uniforms

The uniforms of the United States Navy are designed to combine professionalism and naval heritage with versatility, safety, and comfort. The Navy currently incorporates many different styles that are specific for a variety of uses and occasions. In most cases, distinctions are made to distinguish officers and enlisted men in their uniformed appearance. U.S. Navy uniforms can generally be divided into three categories: dress uniforms, service uniforms, and working uniforms.

• Dress uniforms are worn during military-related formal occasions, such as ceremonies and other official functions. Many types of dress uniforms are used in the Navy with the full range of formal requirements represented. Service dress is the least formal dress uniform, full dress is one step higher in formality, and mess dress is the most formal dress available.
• Service uniforms are designed for daily wear and are most often worn in office or classroom-type settings, as well as other occasions in which physical activity is at a minimum. The most visible distinction between officers and enlisted personnel are the color of the service uniform. Only officers and chief petty officers are authorized to wear service khaki; all other personnel must wear winter blue or summer white.
• Working uniforms prioritize comfort and safety first and thus are the least attractive of the Navy uniforms. They are intended for use in underway ships and in occasions that involve dirty, physical labor. Many working uniforms are variations of the service uniforms except with less formal requirements. This category includes Navy coveralls, which are authorized to be worn by members of all ranks.

Naval culture

The current naval jack of the United States is the First Navy Jack, which was first used during the American Revolutionary War. On May 31, 2002, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England directed all U.S. naval ships to fly the First Navy Jack for the duration of the War on Terrorism. Many ships chose to shift colors later that year on the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The previous naval jack was a blue field with 50 white stars, identical to the canton of the ensign (the Flag of the United States) both in appearance and size. A jack of similar design was used in 1794, though with 13 stars arranged in a 3–2–3–2–3 pattern. When a ship is moored or anchored, the jack is flown from the bow of the ship while the ensign is flown from the stern. When underway, the ensign is raised on the main mast.

Over the course of the United States Navy's 200-year existence, a distinct jargon has evolved among American sailors and has become a normal part of their everyday speech. Modern U.S. Navy slang draws from a number of varied sources. It includes traditional sailing terms, archaic English words, and a plethora of acronyms, joke phrases, crude expressions, and abbreviations that have been created within the past hundred years.

Notable U.S. Navy people

Many past and present United States historical figures have served in the Navy. Notable officers include Commodore Matthew Perry, who fully opened Tokugawa-era Japan to the West, and Chester Nimitz, Admiral of the Pacific Fleet in World War II. A number of former Presidents were in the Navy as well, including John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush. Some members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, for example John McCain and John Kerry, have also seen Navy service. Other notable former members of the U.S. Navy include astronauts, entertainers, authors, and professional athletes.

Notes

1. "The U.S. Navy Organization". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
2. Status of the Navy. U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed May 23, 2006.
3. Work, Robert O. "Winning the Race:A Naval Fleet Platform Architecture for Enduring Maritime Supremacy". Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Online. Accessed April 08, 2006.
4. "Birthplace of the Navy". Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
5. ^ Palmer, Michael A. "The Navy: The Continental Period, 1775-1890". Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
6. King, Ernest J., USN. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945". U.S. Navy at War 1941-1945: Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy. Accessed April 08, 2006.
7. Palmer, Michael A. "The Navy: The Transoceanic Period, 1945-1992". Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
8. "Numbered Fleets". Federation of American Scientists: Military Analysis Network. Accessed April 08, 2006.
9. "Specialty Insignia - Staff Corps". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
10. Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 18, 2006.
11. Naval Station Everett. Naval Station Everett Official Site. Accessed April 18, 2006.
12. Yokosuka, Japan. Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 19, 2006.
13. NAS Pensacola. NAS Pensacola Official Site. Accessed April 19, 2006.
14. "CVN-68 Nimitz Class". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006.
15. "Aircraft Carriers - CV/CVN". Unofficial U.S. Navy Site. Accessed May 24, 2006.
16. "Carrier Design". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006.
17. "FFG-7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class Program Status". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006.
18. "Submarine Missions". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006.
19. "A Brief History of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers: Part I - The Early Years". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 09, 2006.
20. "Trident Fleet Ballistic Missile". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
21. "SEAL Missions". Official U.S. Navy SEAL Information Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
22. "U.S. Navy Special Boat Squadrons". Global Special Operations 101. Accessed April 08, 2006.
23. "Component Commands". Official U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
24. "Naval Special Warfare Command - excerpt from JCS SOF Reference Manual". Navyseals.com. Accessed April 08, 2006.
25. "Naval Special Warfare Development Group". Specialoperations.com. Accessed April 08, 2006.
26. "SEAL Challenge Contract Instructions". Official U.S. Navy SEAL Information Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.
27. "United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal". Specwarnet.com. Accessed April 08, 2006.
28. "U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Fleet Systems". U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. Accessed April 08, 2006.
29. "Task Force Uniform". Navy Personnel Command. Accessed April 08, 2006.
30. Fouch, Michael, USN. "New Navy Working Uniform and Service Uniform Concepts Approved". Navy Newstand. Accessed April 08, 2006.

References

• Official U.S. Navy Website
• Department of the Navy Website
• Navy Knowledge Online
• Sea Warrior
• Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI) — a digital library of world naval operational news, curated from open source intelligence, and intended to serve as a source of continuing education on naval and military affairs
• U.S. Navy in WW II — a web site devoted to the U.S. navy in the Pacific theater during World War II
• Globalsecurity.org Navy section
• London, Joshua E. Victory in Tripoli: How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005.

External links

• NavSource Naval History - Photographic History Of The U.S. Navy — a source of thousands of photographs of U.S. Navy ships.
• Maritimequest U.S. Battleship photo gallery
• The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy In World War II
• Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the U.S. Navy
• http://naval.undersea.museum

• 1794 establishments
• Navies
• United States Navy