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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 Organization". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. The U.S. Navy currently numbers nearly 500,000 men and women on active duty or in the Naval Reserve and operates 281 ships and more than 4,000 aircraft.Status of the Navy. U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed May 23, 2006.

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War and was disbanded in 1790. The 1789 ratification of the United States Constitution, however, supported its existence by giving Congress the right "to provide and maintain a navy." Spurred by depredations against American shipping by Barbary Coast corsairs, Congress enacted this right in 1794 and established a permanent navy by ordering the construction and manning of six frigates. 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 end of the war and was a vital element in the success of the Allies. The U.S. Navy was involved in the subsequent Cold War, in which it deployed primarily as a nuclear deterrent and crisis response force.

The 21st century United States Navy maintains a sizeable presence in the world, deploying in such areas as East Asia, Southern Europe, and the Middle East. Its ability to project force is considered a key asset for the U.S. military. Despite decreases in budget size and the numbers of ships and personnel following the Cold War, the U.S. Navy has continued to spend more on technology development than any other and remains the world’s largest navy with a tonnage greater than that of the next 17 largest combined.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.

History

In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, the establishment of an official navy was debated 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 under the direct authority of Congress to attack British shipping far from shore. The plan was not carried out until October 13, 1775, when George Washington announced that he had taken command of 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."Birthplace of the Navy". Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.

The Continental Navy operated some 50 ships over the course of the war, primarily in an anti-shipping and raiding role. 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 conflict, Congress turned its attention towards securing the western border of the new United States; a standing navy was considered to be a dispensable because of its high operating costs and its limited number of national roles.Palmer, Michael A. "The Navy: The Continental Period, 1775-1890". Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. Within a span of two years, Congress sold the surviving ships and released the seamen and officers.

The United States would be without a navy for nearly a decade until the early 1790s, which saw the French Revolutionary Wars break out in Europe with Great Britain and France as the major opposing combatants. The United States stayed neutral and was therefore allowed to trade freely with both countries. The expansion of trade, however, incurred attacks by Barbary pirates against unprotected American ships. In response to these depredations, 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.

After the undeclared Quasi-War with France, the U.S. Navy saw substantial action 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 actions of Commodore Matthew Perry resulting in the Convention of Kanagawa with Japan, the U.S. Navy was not given any major national responsibilities.

Naval power would 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. Several of the Navy's ships, dubbed the Great White Fleet, were showcased in a 14-month circumnavigation of the world beginning in 1907. The trip was ordered by President Theodore Roosevelt to demonstrate the Navy's capability 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 the Coral Sea, 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.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.

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.Palmer, Michael A. "The Navy: The Transoceanic Period, 1945-1992". Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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 a potent asset 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 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."Numbered Fleets". There was a time in history in which the Navy was disbanded 1790-1798. The only warships protecting the country were Revenue Cutters, the predecessor to the USCG. This is why USCG ships are referred to as Cutters. Federation of American Scientists: Military Analysis Network. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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.

    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 pay grades ranging from O-1 to O-10, with O-10 being the highest; those with paygrades between O-1 and O-4 are designated junior officers, those between O-5 and O-6 are dubbed senior officers, and 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. Above the rank of Admiral is the rank of Fleet Admiral, which was given to a select few in World War II, but has not been held by any officer since and is only reserved for wartime use. Even higher than Fleet Admiral was the special rank of Admiral of the Navy, which was awarded to only one person, George Dewey, in 1899. Efforts to resurrect the rank in the 20th Century failed, making it very unlikely that it will be used again. Commissioned officers originate from the United States Naval Academy, Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS), and a host of other commissioning programs such as the Seaman to Admiral-21 program and the Limited Duty Officer Selection Program.

    Commissioned officers can generally be divided into line officers and staff corps; line officers can be further split into unrestricted and restricted communities. Unrestricted Line Officers are the most visible and well-known, due to their role as the warfighting command element in the U.S. Navy. They receive training in tactics, strategy, command and control, and actual combat and are considered unrestricted because they are authorized to command ships, aviation squadrons, and special operations units. Restricted Line Officers, on the other hand, concentrate on non-combat related fields, which include engineering, maintenance, meteorology and oceanography, and intelligence; they are not qualified to command combat units. Staff Corps officers are specialists in fields that are themselves professional careers and not exclusive to the military, for example medicine, law, and civil engineering. They exist to augment the line communities and are able to be assigned to both line and staff commands.

