Citizendia

For other uses, see Navy (disambiguation).
"Naval" redirects here. For other uses, see Naval (disambiguation).
A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. In four descending columns, from left to right: MM Maestrale (F 570), De Grasse (D 612); USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Charles De Gaulle (R 91), Surcouf (F 711); USS Port Royal (CG-73), HMS Ocean (L 12), USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), HNLMS Van Amstel (F 831); and ITS Luigi Durand de la Penne (D 560).
A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U In four descending columns, from left to right: MM Maestrale (F 570), De Grasse (D 612); USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Charles De Gaulle (R 91), Surcouf (F 711); USS Port Royal (CG-73), HMS Ocean (L 12), USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), HNLMS Van Amstel (F 831); and ITS Luigi Durand de la Penne (D 560). Design These ships were built with the experience and the technology already developed for the previous ''Lupo'' class, the most successful warship design built by the Mission and capabilities The mission of Stennis and her embarked Air Wing ( CVW-9) is to conduct sustained combat air operations while forward deployed in the Development Construction The carrier replaced ''Foch'', a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier in 2001 Photographs Characteristics Reference Commissioning Ceremony Crew Book USS Port Royal Association Savannah July 9 1994 History An invitation to tender for a new Helicopter carrier was issued in February 1992 Ship history 1970s Kennedy' s maiden voyage and several of her subsequent voyages were on deployments to the Mediterranean during much of the Origins This class is named after a famous naval diver who served in the Regia Marina during World War II Luigi Durand de la Penne.
The British Grand Fleet of World War One.
The British Grand Fleet of World War One. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Grand Fleet was a Fleet of the British Royal Navy during the First World War. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

A navy is the branch of a country's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare namely lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking Naval warfare is Combat in and on Seas Oceans or any other major bodies of water such as large Lakes and wide Rivers History A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. The ComBat was an Aluminium Cricket bat and the subject of an incident that occurred at the WACA cricket ground in Perth in December 1979. It includes operations conducted by surface ships, amphibious ships, submarines, and seaborne aviation, as well as ancillary support, communications, training, and other fields; recent developments have included space related operations. In Mathematics, specifically in Topology, a surface is a Two-dimensional Manifold. A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability Naval Aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies Outer space, often simply called space, comprises the relatively empty regions of the Universe outside the escape velocities of Celestial bodies. The strategic offensive role of a Navy is projection of force into areas beyond a country's shores (for example, to protect sea-lanes, ferry troops, or attack other navies, ports, or shore installations). The strategic defensive purpose of a Navy is to frustrate sea-borne projection-of-force by enemies. The strategic task of the navy also may incorporate nuclear deterrence by use of nuclear missiles.

Contents

Etymology

"Navy" came via Old French from Latin navigium = "fleet of ships" from navis = "ship" and agere = "to drive" (as in driving a herd of animals) or "to get something done".

"Naval" came from Latin navalis = "pertaining to ship" (which it means in the biological name Teredo navalis), but due to resemblance became changed to "pertaining to navy". Shipworms are not worms at all but rather a group of unusual saltwater clams with very reduced shells notorious for boring into (and eventually destroying wooden structures which

History

Main article: Naval warfare
HMS Victory, the oldest warship still in commission in the world.
HMS Victory, the oldest warship still in commission in the world. Naval warfare is Combat in and on Seas Oceans or any other major bodies of water such as large Lakes and wide Rivers History Construction In December 1758 the commissioner of Chatham Dockyard was instructed to prepare a Dry dock for the construction of a new First-rate

Naval warfare developed when humans first fought from water-borne vessels. Prior to the introduction of the cannon and ships with sufficient capacity to carry the large guns, navy warfare primarily involved ramming and boarding actions. | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural In the time of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, naval warfare centered on long, narrow vessels powered by banks of oarsmen (such as triremes and quinqueremes) designed to ram and sink enemy vessels or come alongside the enemy Nublets so its occupants could be attacked hand-to-hand. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial With regard to Watercraft, rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of Oars in the water Trireme ( τριήρης sing τριήρεις pl triremis sing A quinquereme (Latin or penteres (Greek is a type of ancient oar-propelled warship that was used by the Greeks of the Hellenistic period and later by the Carthaginians Naval warfare continued in this vein through the Middle Ages until cannon became commonplace and capable of being reloaded quickly enough to be reused in the same battle. The Chola Dynasty of medieval India was known as a one of the greatest naval powers of its time in the Indian Ocean. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface In ancient China, large naval battles were known since the Qin Dynasty (also see Battle of Red Cliffs, 208), employing the war junk during the Han Dynasty. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era Not to be confused with the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty of China The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, ( was a decisive battle at the End of Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the period of the Three -HK CityHall Seaview 51217 5png|thumb|300px|A modern junk in Hong Kong]]A junk is a Chinese sailing vessel. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. However, China's first official standing navy was not established until the Southern Song Dynasty in the 12th century, a time when gunpowder was a revolutionary new application to warfare

