United States Navy

The United States Navy has existed since the days of the American Revolutionary War. The first notable leader was John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792). He is famous for the quote, "I have not yet begun to fight." spoken from his ship the Bon Homme Richard during a battle with the British ship, HMS Serapis, during the war.

The first official ship commissioned by the United States under the Constitution was the Heavy Frigate USS Constitution which is still considered in active service in the United States Navy. The ship has the nickname of Old Ironsides a nickname that it received during an engagement with the British Frigate HMS Guerriere.

The navy has a long history in peacetime and war serving in many wars and conflicts and is the largest naval force in the world. It is most notable in being one of the major participants in the Pacific Theater of WWII. The most notable of the ships serving in that Theater was the USS Enterprise (CV-6), it serving in nearly every major engagement but two and is the most decorated ship in US Navy history. The Big E has the honor of being awarded the British Admiralty Pennant the only foreign ship to receive this decoration. The final act of WWII was the signing of the Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri.

The navy has warships ranging from the massive Nimitz-class supercarriers to small patrol ships. The navy has it's own aviation wing as well as it's own Special Forces Units(Navy SEALs.)

The current US Navy has 239 combat vessels composed of 11 aircraft carriers, 22 cruisers, 60 destroyers, 29 frigates, 2 littoral combat ships, 32 amphibious warfare vessels, 71 submarines, 14 minesweepers, 11 patrol ships, and one technical research ship.