    The term "line" is a carryover from the 18th-century British tactic of employing warships in a straight line to take advantage of cannons on each side of the ship. These vessels were dubbed "ships of the line" and those who commanded them were likewise called "line officers." Today, all United States Navy line officers denote their status with a star located above their rank devices on the shoulder boards and sleeves of their uniforms. Officers of the Staff Corps replace the star with different insignias to indicate their field of specialty."Specialty Insignia - Staff Corps". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.

    Commissioned Officer Rank Structure of the United States Navy
    Fleet Admiral Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral
    (Upper Half)         		Rear Admiral
    (Lower Half)
    special O-10 O-9 O-8 O-7
    Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade Ensign
    O-6 O-5 O-4 O-3 O-2 O-1

    Chief Warrant Officer

    Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) pay grades range from CWO2 to the highest rank of CWO5. United States Navy CWOs are commissioned officers whose role is to provide leadership and skills for the most difficult and demanding operations in a particular technical specialty. They occupy a niche that is not as well served by the line officer community, which tends to have a broader focus. CWOs come from the senior non-commissioned officer ranks of the enlisted and receive their commission after completing the appropriately named Chief Warrant Officer Program. They typically become CWOs in specialties that are most related to their previous enlisted rating. Like Staff Corps officers, CWOs wear special insignia above the rank devices on their shoulder boards and sleeves to indicate their field of expertise.

    Chief Warrant Officer Rank Structure of the United States Navy
    CWO2 CWO3 CWO4 CWO5

    Enlisted

    Enlisted members of the Navy have pay grades from E-1 to E-9, with E-9 being the highest. All enlisted sailors with paygrades of E-4 and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs) while those at E-7 and higher are further named chief petty officers. Unlike commissioned officers, who are given authority by the government, NCOs are promoted through the ranks of the enlisted. Those who demonstrate superior performance are given an increase in paygrade; the official Navy term is to be advanced. Two notable advancements are from Seaman to Petty Officer Third Class (E-3 to E-4) and from Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer (E-6 to E-7). Advancement to Chief Petty Officer is especially significant and is marked by a special initiation ceremony.

    Enlisted members of pay grades E-4 and above are said to be "rated," meaning that they possess a rating, or occupational specialty. Members of grades E-1 to E-3 can also be rated, but do not necessarily have to be. There are more than 50 ratings covering a broad range of skills and subspecialties; examples include Engineman, Photographer's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Information Systems Technician, and Culinary Specialist. Ratings are earned through "A" schools, which are attended before deployment and after undergoing initial basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. Those who do not attend an "A" school go into the fleet to learn on the job and later strike for a rating. Some members may undergo additional training in a "C" school either before or after a tour of duty; upon completion, they are assigned a four-digit Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) code, which identifies a skill that is outside of their standard rating. An example is NEC 2780, which shows that the sailor is qualified as a Network Security Vulnerablity Technician.

    Non-Commissioned Officer and Enlisted Rank Structure of the United States Navy
    Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer First Class
    E-9 E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6

    Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer Third Class Seaman Seaman Apprentice Seaman Recruit
    E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
    no insignia

    Major naval bases

    The size, complexity, and international presence of the United States Navy require 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 farther inland and abroad, either in U.S.-controlled territories or in foreign countries under a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

    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."CVN-68 Nimitz Class". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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."Aircraft Carriers - CV/CVN". Unofficial U.S. Navy Site. Accessed May 24, 2006. 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,"Carrier Design". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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.

    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.

    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.

    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).

    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).

    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."FFG-7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class Program Status". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006. As in the case of destroyers, frigates are named after naval heroes.

    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."Submarine Missions". Globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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.

    Embarked Aircraft supply significant support to maintain the Navy’s readiness and, through SH-60 helicopters, provide platforms with which to conduct search and rescue, special operations, Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), Anti-surface warfare (ASUW) and Logistics support.

    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."A Brief History of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers: Part I - The Early Years". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 09, 2006. 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 largest component of U.S. Naval aircraft are helicopters, almost completely of the SH-60 helicopter variant. Models SH-60B/R and HH-60H carry the Hellfire missile system. The SH-60B carries the Penguin missile, and the SH-60B/F/H/R models carry ASW weapons such as Mark 46 and Mark 50 torpedoes. The MH-60S helicopter variant supports special operations, logisitics and combat search and rescue roles.