The mass and deck space required to carry a large number of cannon made oar-based propulsion impossible and ships came to rely primarily on sails. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a Ship. A sail is any type of surface intended to generate Thrust by being placed in a Wind &mdashin essence a vertically-oriented Wing. Warships were designed to carry increasing numbers of cannon and naval tactics evolved to bring a ship's firepower to bear in a broadside, with ships-of-the-line arranged in a line of battle. Naval tactics in the Age of Sail were used from the early 1600s onward when Sailing ships replaced oared Galleys These were used until the 1860s A broadside is the side of a Ship; the battery of Cannon on one side of a Warship; or their simultaneous (or near simultaneous fire in A ship-of-the-line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th century through the mid-19th century to take part in the the naval tactic known as the Line of battle In Naval warfare, the line of battle is a tactic in which the ships of the fleet form a line end-to-end

The development of large capacity, sail-powered ships carrying cannon led to a rapid expansion of European navies, especially the Spanish and Portuguese navies which dominated in the 16th and early 17th centuries, and ultimately helped propel the age of exploration and colonialism. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans explored See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism The repulsion of the Spanish Armada (1588) by the English fleet revolutionized naval warfare by the success of a guns-only strategy and caused a major overhaul of the Spanish navy, partly along English lines, which resulted in even greater dominance by the Spanish. The Spanish Armada ( Spanish: Grande y Felicísima Armada, "Great and Most Fortunate Navy" or Armada Invencible, "Invincible England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland From the beginning of the 17th century the Dutch cannibalized the Portuguese Empire in the East and, with the immense wealth gained, challenged Spanish hegemony at sea. The Portuguese Empire was the earliest and longest lived of the modern European colonial empires spanning almost six centuries from the capture of Ceuta Eastern Hemisphere, also Eastern hemisphere or eastern hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that is east of the Hegemony (hɨˈdʒɛməni (Amer /hɨˈɡɛməni/ (Brit (ἡγεμονία hēgemonía) is a concept that has been used to describe and explain the dominance of one social From the 1620s, Dutch raiders seriously troubled Spanish shipping and, after a number of battles which went both ways, the Dutch Navy finally broke the long dominance of the Spanish Navy in the Battle of the Downs (1639). The Koninklijke Marine ( Royal Netherlands Navy) is the Navy of the Netherlands. The naval Battle of the Downs took place on 31 October 1639 ( New style) during the Eighty Years' War and was a decisive defeat of the

England emerged as a major naval power in the mid-17th century in the first Anglo-Dutch war with a technical victory but successive decisive Dutch victories in the second and third Anglo-Dutch Wars confirmed the Dutch mastery of the seas during the Dutch Golden Age, financed by the expansion of the Dutch Empire. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Anglo-Dutch Wars ( Dutch: Engels-Nederlandse Oorlogen or Engelse Zeeoorlogen) were fought in the 17th and 18th centuries between England The Anglo-Dutch Wars ( Dutch: Engels-Nederlandse Oorlogen or Engelse Zeeoorlogen) were fought in the 17th and 18th centuries between England This article focuses on social and cultural history For political events see History of the Netherlands and Dutch Revolt (1568–1648 The Dutch Empire was the territories controlled by The Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century The French Navy won some important victories near the end of the 17th century but a focus upon land forces led to the French Navy's relative neglect, which allowed the Royal Navy to emerge with an ever-growing advantage in size and quality, especially in tactics and experience, from 1695. The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale ( National Navy) and often called La Royale ( The Royal Navy) is the maritime arm The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Throughout the 18th century the Royal Navy gradually gained ascendancy over the French Navy, with victories in the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), inconclusive battles in the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748), victories in the Seven Years' War (1754-1763), a partial reversal during the American War of Independence (1775-1783), and consolidation into uncontested supremacy during the 19th century from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714 several European powers combined to stop French succession to the Spanish throne and what would likely have been a resulting The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748 involved nearly all the powers of Europe The Seven Years' War (1756&ndash1763 involved all of the major European powers of the period causing 900000 to 1400000 deaths In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The Battle of Trafalgar ( 21 October 1805) was a historic sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the These conflicts saw the development and refinement of tactics which came to be called the line of battle. Naval tactics in the Age of Sail were used from the early 1600s onward when Sailing ships replaced oared Galleys These were used until the 1860s In Naval warfare, the line of battle is a tactic in which the ships of the fleet form a line end-to-end

