United States Navy
On the 13th of October 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the purchase of two vessels to be armed for a cruise against British merchantmen. This resolution created the Continental Navy and is considered the first establishment of the U.S. Navy. Commander in Chief George Washington resolved the debate when he commissioned the ocean-going schooner USS Hannah to interdict British merchantmen. The Continental Navy achieved mixed results during the American Revolutionary War. It was successful in a number of engagements and raided many British merchant vessels. However, it lost twenty-four of its vessels and at one point was reduced to two in active service. In August 1785, after the Revolutionary War had drawn to a close, Congress sold the last ship remaining in the Continental Navy due to a lack of funds.
The United States was without a navy for nearly a decade, exposing U.S. merchant ships to attacks by Barbary pirates from Algiers. Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 that established a permanent standing navy on the 27th of March 1794. The act ordered the construction and manning of six frigates. By October 1797, the first three were brought into service: Constitution, United States, and Constellation. John Adams is often called the father of the American Navy due to his strong posture on having a strong standing Navy during this period. From 1801 to 1805, the U.S. Navy defended U.S. ships from the Barbary pirates and executed attacks against their fleets. During the American Civil War, Union blockades shut down Confederate exports and coastal trade. Ironclad warships fought for the first time at the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862, pitting the Monitor against the Virginia.
A modernization program beginning in the 1880s when the first steel-hulled warships stimulated the American steel industry. This rapid expansion brought the U.S. Navy in line with navies such as Britain and Germany. In 1907, most of the Navy's battleships, with several support vessels, dubbed the Great White Fleet, showcased its capability to extend to the global theater. President Theodore Roosevelt ordered a 14-month circumnavigation of the world. By 1911, the U.S. had begun building super-dreadnoughts at a pace to eventually become competitive with Britain. World War I saw the U.S. Navy spend much of its resources protecting hundreds of thousands of soldiers across Atlantic waters infested with U-boats. Battleship Division Nine was dispatched to Britain and served as the Sixth Battle Squadron of the British Grand Fleet. The strength of the United States Navy grew under an ambitious ship building program associated with the Naval Act of 1916.
The potential for armed conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War pushed the U.S. Navy to continue technological advancement. U.S. naval strategy changed to that of forward deployment in support of U.S. allies with an emphasis on carrier battle groups. The navy became an important aspect of the United States nuclear strategic deterrence policy through the use of ballistic missile submarines. The U.S. Navy conducted various combat operations in the Persian Gulf against Iran in 1987 and 1988, most notably Operation Praying Mantis. Since the end of the Cold War, it has shifted focus from preparations for large-scale war with the Soviet Union to special operations and strike missions in regional conflicts. In 2015, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus stated that 60 percent of the total U.S. fleet would be deployed to the Pacific by 2020.
The U.S. Navy falls under the administration of the Department of the Navy, under civilian leadership of the Secretary of the Navy. The most senior naval officer is the Chief of Naval Operations, a four-star admiral who reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy. At the same time, the Chief of Naval Operations is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There are ten components in the operating forces of the U.S. Navy including the United States Fleet Forces Command and the United States Pacific Fleet. The United States Navy has seven active numbered fleets led by vice admirals or rear admirals. These seven fleets are further grouped under commands like Fleet Forces Command and Pacific Fleet. The Second Fleet was deactivated in September 2011 but reestablished in August 2018 amid heightened tensions with Russia.
Sailors prove they have mastered skills and deserve responsibilities by completing Personnel Qualification Standards tasks and examinations. Among the most important is the warfare qualification which denotes a journeyman level of capability in Surface Warfare, Aviation Warfare, Information Dominance Warfare, Submarine Warfare, or Expeditionary Warfare. Enlisted sailors complete basic military training at boot camp before being sent to complete training for their individual careers. The uniforms of the U.S. Navy have evolved gradually since the first uniform regulations for officers were issued in 1802. The predominant colors of U.S. Navy uniforms are navy blue and white. Warrant officers serve in 30 specialties covering five categories and perform duties directly related to their previous enlisted service. Most Navy warrant officers are accessed from chief petty officer pay grades E-7 through E-9.
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Common questions
When was the United States Navy established?
The Continental Congress authorized the purchase of two vessels to be armed for a cruise against British merchantmen on the 13th of October 1775. This resolution created the Continental Navy and is considered the first establishment of the U.S. Navy.
Who is known as the father of the American Navy?
John Adams is often called the father of the American Navy due to his strong posture on having a strong standing Navy during this period. He supported the Naval Act of 1794 that established a permanent standing navy on the 27th of March 1794.
What happened to the Great White Fleet in 1907?
In 1907, most of the Navy's battleships with several support vessels dubbed the Great White Fleet showcased its capability to extend to the global theater. President Theodore Roosevelt ordered a 14-month circumnavigation of the world by these ships.
Which naval battle featured ironclad warships fighting for the first time?
Ironclad warships fought for the first time at the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. The engagement pitted the Monitor against the Virginia during the American Civil War.
How many active numbered fleets does the United States Navy have?
The United States Navy has seven active numbered fleets led by vice admirals or rear admirals. These seven fleets are further grouped under commands like Fleet Forces Command and Pacific Fleet.