Information AboutUs Navy |
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The United States Navy ('''USN''') is the branch of the 2007 . The United States Navy traces its origins to the 2006 . by passing the Naval Act Of 1794 ordering the construction and manning of Six Frigates . The U.S. Navy came into international prominence in the 20th century, especially during World War II . It was a part of the conflict from the onset of American military involvement — the Attack On Pearl Harbor — to Japan's official surrender on the deck of the USS ''Missouri'' . In the subsequent Cold War , the U.S. Navy evolved into a nuclear deterrent and crisis response force while preparing for a possible global war with the Soviet Union . The 21st century United States Navy maintains a sizable presence in the world, deploying in such areas as East Asia, Southern Europe, and the 2006 . and has a budget of $127.3 billion for the 2007 Fiscal Year . Briefing . United States Navy Office of Financial Operations. Accessed April 06, 2007. The Navy is administratively managed by the Department Of The Navy , which is headed by the civilian Secretary Of The Navy . The Department of the Navy is, itself, a division of the Department Of Defense , which is headed by the Secretary Of Defense . The highest ranking Navy officer is the Chief Of Naval Operations . HISTORY See Also: History of the United States Navy Origins In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War , the establishment of an official navy was an issue of debate 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 British Royal Navy , then the world's preeminent naval power, was a foolish undertaking. While Congress deliberated, it received word that two unarmed British supply ships from England were heading towards 2006 . The Continental Navy achieved mixed results; it was successful in a few individual engagements and raided many British merchant vessels, but it lost 24 shipsLove, Robert W. Jr. History of the U.S. Navy Volume One: 1775-1941. Harrisburg: Stackpole Books, 1992.and at one point was reduced to two in active service.Howarth, Steven. To Shining Sea: A history of the United States Navy 1776-1991. New York: Random House, 1991. As Congress turned its attention after the conflict towards securing the western border of the new United States, a standing navy was considered to be dispensable because of its high operating costs and its limited number of national roles. From reestablishment to the Civil War The United States would be without a navy for nearly a decade — a state of affairs that exposed its merchant ships to a series of attacks by , USS ''Constellation'' and USS ''Constitution'' . battles HMS ''Guerriere'' in the War Of 1812 .]] Following an undeclared Quasi-War with France, the U.S. Navy saw substantial action in the War Of 1812 , where it defeated rival British frigates on more than one occasion and emerged victorious in freshwater 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. After the war, the U.S. Navy again focused its attention on protecting American shipping assets, sending squadrons to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, South America, Africa, and the Pacific. The United States went to war in 1846 Against Mexico and the Navy contributed by instituting a blockade, assisting the American takeover of California , and participating in the U.S. military's first large-scale amphibious operation at Vera Cruz . The United States Navy established itself as a player in American foreign policy through the actions of Commodore Matthew Perry in Japan, which resulted in the Convention Of Kanagawa in 1854. Naval power would play a significant role during the 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 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. Soon after the war, however, the U.S. Navy slipped into obsolescence because of neglect. 20th century A modernization program beginning in the 1880s brought the U.S. into the first rank of the world's navies by the end of the century. In 1907, several of the Navy's ships, dubbed the Great White Fleet , were showcased in a 14-month circumnavigation of the world. Ordered by President Theodore Roosevelt , it was a mission designed to demonstrate the Navy's capability to extend to the global theater. The Navy saw little action during 2006 . (CV-5) under attack at the Battle Of Midway in World War II .]] With the potential for armed conflict with the 2006 . The Navy was a major participant in the Vietnam War , blockaded Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis , and through the use of Ballistic Missile Submarines , became an important aspect of the United States' Nuclear Strategic Deterrence policy. The United States Navy conducted various combat operations in the Persian Gulf against Iran in 1987 and 1988, most notably Operation Praying Mantis . 21st century The United States Navy continues to be a major support to American interests in the 21st century. Since the end of the Cold War, it has shifted its focus from a large-scale war with the Soviet Union to special operations and strike missions in regional conflicts. The Navy participated in Operation Enduring Freedom , the Iraq War , and the ongoing War On Terrorism largely in this capacity. Development continues on new ships and weapons, including the CVN-21 aircraft carrier and the Littoral Combat Ship . Because of its size, weapons technology, and ability to project force far from American shores, the current U.S. Navy remains a potent asset for the United States Commander-in-Chief (the President Of The United States ). The current strategic objectives of the USN:
ORGANIZATION The Navy falls under the administration of the Department Of The Navy , under civilian leadership of the Secretary Of The Navy (SECNAV) . The most senior naval officer is the Chief Of Naval Operations (CNO) , a four-star admiral who is immediately under and reports to 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 United States 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 that it is ready for operation under the command of the Unified Combatant Commanders . Operating forces See Also: United States Navy operating forces organization List of units of the United States Navy There are nine components to the 2006 . Fleets in the United States Navy 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 the naval forces component of each Unified Combatant Command . While not widely publicized, groups of ships departing U.S. waters for operational missions gain a Task Force type designation, almost always with the Second or Third Fleets. On entry into another numbered fleet's area of responsibility, they are redesignated as a task group from that fleet. For example, a carrier task group departing the Eastern Seaboard for the Mediterranean might start out as Task Group 20.1; on entry into the Mediterranean, it might become Task Group 60.1. (CV-63) docks at the U.S. navy base in Yokosuka, Japan .]] The United States Navy has five active numbered fleets — Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh — that are each led by a three-star Vice Admiral. These five fleets are further grouped under Fleet Forces Command (the former Atlantic Fleet), Pacific Fleet, Naval Forces Europe, and Naval Forces Central Command, whose commander also doubles as Commander Fifth Fleet; these four commands are led by four-star full Admirals. The , 2006 . Likewise, Fourth Fleet has not been in operation for some time and no other active fleet has been renamed as such. 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 . The Navy maintains several "Naval Forces Commands" which operate naval Shore Facilities and serve as liaison units to local ground forces of the Air Force and Army. Such commands are answerable to a Fleet Commander as the shore protector component of the afloat command. During times of war, all Naval Forces Commands augment to become task forces of a primary fleet. Some of the larger Naval Forces Commands in the Pacific Ocean include Commander Naval Forces Korea (CNFK), Commander Naval Forces Marianas (CNFM), and Commander Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ). anchored near Jolo, Philippines .]] Military Sealift Command See Also: Military Sealift Command Military Sealift Command (MSC) serves not only the United States Navy, but the entire Department of Defense as the ocean carrier of 2006 . MSC operates approximately 120 ships with 100 more in reserve and is unique in that its ships are manned not by active duty Navy personnel, but by civil service or contract Merchant Mariners . Relationships with other service branches United States Marine Corps Historically, the United States Navy has enjoyed a unique relationship with the United States Marine Corps (USMC), partly because they both specialize in seaborne operations. At the very top level of civilian organization, the USMC is part of the Department Of The Navy and reports to the Secretary Of The Navy . However, it is considered to be a distinct, separate service branch and not a subset of the Navy; the highest ranking Marine officer, the Commandant Of The Marine Corps , does not report to a Navy officer. Marine Corps Medal Of Honor recipients are awarded the Navy variant and Marines are eligible to receive the Navy Cross . The United States Naval Academy trains Marine Corps commissioned officers while Navy officers undergo instruction by Marine NCO Drill Instructors, in addition to their normal Recruit Division Commander. The relationship extends to the operational theater as well. As amphibious assault specialists, Marines often deploy on and attack from Navy vessels; while being transported on a Navy ship, they must obey the orders of its captain. Marine strike-fighter air squadrons operate alongside Navy strike-fighter air squadrons from aircraft carriers, though they frequently have distinct missions and rarely fly sorties together; except to directly support Marine ground troops. Other types of marine air squadrons operate from amphibious assault ships in support of marine amphibious operations. The USMC does not train Chaplains , Religious Programs Specialist s and Hospital Corpsmen or medical doctors; thus officers and enlisted sailors from the Navy fulfill these roles. They generally wear Marine uniforms that are emblazoned with Navy insignia and markings to distinguish themselves from Marines. Corpsmen, Religious Program Specialists, and chaplains enjoy a great sense of camaraderie with the Marines due in part because they work closely with them and often are embedded with Marine units. They operate under the command of the Marine Corps under the auspices of the Fleet Marine Force , often called "green side" corpsman.