U.S. Navy supercarrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
U. S. Navy supercarrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

The next stage in the evolution of naval warfare was the introduction of metal plating along the hull sides. This is about the warships For the television program see Supercarrier (TV series. Ship's history The USS Nimitz was first deployed to the Mediterranean in 1976 in company with the nuclear powered Cruisers USS ''South Carolina'' Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact The increased mass required steam-powered engines, resulting in an arms race between armor and weapon thickness and firepower. The first armored vessels, the French FS Gloire and British HMS Warrior, made wooden vessels obsolete. See also French ship ''Gloire'' for eponymous ships Design and construction News of the highly-secretive designs for La Gloire reached the British Admiralty in May 1858 Another significant improvement came with the invention of the rotating turrets, which allowed the guns to be aimed independently of ship movement. The battle between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor during the American Civil War is often cited as the beginning of this age of maritime conflict. USS Merrimack becomes CSS Virginia When the Commonwealth of Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861 one of the important federal military bases threatened Design Monitor was one of three ironclad warships ordered by the U Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South A further step change in naval firepower occurred when the United Kingdom launched HMS Dreadnought, but naval tactics still emphasized the line of battle. Genesis Battleships of the era typically carried four large guns mounted fore and aft in twin turrets with a number of smaller-calibre guns ranged along the sides of the The development of the steam Ironclad firing explosive shells in the mid 19th century rendered sailing tactics obsolete

The first practical military submarines were developed in the late 19th century and by the end of World War I had proven to be a powerful arm of naval warfare. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All During World War II the German Navy's submarine fleet of U-boats almost starved the United Kingdom into submission and inflicted tremendous losses on US coastal shipping. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Kriegsmarine (English "War navy" was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945 during the Nazi regime superseding the U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word, itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot ( undersea boat) and refers The Second Happy Time was the informal name for a phase in the Second Battle of the Atlantic during which Axis Submarines attacked Merchant shipping The German battleship Tirpitz, a sister ship of the Bismarck, was almost put out of action by miniature submarines known as X-Craft. Operational history This battleship was launched on 1 April 1939 and she was planned to be deployed in a manner similar to the ''Bismarck'', as a Commerce raider Background Design of the ship started in the early 1930s following on from Germany's development of the ''Deutschland'' class cruisers and the ''Scharnhorst'' class Specification The craft were about 51 feet (155 m long 55 feet (1 The X-Craft severely damaged her and kept her in port for some months.

A major paradigm shift in naval warfare occurred with the introduction of the aircraft carrier. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with First at Taranto in 1940 and then in Pearl Harbor in 1941, the carrier demonstrated its ability to strike decisively at enemy ships out of sight and range of surface vessels. The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11 November 1940 &ndash 12 November 1940 during World War II Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The Battle of Leyte Gulf (1944) was arguably the largest naval battle in history; it was also the last battle in which battleships played a significant role. The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battle for Leyte Gulf" the "Battles for Leyte Gulf" and formerly as the "Second Battle of the Philippine The title of "largest Naval battle in history" may be conferred according to criteria which might include the numbers of personnel and/or vessels involved in the battle By the end of World War II, the carrier had become the dominant force of naval warfare. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

World War II also saw the United States become by far the largest Naval power in the world with over 70% of the world's total numbers and total tonnage of naval vessels of 1000 tons or greater. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [1] Throughout the rest of the 20th century The United States Navy would maintain a tonnage greater than that of the next 17 largest navies combined. [2]

