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The United States Navy ('''USN''') is the branch of the United States s and over 4,000 operational Aircraft . The United States Navy can trace its origins to the Continental Navy , which was established during the American Revolutionary War , but was disbanded not long afterwards in the year 1790. The 1789 ratification of the United States Constitution supported the existence of a standing navy by giving Congress the right "to provide and maintain a navy." Following conflict with Barbary Coast Corsairs , Congress enacted this right in 1794 by ordering the construction and manning of Six Frigates , thus establishing a permanent U.S. navy. The U.S. Navy came into international prominence in the 20th century, especially during World War II . The navy was a part of the conflict from the very beginning of American involvement to the very end of the war, and proved to be a vital element in the success of the Allies . It was also heavily involved in the subsequent Cold War , in which the U.S. Navy assisted in Vietnam War operations and roamed the seas with carrier strike groups, minesweeping patrol squadrons and submarines in support of allies. The 21st century United States Navy maintains its presence in the world as an instrument of American policy. Its ability to Project Force anywhere on the globe is a key asset for U.S. leaders. Despite decreases in the number of ships and personnel following the Cold War, the U.S. Navy remains the world’s largest navy with a tonnage greater than 17 of the next largest world navies 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. In addition, the decrease in size has been negated by the Navy's focus on advanced technological capabilities and a high degree of spending relative to other nations. HISTORY See Also: History of the United States Navy In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War , the establishment of an official navy was heavily discussed 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 that would be the first to operate under the authority of Congress and whose mission would be to attack British shipping far from the shore. The plan was not carried out until a second key event on October 13 , 1775 . On this day, Congress received correspondence from George Washington , who announced that he had established three armed schooners under Continental authority to intercept any British supply ships near Massachusetts. With three armed ships already under Continental control, the decision to add two more was made easier for the Continental Congress delegates and the plan was ratified. Thus, the Continental Navy was officially established that day in Philadelphia . "Birthplace of the Navy" . Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. The legislation also established a three-member Naval Committee to supervise the work. 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 war, as attention turned towards securing the western border of the new United States, a standing navy was deemed less important and within a span of two years, a cash-strapped Congress sold the surviving ships and released the seamen and officers.Palmer, Michael A. "The Navy: The Continental Period, 1775-1890" . Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. The United States would be without a navy for over a decade and the impetus to reestablish one came about not because of a threat from a sovereign country, but from pirates. In response to attacks on American shipping by corsairs from the Barbary Coast, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates on , USS ''Constellation'' and USS ''Constitution'' . The U.S. Navy would perform admirably 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. battles HMS ''Guerriere'' in the War Of 1812 .]] Naval power had a significant role during the American 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 Warship s 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 . 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 US Navy participated are the Battle Of Midway , the Battle Of The Philippine Sea , and the Battle Of Leyte Gulf . 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. (CV-5) under attack at the Battle Of Midway in World War II .]] With the potential for armed conflict with the 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 in the 21st century continues to progress as it supports the United States-led War On Terrorism . The focus has shifted 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 one of the most potent assets 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 senior naval officer, the Chief Of Naval Operations (CNO) , is the 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, rather they train and maintain 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.
(CVN-68) (back), USS ''Port Royal'' (CG-73) (middle), and USS ''Annapolis'' (SSN-760) (front)]]
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 . SHIPS See Also: U.S. Navy ships See Also: List of ships of the United States Navy The names of commissioned ships of the U.S. Navy start with USS, meaning '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 designate a 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, and 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 Reactor s aboard naval vessels. Today, nuclear energy powers most U.S. Aircraft Carrier s and Submarine s. In the case of a Nimitz-class carrier, two Naval Reactors give it 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 since been decommissioned. Aircraft carriers returns from deployment in the Persian Gulf.]] See Also: List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy 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 supporting vessels in what is called a Carrier Strike Group . These 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 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 assault ships Amphibious Assault Ship s 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, and support all elements of a 2000-strong Marine Expeditionary Unit in an amphibious assault using air and amphibious vehicles. Resembling small 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 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. Previous deployments had them organized into '''amphibious ready groups''', which consisted of only amphibious warfare vessels. 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 Amphibious Transport Dock s are warships that embark, transport, and land Marines, supplies, and equipment in support of amphibious warfare missions. This is accomplished through air cushions, conventional amphibious vehicles, and helicopters. They also have the capability to serve as a secondary aviation platform for an expeditionary group. Amphibious transport docks are named for cities, except for USS ''Mesa Verde'' (LPD-19), named for the national park in Colorado, USS ''New York'' (LPD-21), which is named for the state of New York , and USS ''Somerset'' (LPD-25), which is named for Somerset County, Pennsylvania .
(BB-61) fires a full broadside.]] Battleships See Also: List of battleships of the United States Navy All U.S. Battleship s have been retired, although two Tomahawk -capable ships remain in "Inactive" Reserve. They are maintained in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act of 1996 . Current plans in the United States Navy call for keeping the battleships on the NVR until the naval surface fire support gun and missile development programs achieve operational capability, which is expected to occur sometime between now and 2008 . All battleships except USS ''Kearsarge'' (BB-5) were named for states. Cruisers See Also: List of United States Navy cruisers Guided missile Cruiser s can conduct anti-air/anti-missile warfare, surface warfare, undersea warfare, and strike operations in support of a carrier strike group or other types of battle groups. They achieve this capability through a combination of the Aegis Combat System , the surface-to-surface Tomahawk Missile , and the surface-to-air RIM-67 Standard Missile 2 . Although they have been surpassed in technology by newer destroyers, cruisers remain an important asset for the U.S. Navy. All cruisers since CG-47 have been named for famous battles. The only exception is the USS ''Thomas S. Gates'' (CG-51). 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 (DDG-69) fires a Tomahawk Missile in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom .]] See Also: List of destroyers of the United States Navy to assist in anti-submarine warfare and other operations. Destroyers have been named for important navy personnel and heroes since the USS ''Bainbridge'' (DD-1).