[http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2007/070302-recon.html USMC Public affairs] -- Recon Marines seek green-side corpsmen. United States Coast Guard Because the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the Navy from enforcing United States laws, the United States Coast Guard fulfills this role in naval operations. It provides Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) to Navy vessels, where they perform arrests and other law enforcement duties during Navy boarding and interdiction missions. In times of war, or when directed by the President, the Coast Guard operates as a service in the Navy and is subject to the orders of the Secretary of the Navy until it is transferred back to the Department Of Homeland Security . At other times, Coast Guard Port Security Unit s are sent overseas to guard the security of ports and other assets. The Coast Guard also jointly staffs the Navy's Naval Coastal Warfare Groups and Squadrons (the latter of which were known as Harbor Defense Command s until late-2004), which oversee defense efforts in foreign littoral combat and inshore areas. PERSONNEL from the USS ''Enterprise'' (CVN-65).]] The United States Navy has nearly 500,000 personnel, approximately a quarter of whom are in ready reserve. Of those on active duty, more than eighty percent are Enlisted sailors while Commissioned Officer s make up around fifteen percent; the rest are Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy (who are on active duty) and NROTC units at over 180 universities around the country. 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 . Commissioned officer See Also: List of United States Navy staff corps Commissioned officers in the Navy have pay grades ranging from O-1 to O-10, with O-10 being the highest; those with paygrades between O-1 through O-4 are considered junior officers (Junior Officer status, as well as JOPA membership, is lost once an officer accepts a Department Head billet) and officers in the O-7 to O-10 range are called flag officers or the "admiralty." Promotion is based on performance in an officer's current paygrade, which is recorded in "FITREPS" (fitness reports), usually self-written by the officer and edited by superiors. Above the rank of Admiral is , Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS), and a host of other commissioning programs such as the Seaman to Admiral-21 program, the Limited Duty Officer Selection Program, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy . Commissioned officers can generally be divided into line officers and staff corps; line officers can be further split into unrestricted and restricted communities. Unrestricted Line Officer s are the warfighting command element and are authorized to lead ships, aviation squadrons, and special operations units. Restricted Line Officer s, on the other hand, concentrate on non-combat related fields, such as engineering and maintenance; they are ''not'' qualified to command combat units. Staff Corps officers are specialists in fields that are themselves professional careers and not exclusive to the military, for example: medicine, law, and civil engineering. Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) pay grades range from CWO2 to the highest rank of CWO5. United States Navy CWOs are commissioned officers whose role is to provide leadership and skills for the most difficult and demanding operations in a particular technical specialty. They occupy a niche that is not as well served by the line officer community, which tends to have a broader focus. CWOs come from the senior non-commissioned officer ranks of the enlisted and receive their commission after completing the appropriately named Chief Warrant Officer Program. They typically become CWOs in specialties that are most related to their previous enlisted rating. Like Staff Corps officers, CWOs wear special insignia above the rank devices on their shoulder boards and sleeves to indicate their field of expertise. Enlisted sailors See Also: List of United States Navy ratings Enlisted members of the Navy have pay grades from E-1 to E-9, with E-9 being the highest. All enlisted sailors with paygrades of E-4 and higher are considered ''Petty Officers'' while those at E-7 and higher are further named ''Chief Petty Officers'' . Unlike commissioned officers, who are given authority by the government, NCOs are promoted through the ranks of the enlisted. Those who demonstrate superior performance are given an increase in paygrade; the official Navy term is to be ''advanced''. Two notable advancements are from Seaman to Petty Officer Third Class (E-3 to E-4) and from Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer (E-6 to E-7). Advancement to Chief Petty Officer is especially significant and is marked by a special initiation ceremony. Enlisted members of pay grades E-4 and above are said to be "rated," meaning that they possess a ''rating'' , or occupational specialty. Members of grades E-1 to E-3 can be "strikers," meaning they have the same rating designation as a Petty Officer in their field (example: a BM3 is a Petty Officer Third Class rated as a Boatswain's Mate; BMSN is a Seaman designated as a Boatswain's Mate striker), but do not necessarily have to be. Whether a designated striker or not, personnel in the pay grades of E-3 and below are all considered "Non-Rates." There are more than 50 ratings covering a broad range of skills and subspecialties. Uniforms and appearance 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 8 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.