Operations

Three carrier-based naval aircraft
Three carrier-based naval aircraft
Riverboat of the U.S. brownwater navy firing napalm at an onshore target during the Vietnam War.
Riverboat of the U. S. brownwater navy firing napalm at an onshore target during the Vietnam War. Napalm is the name given to any of a number of Flammable Liquids used in Warfare often jellied Gasoline. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Historically a national navy operates from one or more bases that are maintained by the country or an ally. The base is a port that is specialized in naval operations, and often includes housing for off-shore crew, an arsenal depot for munitions, docks for the vessels, and various repair facilities. Etymology The word bases is first recorded in English language from c ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo An arsenal is an establishment for the construction repair storage and issue of Weapons and Ammunition. During times of war temporary bases may be constructed in closer proximity to strategic locations, as it is advantageous in terms of patrols and station-keeping. Nations with historically strong naval forces have found it advantageous to obtain basing rights in areas of strategic interest.

Navy ships normally operate with a group, which may be a small squadron of comparable ships, or a larger naval fleet of various specialized ships. A squadron is a small unit or formation of Cavalry, armour, Aircraft (including Balloons) or Warships Army A fleet, or naval fleet is a large formation of Warships, and the largest formation in any Navy. The commander of a fleet travels in the flag ship, which is usually the most powerful vessel in the group. flagship is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels a designation given on account of being either the largest fastest newest most heavily armed or for publicity purposes the most well Prior to the invention of radio, commands from the flag ship were communicated by means of flags. At night signal lamps could be used for a similar purpose. Later these were replaced by the radio transmitter, or the flashing light when radio silence was needed.

A "blue water navy" is designed to operate far from the coastal waters of its home nation. The term blue-water navy is a Colloquialism used to describe a maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans These are ships capable of maintaining station for long periods of time in deep ocean, and will have a long logistical tail for their support. Many are also nuclear powered to save having to refuel. By contrast a "brown water navy" operates in the coastal periphery and along inland waterways, where larger ocean-going naval vessels can not readily enter. Brown-water navy is a term that originated in the United States Navy, referring to the small Gunboats and Patrol boats used in rivers Regional powers may maintain a "green water navy" as a means of localized force projection. A green-water navy is a naval term that refers to a naval force based around a coastal or Littoral capability Blue water fleets may require specialized vessels, such as mine sweepers, when operating in the littoral regions along the coast. A minesweeper is a Naval Warship designed to counter the threat posed by Naval mines The dedicated purpose-built minesweeper first appeared during Littoral refers to the coast of an ocean or sea or to the banks of a river lake or estuary

Traditions

Ship bell of ORP Iskra II - Polish Navy school tall ship
Ship bell of ORP Iskra II - Polish Navy school tall ship

A basic tradition is that all ships commissioned in a navy are referred to as ships rather than vessels, with the exception of submarines, which are known as boats. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability The prefix on a ship's name indicates that it is a commissioned ship. For example, USS is an acronym which expands to United States Ship; in the Royal Navy, HMS expands to Her Majesty's Ship (or when a King reigns, His Majesty's Ship), and so forth.

An important tradition on board British naval vessels (and later those of the U. S. and other nations) has been the ship's bell. A Ship's Bell is usually made of brass and has the ship's name engraved on it This was historically used to mark the passage of time on board a vessel, including the duration of four-hour watches. They were also employed as warning devices in heavy fog, and for alarms and ceremonies. The bell was originally kept polished first by the ship's cook, then later by a person belonging to that division of the ship's personnel.

Another important tradition is that of Piping someone aboard the ship. This was originally used to give orders on warships when shouted orders could not have been heard. The piping was done by the ship's boatswain and therefore the instrument is known as the boatswain's Pipe. The two tones it gives and the number of blasts given off, signify the order given. It is also used in a ceremonial way, i. e. , to "pipe" someone aboard the ship - usually captains, including the ship's captain, and more senior officers.

In the United States, in a tradition that dates back to the Revolutionary War, the First Navy Jack is a flag that has the words, "Don't Tread on Me" on the flag. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The First Navy Jack is the current US jack authorized by the United States Navy.

By European tradition, ships have been referred to as a "she". However, it was long considered bad luck to permit women to sail on board naval vessels. To do so would invite a terrible storm that would wreck the ship. The only women that were welcomed on board were figureheads mounted on the prow of the ship. In politics a figurehead, by Metaphor with the carved figurehead at the prow of a sailing ship is a person who holds an important title or office yet executes little In spite of these views, some women did serve on board naval vessels, usually as wives of crewmembers.