    The U.S. Navy is capable of deploying nuclear weapons through 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."Trident Fleet Ballistic Missile". U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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 naval Special Forces 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."SEAL Missions". Official U.S. Navy SEAL Information Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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."U.S. Navy Special Boat Squadrons". Global Special Operations 101. Accessed April 08, 2006.

    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 Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (known as "SEAL Delivery Vehicles" in American service) and Advanced SEAL Delivery Systems (ASDSs). These watercraft are submersibles that are designed to insert SEAL operators underwater, from long distances offshore.

    • The Navy Special Warfare Development Group, also known as Dev Group or DEVGRU, is the United States military's premier Maritime Counter-Terrorism 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."Naval Special Warfare Command - excerpt from JCS SOF Reference Manual". Navyseals.com. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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."Naval Special Warfare Development Group". Specialoperations.com. Accessed April 08, 2006.

    • 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."SEAL Challenge Contract Instructions". Official U.S. Navy SEAL Information Website. Accessed April 08, 2006.

    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."United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal". Specwarnet.com. Accessed April 08, 2006. They are also able to conduct underwater anti-mine operations using marine mammals."U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Fleet Systems". U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. Accessed April 08, 2006.

    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.

    Relationship with the U.S. Marine Corps

    The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) reports to the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), head of the Department of the Navy, yet they are considered to be a distinct branch of the military and not a part of the U.S. Navy. The Commandant of the Marine Corps does not report to a naval officer (unless the chairman of the rotating joint chief of staff happens to be a Navy admiral). However, as the Navy often serves to deliver Marines to their deployments, Marines being transported on a naval vessel must obey the orders of its captain. Marine air squadrons deploy alongside Navy air squadrons on aircraft carriers or in aircraft carrier strike groups, but often have distinct missions and rarely fly sorties together, except to directly support Marine ground troops.

    The Navy's Blue Angels flight team includes at least one Marine pilot.

    The United States Naval Academy trains Marine Corps officers, and in return, U.S. Navy officers are trained as Drill Instructors by Marine Corps NCOs, in addition to their Navy Recruit Division Commander.

    Since the Marines do not train Chaplains or Hospital Corpsmen, officers and enlisted sailors from the Navy fill these roles, generally wearing Marine uniforms emblazoned with Navy insignia and markings in order to be noticeably distinct to compatriots, but indistinguishable to enemies. Navy Corpsmen and Chaplains are generally accepted as brother Marines and frequently prefer to stay with the Marines (despite arduous conditions) because of the "band of brothers" attitude that develops. These sailors operate under Marines' command under the auspices of the Fleet Marine Force.

    The Marines also operate a network security team in conjunction with the Navy.

    The Marines enjoy a stronger sense of camaraderie with sailors in the Navy compared with other branches of the military, with the sailors often being referred to as "Bluejackets."

    Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients wear the Navy variant of the award. Marines that meet the award criteria can also be awarded the Navy Cross.

    Uniforms

    The uniforms of the United States Navy are designed to combine professionalism and naval heritage with versatility, safety, and comfort."Task Force Uniform". Navy Personnel Command. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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.Fouch, Michael, USN. "New Navy Working Uniform and Service Uniform Concepts Approved". Navy Newstand. Accessed April 08, 2006. 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.

    Recently, the Navy's "Task Force Uniform" streamlined the Navy uniforms. Starting in late 2007, enlisted personnel from Seaman Recruit to Petty Officer 1st Class (E1-E6) will have one service uniform instead of Winter Blues and Summer Whites. All personnel Seaman Recruit to Admiral will have a new working uniform as well. The Navy Working Uniform (NWU) is a digital patterned camouflage predominately haze gray and blue that will take the place of several working uniforms including "wash khakis", Coveralls, dungarees, and aviation working greens.

    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 mainmast. The First Naval Jack, however, has always been flown on the oldest ship in the American fleet.

    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 Oliver Hazard Perry, 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

    References

    External links

    1794 establishments | United States Navy

    United States Navy | United States Navy | Armada de los Estados Unidos | United States Navy | United States Navy | הצי האמריקני | United States Navy | アメリカ海軍 | United States Navy | Marynarka Wojenna Stanów Zjednoczonych | Marinha dos Estados Unidos da América | Военно-морские силы США | United States Navy | Vojna mornarica Združenih držav Amerike | Yhdysvaltain laivasto | USA:s flotta | 美國海軍

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "United States Navy".

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