NCO with a (female) US Navy hospital corpsman, attached to the Bermuda Regiment from USNAS Bermuda , on training at USMC Camp Lejeune , 1994. The hospital corpsman wears a military combat uniform.]]
Recently, the Navy completed a project named "Task Force Uniform" to streamline Navy uniforms. Among the changes are that enlisted personnel from 2006 . Grooming for both male and female sailors is regulated to a high degree, with exact standards in regards to hair, facial hair, use of cosmetics, and jewelry. New male recruits are given the military 2006 . BASES See Also: List of United States Navy installations The size, complexity, and international presence of the United States Navy require a large number of navy 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 facilities farther inland and abroad, either in U.S.-controlled territories or in foreign countries under a Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Eastern United States The largest concentration of installations is in Hampton Roads , Virginia , where the Navy occupies over 36,000 acres (146 km&2) of land, making it the largest naval base in the world. It is the homeport of the Atlantic Fleet and the location of Northrop Grumman Newport News , a privately owned company that builds the ''Nimitz''-class Aircraft Carrier . The state of Florida is the location of two major bases, Naval Station Mayport , the Navy's third largest, near Jacksonville and Naval Air Station Pensacola , the primary training base for Navy and Marine pilots. The main U.S. Navy submarine base is located in Groton , Connecticut . Western United States and Hawaii The Navy's second largest complex is located in 2006 . The naval presence in Hawaii is centered on Pearl Harbor , which hosts the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet and many of its subordinate commands. United States territories in the Caribbean formerly housed a navy facility, but it was shut down in 2004 shortly after the controversial closure of the live ordnance training area on nearby Vieques Island . Foreign countries The largest overseas base is in 2006 . which serves as the homeport for the Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet and is a significant base of operations in the Western Pacific. European operations revolve around facilities in Italy and Greece with Gaeta, Italy as the homeport for the Sixth Fleet. In the Middle East, naval facilities are located almost exclusively in countries bordering the Persian Gulf , with Manama, Bahrain serving as the headquarters of Fifth Fleet. Guantánamo Bay in Cuba is the oldest overseas facility and has become known in recent years as the location of a Detention Camp for suspected Al-Qaeda operatives. SHIPS (CVN 76), the newest aircraft carrier]] See Also: United States 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" USN Ship Naming .Naval Historical Center Website. Accessed May 19, 2007, designating '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 indicate the 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, or 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 Navy also maintains a Reserve Fleet of inactive vessels that are maintained for reactivation in times of need. The U.S. Navy pioneered the use of 2006 . The U.S. Navy previously operated nuclear-powered cruisers and destroyers as well, but all have been decommissioned. Aircraft carriers (CVN-68) returns from deployment in the Persian Gulf.]] Due to their ability to put most nations within striking distance of U.S. air power, 2006 . protect friendly forces, conduct electronic warfare, assist in special operations, and carry out Search And Rescue missions. In addition to their airborne capabilities, carriers are important as command platforms for large battle groups or multinational task forces. A carrier is typically deployed along with a host of additional vessels, forming a ''carrier Strike Group'' . The supporting 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. Ready logistics support for the group is provided by a combined ammunition, oiler, and supply ship. Aircraft carriers beginning with USS ''John F. Kennedy'' (CV-67) are named for living or deceased politicians important to the Navy or United States history. Previous aircraft carriers were generally named for battles and past famous fighting ships of the Navy.
