Navy

The United States Navy, like the Marines, is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and is the largest navy in the world.

At the beginning of World War I, the Navy’s role was mostly limited to troop transport and convoy escort. Germany became a formidable opponent on the high seas with the use of U-boats. These submarines could go undetected, carrying out attacks and gathering intelligence due to a lack of anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The U.S. responded by increasing funding to the Navy and constructing battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines.

The U.S. Navy continued to grow considerably in the years between WWI and WWII, especially with the increased production of battleships. Improvements in artillery, heavier armor, turbo engines, and radio also revolutionized battle during this time.

The Navy also grew following the attack on Pearl Harbor, as the loss of battleships shifted the focus to a carrier war. The Allied forces embarked on an island-hopping campaign in the Pacific, which included the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. The Japanese followed suit, converting their ships into carriers as well.

After WWII and into the Cold War, the Navy and its NATO allies developed new weapons systems, ships, and aircraft to prepare for large-scale conflicts with the Soviet Union. Fleet air defense became increasingly important, and aircraft carriers such as the USS Midway were built. Fighter planes like the Avenger and Hellcat, equipped with anti-submarine warfare, were added to flight decks. Both the Soviet Union and the U.S. built large nuclear-powered submarine forces, and the USS Enterprise was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The Navy also played a large role in the Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis, and Iraq.

Due to its size, advanced weapons technology, and long-range capability, the Navy remains an important component of 21st-century warfare. Its focus has shifted from large-scale war to special operations and regional strike missions. Surface combatants such as cruisers, destroyers, and frigates engage in anti-air and anti-submarine warfare.

See some of these modern warships, from missile cruisers to the U.S. Coast Guard’s latest cutters, on the following DVD books. Videos with expert commentary about each subject, as well as a full-length book complete with photos, maps, and timelines, fully outline the history of the U.S. Navy.