US Navy

Type

Maritime service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces

Founded

1775-10-13

Headquarters

The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, United States

Re-established

1794-03-27

Active Personnel

336,978 (as of 2024)

Total Displacement

4.5 million tons (as of 2021)

Department Established

1798-04-30

Aircraft Carriers in Service

11 (as of 2024)

1775-10-13

1794-03-27

1798-04-30

1941-12-07

1944-10-23

2021-01-01

The U.S. Navy grew into a formidable force in the years prior to World War II, with battleship production being restarted in 1937, commencing with USS _North Carolina_(BB-55) "USS North Carolina (BB-55)"). Though ultimately unsuccessful, Japan tried to neutralize this strategic threat with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 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 [...] The United States Navy (USN) is the maritimeservice branch of the United States Armed Forces and is designated as the Navy of the United States in the Constitution. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest displacement "Displacement (ship)"), at 4.5 million tons in 2021.( It has the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet, with eleven in service, one undergoing trials, two new carriers under construction, and six other carriers planned as of 2024. With 336,978 personnel on active [...] The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War and was effectively disbanded as a separate entity shortly thereafter. After suffering significant loss of goods and personnel at the hands of the Barbary pirates from Algiers, the United States Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 for the construction of six heavy frigates, the first ships of the Navy. The United States Navy played a major role in the American Civil

The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that became notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy" the result of a modernization effort that began in the 1880s and made it the largest in the world by 1943., Barbary states in the First and Second Barbary Wars, and the British in the War of 1812. After the War of 1812, the U.S. Navy was at peace until the [...] After World War II ended, the U.S. Navy entered the 45 year long Cold War and participated in the Korean and Vietnam proxy wars. Nuclear power and ballistic and guided missile technology led to new ship propulsion and weapon systems, which were used in the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and Ohio-class submarines. By 1978, the number of ships had dwindled to less than 400, many of which were from World War II, which prompted Ronald Reagan to institute a program for a modern, 600-ship Navy. [...] In 1882, the U.S. Navy consisted of many outdated ship designs. Over the next decade, Congress approved building multiple modern steel-hulled armored cruisers and battleships, and by around the start of the 20th century had moved from twelfth place in 1870 to fifth place in terms of numbers of ships. Most sailors were foreigners. After winning two major battles during the 1898 Spanish–American War, the American Navy continued to build more ships, and by the end of World War I had more men and

here: [Likes: 1085, Comments: 77]; US Navy (5mo): #USNavyPhotosoftheDay 1️⃣ A landing craft air cushion (LCAC), assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4, launches from USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). 2️⃣ Sailors assigned to USS America (LHA 6) remove chocks and chains from a F-35B Lightning II aircraft on the flight deck in the Coral Sea. 3️⃣ Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Aircraft Handling 1st Class Isaiah Johnson, from Philadelphia, directs aircraft on the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73) while [...] celebrating these vital members of our Navy! #USNavy #NavyMedicine #Navy250 #CorpsmanUp [Likes: 1156, Comments: 53]; US Navy (6mo): #USNavyPhotosoftheDay 1️⃣ U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 1 prepare for exothermic cutting underwater during exercise Baltic Operations 2025 (BALTOPS 25). 2️⃣ A U.S. Sailor provides instruction during an aircraft firefighting drill on the flight deck of USS Milius (DDG 69) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. 3️⃣ An [...] #USNavyPhotosoftheDay 1️⃣ #USNavy Sailors simulate fighting a fire during a damage control drill aboard USS Gridley (DDG 101) in the South China Sea. 2️⃣ U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Naval Construction Battalion 14 and Marines assigned to 8th Engineering Support Battalion conduct trench reinforcement training during exercise Baltic Operations 2025 (BALTOPS 25). 3️⃣ Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) participate in a fire drill on the ship’s

On October 13, 1775, America’s Continental Congress passed a resolution to establish the present-day U.S. Navy with a “swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men.” After the American Revolution, the new Congress acted on the power of the U.S. Constitution “to provide and maintain a navy.” Some 22 years later, on April 30, 1798, Congress officially established the Department of the Navy. [...] In October 1944, the U.S. Navy engaged in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, widely considered the largest naval battle ever fought. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, it involved nearly 200,000 men fighting in four separate engagements across more than 100,000 square miles of ocean. Nearly 300 U.S. ships fought to liberate the Philippines, battling some 70 Japanese warships.