Even today, despite their acceptance in many areas of naval service, women are still not permitted to serve on board U. S. submarines. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability The major reasons cited by the U. S. Navy are the extended duty tours and close conditions which afford almost no privacy. [1] The UK Royal Navy has similar restrictions. Australia, Canada, Spain and Norway have opened submarine service to women sailors, however. [2]

By ancient tradition, corpses on board naval vessels were buried at sea. Burial at sea describes the procedure of disposing of human remains in the ocean normally from a ship or boat In the past this involved sewing the body up in a shroud that had a weight at one end, often a cannonball. Round shot is an obsolete solid Projectile without explosive charge fired from Small arms or Cannons As the name implies round shot is spherical (During the age of sail, the final stitch was placed through the nose of the victim, just to make sure they were really dead. ) The body was then placed on a pivoting table attached to the outer hull, and shrouded by a national ensign. After a solemn ceremony, the board was tilted and the body dropped into the deep. Later ceremonies employed the casket or crematory urn.

The custom of firing cannon salutes originated in the British Royal Navy. A salute (also called obeisance) is a Gesture (often Hand gesture) or other action used to display respect The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) When a cannon is fired, it partially disarms the ship, so firing a cannon for no combat reason showed respect and trust. The British, as the dominant naval power, compelled the ships of weaker nations to make the first salute. As the tradition evolved, the number of cannon fired became an indication of the rank of the official being saluted.

Naval organization

Navy ships

Ships of the multinational fleet Combined Task Force-150
Ships of the multinational fleet Combined Task Force-150
HMCS Vancouver and USS John C Stennis
HMCS Vancouver and USS John C Stennis
HNLMS Java, a World War II vintage Java class cruiser of the Royal Netherlands Navy
HNLMS Java, a World War II vintage Java class cruiser of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Historically, navy ships were primarily intended for warfare. HNLMS Java Designed in 1916 built in the Schelde naval shipyards and launched on 9 August 1921, HNLMS Java was already old-fashioned by World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including HNLMS Java Designed in 1916 built in the Schelde naval shipyards and launched on 9 August 1921, HNLMS Java was already old-fashioned by The Koninklijke Marine ( Royal Netherlands Navy) is the Navy of the Netherlands. They were designed to withstand damage and to inflict the same, but only carried munitions and supplies for the voyage (rather than merchant cargo). Often, other ships which were not built specifically for warfare, such as the galleon or the armed merchant ships in World War II, did carry armaments. A galleon was a large multi-decked Sailing ship used primarily by the nations of Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In more recent times, navy ships have become more specialized and have included supply ships, troop transports, repair ships, oil tankers and other logistics support ships as well as combat ships. So long as they are commissioned, however, they are all "ships".

Modern navy combat ships are generally divided into seven main categories: aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, and amphibious assault ships. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with A cruiser is a large type of Warship, which had its prime period from the late 19th century to the end of the Cold War. In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship A corvette is a small maneuverable lightly armed Warship, originally smaller than a Frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft, although many A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability An amphibious assault ship (also referred to as an amphibious assault carrier or commando carrier) is a type of Helicopter carrier employed to land There are also support and auxiliary ships, including the minesweeper, patrol boat, and tender. A minesweeper is a Naval Warship designed to counter the threat posed by Naval mines The dedicated purpose-built minesweeper first appeared during A patrol boat is a small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties A ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a Boat, or a larger ship used to service a Ship, generally by transporting people and/or supplies During the age of sail, the ship categories were divided into the ship of the line, frigate, and sloop-of-war. The Age of Sail was the period in which International trade and Naval warfare were dominated by Sailing Ships lasting from the 16th to the mid A ship-of-the-line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th century through the mid-19th century to take part in the the naval tactic known as the Line of battle For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship In the 18th and the earlier part of the 19th centuries a sloop-of-war was a small sailing Warship (also known as one of the Escort types with a single gun deck

Naval ship names are typically prefixed by an abbreviation indicating the national navy in which they serve. For a list of the prefixes used with ship names (HMS, USS, etc. His or Her Majesty's Ship ( HMS) is the Ship prefix used for ships of the navy in some monarchies either formally or informally ) see ship prefix. A ship prefix is a combination of letters usually abbreviations used in front of the name of a civilian or naval Ship.