Dock landing ships The Dock Landing Ship is a medium amphibious transport that has a higher Landing Craft capacity than the amphibious transport dock at the price of less troop and equipment space and no helicopter hangar. As opposed to other amphibious warfare vessels, they were designed specifically to support and operate Landing Craft Air Cushion s. Dock landing ships are named after locations in the United States.
Frigates Modern U.S. Frigate s mainly perform anti-submarine warfare and escort for carrier strike groups, amphibious expeditionary groups, supply convoys, and merchant shipping. They are designed to be used in low to medium threat environments and provide limited anti-ship missile protection. Independently, frigates are able to conduct counterdrug missions and 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.
(SSN-724) entering Pearl Harbor.]] Submarines See Also: Submarines in the United States Navy 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 and that is 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).
Historically significant vessels
AIRCRAFT s fly over the Western Pacific Ocean in a stack formation.]] See Also: List of US Naval 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. Aircraft supply significant logistics support to maintain the Navy’s readiness and, through helicopters, provide platforms with which to conduct search and rescue missions and special operations. The U.S. Navy began to research the use of aircraft at sea in the 1910s and commissioned the very first aircraft carrier, , 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 See Also: List of US Navy weapons Shipboard 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 also being developed as a component for 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. bombs.]] Aircraft systems 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 Bomb s round out the rest of the aircraft deployed weapons. Nuclear weapons The U.S. Navy is capable of deploying nuclear weapons through two means: ballistic missile submarines and aircraft. The . 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 , 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''.
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. MAJOR NAVAL BASES from the USS ''Enterprise'' (CVN-65).]] See Also: List of United States Navy bases The size, complexity, and international presence of the United States Navy requires a large number 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 abroad, either in U.S.-controlled territories or in foreign countries under a Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
PERSONNEL Commissioned officer See Also: U.S. Navy officer rank insignia Commissioned officers in the Navy have paygrades from O-1 to O-10. Officers with superior performance may be ''promoted''. Officers between O-1 and O-4 are called junior officers, O-5 and O-6 are called senior officers, and O-7 to O-10 are called flag officers. Commissioned officers belong to one of the following ''communities'':
The term "line" officer means someone who may command a warship or an aviation unit. It is a carryover from the 18th-century British tactic of employing warships in a "line" to take advantage of cannons on each side of the ship. The captains of such vessels commanded "ships of the line." Today, all Navy line officers wear a star on the sleeves of uniforms near the cuff braid that denotes rank. Staff officers wear different insignias. Note: Marine Corps officers, also part of the Department of the Navy, are all considered "line" officers because they are qualified as troop commanders in addition to their specialties. Commissioned officers originate from the programs). Enlisted See Also: U.S. Navy enlisted rate insignia Enlisted members of the Navy have paygrades from E-1 to E-9. Enlisted members with superior performance may be ''advanced'' in paygrade. Two notably significant advancements are Seaman to Petty Officer Third Class (E-3 to E-4) and Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer (E-6 to E-7). Advancement to Chief Petty Officer is especially significant, marked by a special initiation ceremony. All new active-duty enlisted members receive basic training ("boot camp") at the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. Those who have a contract for a specific rating continue onto "A" schools for training in the rating. Those who don't have a specific rating go into the fleet to learn on the job and later ''strike'' for a rating. Some members may go to additonal training in a "C" school either before a tour of duty, or after a tour of duty. A "C" school assigns a member a Navy Enlisted Classification code, or NEC, which shows that a sailor is able to perform a specific task requiring that NEC, such as NEC 2780 - Network Security Vulnerablity Technician. Enlisted members of paygrades E-4 and above are said to be "rated" and have a ''rating'': an occupational specialty. As of June 2005, there are more than 50 ratings, including Boatswain's Mate, Quartermaster, Engineman, Damage Controlman, Electronics Technician, Information Systems Technician, Air Traffic Controller, Fire Control Technician, Gunner's Mate, Sonar Technician, Construction Mechanic, Hospital Corpsman, Yeoman, Disbursing Clerk, Culinary Specialist, Photographer's Mate, Musician, Master-at-Arms, Aviation Electronics Technician, and Cryptologic Technician. Some ratings have subspecialties acquired either through an initial "A" school for training (such as Cryptologic Technician Technical and Cryptologic Technician Collection) or through a separate "C" school (such as Aviation Electronics Technician Organizational and Aviation Electronics Technician Intermediate.) Qualifications 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 . Sea Warrior Launched in 2003 as part of the Navy's Sea Power 21 transformation plan, Sea Warrior is intended 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. The aim is to more efficiently muster the right number of sailors with the right skills and seniority at each ship, squadron, and duty station. Sea Warrior is led by the Chief Of Naval Personnel , and the commander of the Naval Education and Training Command . UNIFORMS See Also: Uniforms of the United States Navy 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.
NAVAL CULTURE Navy sailors are trained in the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. "Core Values of the United States Navy" . U.S. Navy Official Website. Accessed April 08, 2006. Sailors cope with boredom on long cruises of six months to a year, and cherish their time in their home ports, as well as liberty at ports overseas. Naval jack 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 main mast. Naval jargon See Also: U.S. Navy slang Military slang A distinct jargon has developed among sailors over the course of the last four centuries. Naval jargon is spoken by American sailors as a normal part of their daily speech. There are three distinct components of Naval jargon:
NOTABLE U.S. NAVY PEOPLE , America's first well-known navy hero.]] See Also: List of United States Navy people Many past and present United States historical figures have served in the Navy. Notable officers include 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
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