Navy (United States)
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| Navy (United States) | |
|---|---|
| Name | United States Navy |
| Founded | October 13, 1775 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Armed Forces |
| Type | Naval warfare |
| Garrison | The Pentagon |
| Motto | "Semper Fortis" (historical) |
| Commander in chief | President of the United States |
| Secretary | United States Secretary of the Navy |
| Chief | Chief of Naval Operations |
| Notable commands | United States Fleet Forces Command, United States Pacific Fleet, United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa |
Navy (United States) The Navy (United States) is the maritime service of the United States responsible for naval warfare, power projection, and seaborne logistics. It operates alongside United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, and United States Space Force elements to support national defense, alliance commitments, and maritime security. Its global posture spans Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and littoral regions associated with partners such as United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and NATO members.
History
Origins trace to the Continental Navy established during the American Revolutionary War and actions like the Battle of Valcour Island and commerce raiding by captains such as John Paul Jones. The 19th century saw expansion in the Barbary Wars, involvement in the War of 1812, and transformation during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War with innovations like ironclads at Battle of Hampton Roads. The late 19th and early 20th centuries featured modernization under leaders influenced by Alfred Thayer Mahan and actions in the Spanish–American War, including the Battle of Manila Bay and the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. In the 20th century the Navy played decisive roles in World War I convoy warfare, World War II carrier battles at Midway, Leyte Gulf, and Coral Sea, and in Cold War confrontations with the Soviet Union exemplified by incidents near Cuban Missile Crisis and operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Post-Cold War operations encompassed Persian Gulf actions such as Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as humanitarian missions after events like the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Organization and Command Structure
Operational command is exercised through numbered fleets including United States Seventh Fleet, United States Sixth Fleet, United States Fifth Fleet, and United States Third Fleet, under theater commanders such as United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States European Command. Administrative control rests with civilian leadership at Department of the Navy and uniformed leadership including the Chief of Naval Operations and the Chief of Naval Personnel. Specialized commands include Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Information Forces, Naval Special Warfare Command, and Naval Surface Forces. Coordination with allies and multinational structures occurs via NATO Allied Command Operations, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partners, and task forces like Combined Maritime Forces.
Personnel and Training
Sailors are recruited from across the United States and trained at institutions such as United States Naval Academy, Naval ROTC, Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and technical schools including Naval Nuclear Power School. Officer development involves Officer Candidate School, United States Naval War College, and Naval Postgraduate School. Specialized pipelines produce aviators through Naval Air Training Command, submariners through Naval Submarine School, and special operators via Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen programs. Advancement, awards, and recognition include Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, and career frameworks aligning with Enlisted Rating structures and Designator codes.
Ships and Submarines
The fleet comprises carrier strike groups centered on Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier hulls, surface combatants including Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Zumwalt-class destroyer, and Ticonderoga-class cruiser. Amphibious capabilities rely on Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, America-class amphibious assault ship, San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, and Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship. Logistics and support include Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship. Submarine force centers on Los Angeles-class submarine, Seawolf-class submarine, Virginia-class submarine, and ballistic-missile platforms like Ohio-class submarine. Mine warfare and patrol assets include Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship and Cyclone-class patrol ship.
Aviation and Weapons Systems
Naval aviation fields fixed-wing and rotary platforms such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-35C Lightning II, E-2 Hawkeye, P-8 Poseidon, MH-60R Seahawk, and MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned systems. Weapons and sensor suites include the Aegis Combat System, Tomahawk cruise missile, Standard Missile family, Phalanx CIWS, Vertical Launching System, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles like the Trident II (D5). Directed-energy experiments and electronic warfare tie to programs like the Office of Naval Research initiatives and collaborations with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Naval Research Laboratory.
Operations and Deployments
Carrier strike groups and expeditionary strike groups execute power projection in regions such as the South China Sea, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, and Mediterranean Sea. Peacetime missions include freedom of navigation exercises with partners Royal Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Navy; counter-piracy with Combined Task Force 151; and humanitarian assistance in coordination with United States Agency for International Development and United Nations. The Navy supports joint operations with United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force in exercises such as RIMPAC, Operation Enduring Freedom, and multinational drills like Talisman Sabre and Northern Edge.
Modernization and Future Capabilities
Modernization priorities emphasize shipbuilding programs for Columbia-class submarine, next-generation carriers, distributed lethality with unmanned surface vessels like Sea Hunter, integration of F-35C Lightning II and future unmanned aerial systems, and networked command via Naval Integrated Fire Control–Counter Air. Investments target hypersonic weapons, directed-energy systems, undersea warfare enhancements, and cyber capabilities in partnership with U.S. Cyber Command and industry leaders such as General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. Strategic concepts reference Maritime Strategy (1986), Distributed Maritime Operations, and alliance frameworks including AUKUS cooperation on submarine technology and trilateral security initiatives.