Today ships are significantly faster than in former times, thanks to much improved propulsion systems. Also, the efficiency of the engines has improved a lot, in terms of fuel, and of how many sailors it takes to operate them. In World War II, ships needed to refuel very often. However, today ships can go on very long journeys without refueling. Also, in World War II, the engine room needed about a dozen sailors to work the many engines, however, today, only about 4-5 are needed (depending on the class of the ship). Today, naval strike groups on longer missions are always followed by a range of support and replenishment ships supplying them with anything from fuel and munitions, to medical treatment and postal services. This allows strike groups and combat ships to remain at sea for several months at a time.

Navy boats

Many people make the mistake of calling a ship a "boat". The term "boat" refers to small craft limited in their use by size and usually not capable of making independent voyages of any length on the high seas. The old navy adage to differentiate between ships and boats is that boats are capable of being carried by ships. (Submarines by this rule are ships rather than boats, but are customarily referred to as boats reflecting their previous smaller size. ) The Navy uses thousands of boats, ranging from 9-foot (2. 7 m) dinghies to 135-foot (41 m) landing craft. They are powered by either diesels, out-board gasoline motors, or waterjets. Most boats are built of aluminum, fiberglass, or steel. Newer Navy boats are designed and built using the International System of units (also known as SI or metric), but older craft were designed using the English units system (feet, inches etc. )

Standard Boats A standard boat is a small craft carried aboard a ship to perform various tasks and evolutions.

Landing Craft These boats, carried by various amphibious ships, are designed to carry troops, vehicles, or cargo from ship to shore under combat conditions, to unload, to retract from beach, and to return to the ship. Landing craft are Boats and seagoing vehicles used to convey a Landing force ( Infantry and Vehicles) from the sea to the shore during an They are especially rugged, with powerful engines, and they are armed. They are usually referred to by their designations such as LCPL (landing craft, personnel) LCM (landing craft mechanized) or LCU (landing craft, utility) rather than by full name. The most common in today's Navy are the LCMs. there are two types of LCMs. Both types have a power operated bow ramp, a cargo well, twin engines, and after structures that house enginerooms, pilot houses, and stowage compartments. The larger version, designated LCM-8 and often called "mike 8", is 74 feet (23 m) long, has a 21-foot (6. 4 m) beam, and is capable of carrying a heavy tank or 60 tons of cargo. The LCM-6 ("mike 6") is 56 feet (17 m) long, has a 14-foot (4. 3 m) beam and a cargo capacity of 34 tons.

Landing Craft, Air Cushioned Known as LCAC also most commonly called a hover craft. The Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC is a class of air-cushion vehicle / Hovercraft used as Landing craft by the United States Navy and Floats on a cushion of air that allows travel over water and land. It can deliver troops, equipment, and supplies. They are 81 feet (25 m) long and carry a load more than 70 tons. Powered by four gas turbine engines, they are capable of speeds as high as 50 knots (93 km/h).

Work Boats(WB) There are two types of WBs, the 35-foot (11 m) and the 15 meter (or 50 foot). The 35-foot (11 m) WB is a twin screw craft with a forward cargo well and a bow ramp. The 35-foot (11 m) WB is normally carried on board salvage ships and is used to assist ships in salvage operations, underwater exploration,coastal survey, repair of other craft, and cargo transport between ship to shore. A portable "A frame" is used to assist with cargo handling. The 15 meter (50 ft) WB is a twin screw craft with steel hull construction and is a shallow draft craft cargo carrier. The 15 meter (50 ft) WB is intended for general purpose missions and transportation of cargo. the craft has a pilot house aft and forward cargo well deck.

Rigid hull Inflatable Boats Known as the RHIB they are versatile boats designed for service as a standard ship's boat. A rigid-inflatable boat ( RIB) or rigid-hulled inflatable boat, ( RHIB) is a light-weight but high performance and high capacity Boat constructed The seven meter (24 ft) RHIB is a turbocharged, diesel powered craft with a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) hull. The hull form is a combination of a rigid planing hull with an inflatable tube. The craft are manned by three man crew and are provided with a canvas canopy forward.