Amphibious warfare vessels 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 comprises land forces instead of aircraft. They deliver, command, coordinate, and fully support all elements of a 2200-strong Marine Expeditionary Unit in an amphibious assault using air and amphibious vehicles. Resembling small aircraft 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 (LCAC) and other amphibious assault 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. 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.
(LPD-21), for the state of New York , and USS ''Somerset'' (LPD-25) for Somerset County, Pennsylvania .
The Dock Landing Ship is a medium amphibious transport that is designed specifically to support and operate Landing Craft Air Cushion s (LCACs), though it is able to operate other amphibious assault vehicles in the United States inventory as well. Dock landing ships are normally deployed as a component of an expeditionary strike group's amphibious assault contingent, operating as a secondary launch platform for LCACs. All dock landing ships are named after locations in the United States.
Surface vessels Cruiser s are large surface combat vessels that conduct anti-air/anti-missile warfare, surface warfare, undersea warfare, and strike operations independently or as members of a larger task force. Modern guided missile cruisers were developed out of a need to counter the anti-ship missile threat facing the United States Navy. This led to the development of the AN/SPY-1 phased array radar and the Standard Missile 2 with the Aegis Combat System coordinating the two. ''Ticonderoga''-class cruisers became the first to equip Aegis and were put to use primarily as anti-air and anti-missile defense in a battle force protection role. Later developments of Vertical Launch System s and the Tomahawk Missile gave cruisers additional long-range land and sea strike capability, making them capable of both offensive and defensive battle operations. All cruisers since CG-47 have been named for famous battles with USS ''Thomas S. Gates'' (CG-51) as the only exception. 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).
(DDG-69) fires a Tomahawk Missile in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom .]] Destroyers are multi-mission medium surface ships capable of sustained performance in anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and offensive strike operations. Like cruisers, the guided missile destroyers of the Navy are primarily focused on surface strikes using Tomahawk Missiles and fleet defense through Aegis and the Standard Missile . Destroyers additionally specialize in anti-submarine warfare and are equipped with VLA Rockets and LAMPS Mk III Sea Hawk helicopters to deal with underwater threats. When deployed with a carrier strike group or expeditionary strike group, destroyers and their fellow Aegis-equipped cruisers are primarily tasked with defending the fleet while providing secondary strike capabilities. Destroyers have been named for important navy personnel and heroes since the USS ''Bainbridge'' (DD-1).
Modern U.S. 2006 . As in the case of destroyers, frigates are named after naval heroes.
