U.S. Navy The U. S. Navy is responsible for training, maintaining and equipping combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars and maintaining freedom of the seas. The Navy traces its origin to the Continental Navy which was formed during the Revolutionary War, but was disbanded in 1790. In 1794 the Congress authorized the construction and manning of six frigates. The Continental Navy had mixed results while it was successful in a few individual engagements and raided a lot of British merchant ships, but suffered the loss of 24 of its own ships reducing it to two active vessels at one point. Within two years Congress sold the surviving ships and released the officers and seamen.

For nearly a decade the new nation operated without a navy, a fact which allowed many of its merchant ships to be victims of pirates. In 1794 the U.S. Congress decided to construct and man six frigates; three years later the USS United States, USS Constellation and USS Constitution were placed in service. From that point forward the U. S. Navy was involved in numerous operations ranging from the War of 1812 through the Civil War. In 1907 Teddy Roosevelt sent the great white fleet around the world to showcase the fleet.

During WWI the U. S. Navy saw very little action, but this would soon change in WWII. Following Pearl Harbor the navy grew rapidly as the U. S. soon found itself involved in a two-ocean war. By the end of the war the navy had added hundreds of ships, including 18 aircraft carriers and 8 battleships.

The Modern U. S. Navy

Following the Second World War the U. S. Navy continued to modernize and advance technologically as it began developing new weapons and weapon systems to confront the growing threat from the Soviet Union. It participated in the naval blockade of Cuba and was a major participant in the Vietnam War. Since then the Navy has focused its resources on special operations and strike missions in regional conflicts. The Navy has participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and the current War on Terror.

The U. S. Navy continues to develop new ships and weapons to project force far from American shores, and because of its size, weapon technology and abilities remains a potent force for use by the Commander in Chief. The current number of active ships is more than 250 ranging from the huge aircraft carriers to submarines and support ships. Today the Navy has about 375,000 active duty personnel, with another 125,000 on active reserve duty.