All U.S. Battleship s have been decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. Designed to engage other capital ships in open sea warfare, battleships were the Navy's largest and most important vessels until the mid-20th century. The rise of aircraft carriers in World War II led to the declining importance of battleships and the Navy relegated them to the roles of fire support and escort. Following a long period of inactivity, the ''Iowa'' Class battleships were recommissioned in the 1980s to augment the Navy's size and were upgraded with Tomahawk cruise missile capability. They were decommissioned for the final time in the early 1990s due in part to their high maintenance costs and the Cold War's end. All battleships except USS ''Kearsarge'' (BB-5) were named for states. (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 . 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 ]] The U.S. Navy has operated a number of vessels important to both United States and world naval history. 2006 . USS ''Long Beach'' (CGN-9) was the first nuclear-powered ''surface'' warship in the world and signaled a new era of United States naval weaponry by being the first large ship in the Navy to have guided missiles as its main battery. AIRCRAFT s fly over the Western Pacific Ocean.]] See Also: List of US Naval aircraft List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) See Also: List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons Carrier-based aircraft are able to strike air, sea, and land targets far from a carrier strike group while protecting friendly forces from enemy aircraft, ships, and submarines. In peacetime, aircraft's ability to project the threat of sustained attack from a mobile platform on the seas gives United States leaders significant diplomatic and crisis-management options. Aircraft additionally provide Logistics support to maintain the Navy’s readiness and, through helicopters, supply platforms with which to conduct Search And Rescue , Special Operations , Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-surface Warfare (ASuW). The U.S. Navy began to research the use of aircraft at sea in the 1910s and commissioned its first aircraft carrier, 2006 . WEAPONS SYSTEMS See Also: List of US Navy weapons 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. Because they are unmanned weapons, missiles allow for attacks on heavily defended targets without risk to human pilots. Land 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. For anti-ship strikes, the Navy's dedicated missile is the Harpoon Missile . 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 undergoing development for use in 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 employs Mark 46 and Mark 50 torpedoes and various types of mines. bombs.]] Naval fixed-wing aircraft 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 weapons deployed by fixed-wing aircraft. Rotary aircraft weapons revolve around anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and light to medium surface engagements. To combat submarines, helicopters use Mark 46 and Mark 50 torpedoes. Against small watercraft, they utilize Hellfire and Penguin air to surface missiles. Helicopters also employ various types of mounted anti-personnel machine guns, including the M60D , M240 , GAU-16 , and GAU-17 . Nuclear weapons in the U.S. Navy arsenal are deployed through ballistic missile submarines and aircraft. The 2006 . The Navy’s other nuclear weapon is the aircraft-deployed B61 Nuclear Bomb . 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 the United States Navy SEALs and the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCCs, pronounced "swicks"). The SEALs derive their name from the environments in and from which they can operate: ''SE''a, '''''A'''''ir, and '''''L'''''and. Their distinguishing specialty, however, is maritime operations — striking from and returning to the sea. "SEAL Missions" . Official U.S. Navy SEAL Information Website. Accessed April 8 2006 .The SEALs are a flexible group of naval Special Forces who are trained to conduct clandestine warfare, most often in small-unit actions. SWCC's are trained in small ship and watercraft special operations and often work closely with their SEAL counterparts. Organized into 2006 . Naval special operations groups 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 seven operational entities: four ''Special Warfare Groups'', the ''Special Warfare Development Group'', the ''Operational Support Group'', and the ''Special Warfare Center''.
Although not under the jurisdiction of NSW Command, Navy 2006 . COASTAL WARFARE Coastal and harbor defense and protection of naval assets 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 provide force protection for high value naval targets 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 comprise ''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 water craft for security, interdiction and surveillance. NAVAL CULTURE First and Current U.S. Naval Jack]] Former U.S. Naval Jack]] in Washington DC]] The current Naval Jack of the United States is the First Navy Jack , traditionally regarded as having been 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 mainmast. The First Naval Jack, however, has always been flown on the oldest ship in the American fleet. Over the course of the United States Navy's 207-year existence, a distinct jargon has evolved among American sailors and has become a normal part of their everyday speech. Modern U.S. Navy Slang draws from a number of varied sources. It includes traditional sailing terms, archaic English words, and a plethora of acronyms, joke phrases, crude expressions, and abbreviations that have been created within the past hundred years. The USN also has new sailors take the " Sailor's Creed " upon entering into service. NOTABLE SAILORS , 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 John Paul Jones , James Lawrence , whose last words "Don't give up the ship" are memorialized in Bancroft Hall hall at the US Naval Academy , Oliver Hazard Perry , Commodore Matthew Perry , who fully opened Tokugawa-era Japan to the West, and Chester Nimitz , Admiral of the Pacific Fleet in World War II, Rodger W. Simpson World War II Hero. A number of former Presidents were in the Navy as well, including John F. Kennedy , Lyndon Johnson , Richard Nixon , Gerald Ford , Jimmy Carter , and George H.W. Bush . Both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt were the Assistant Secretary Of The Navy prior to their Presidencies. 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 such as David Robinson and Roger Staubach . REFERENCES
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