Personnel Boats (PE) These are fast, V bottomed, diesel powered boats with enclosed spaces specifically designed to transport officers, although smaller types are used for shore party boats, lifeboats, and mail boats. They come in 8,10, and 12 meter (26,33, and 40 foot) lengths. The 8 meter (26 ft) boats have one enclosed cabin. The 10 and 12 meter (33 and 40 foot) boats have enclosed cabins forward and aft, and open cockpits amidships where coxswains steer by wheel. Those designed for officers are painted haze gray with white cabins. Those assigned for use by commanding officers, chief of staff, and squadron, patrol, or division commanders are called gigs and have a red stripe added just above the waterline. Personnel boats assigned to flag officers (admirals) are called barges. They have black hulls and a white stripes just above the waterline.

Utility Boats These boats, varying in length from 18 feet (5. 5 m) to 15 meters (50 ft) are mainly cargo and personnel carrier or heavy duty work boats. Many have been modified for survey work, tending divers, and minesweeping operations. In ideal weather, a 15 meter(50 ft) UB will carry 146 people, plus crew. Utility boats are open boats, though many of the larger ones are provided with canvas canopies. The smaller utility boats are powered by outboard engines. The larger boats have diesel engines.

Punts These are open square enders, 14 feet (4. This article concentrates on the history and development of punts and punting in England for other usages see Norfolk punt and the general disambiguation pages at Punt 3 m) long. They are either rowed or sculled, and are generally used in port by side cleaners.

Special Boats These boats, used by shore stations and for special missions, are not normally carried aboard ships a are the standard boats discussed above. They include line handling boats, buoy boats, aircraft rescue boats, torpedo retrievers, explosive ordnance disposal craft, utility boats, dive boats, targets, and various patrol boats. Many standard boats have been modified for special service.

Mark V Special operations craft (SOC) This craft is also used for insertion and extraction of special warfare personnel. The Mark V SOC (Special Operations Craft is a small marine security/patrol/transport boat manufactured by Halter Marine Inc ( Gulfport, Mississippi) The craft is 82 feet (25 m) long, and has twain diesel engines driving waterjets. The craft is capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots (93 km/h) and is air deployable.

Patrol Boats, River (PBR) This is a 31-foot (9. Patrol Boat River (also referred to as Riverine and Pibber) or PBR, is the US Navy designation for a type of rigid- hulled Patrol 4 m), 25 knots (46 km/h), twin diesel boats with a fiberglass hull and waterjet pump propulsion that permits it to operate in 15 inches (380 mm) of water. The PBR is highly maneuverable and can reverse course in its own length. It carries radar, communications equipment, and machine guns

Navy units

Naval forces are typically arranged into units based on the number of ships included, a single ship being the smallest operational unit. Ships may be combined into squadrons or flotillas, which may be formed into fleets. A squadron, or naval squadron is a Unit of 3-4 major Warships, Transport ships Submarines or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger A flotilla (from Spanish meaning a flota of small ships and this from French flotte) or naval flotilla, is a formation of small A fleet, or naval fleet is a large formation of Warships, and the largest formation in any Navy. The largest unit size may be the whole Navy or Admiralty. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy.

Naval ranks

Main article: Naval officer ranks

A navy will typically have two sets of ranks, one for enlisted personnel and one for officers. Navies have Military rank systems that often are quite different from those of armies or Air forces Sometimes services that are considered parts of the An enlisted rank in the Military of the United States is any rank below a commissioned officer. An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority

Typical ranks for commissioned officers include the following, in ascending order (Commonwealth ranks are listed first on each line):

"Flag officers" include any rank that includes the word "admiral" (or commodore), and are generally in command of a battle group or similar flotilla of ships, rather than a single ship or aspect of a ship. Sub-Lieutenant is a military rank It is normally a junior officer rank Ensign (ˈɛnsən is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries normally in the infantry or navy Corvette Lieutenant is a rank in some navies especially those of Spain and Latin America roughly equivalent to a Royal Navy Acting Sub-Lieutenant or a US Navy Sub-Lieutenant is a military rank It is normally a junior officer rank In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Frigate Lieutenant is a rank in some navies especially those of Spain (Spanish Alférez de Navío) and Latin America roughly equivalent to a Sub-Lieutenant in the Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant is a common naval rank equivalent to the naval rank of Lieutenant in the UK Commonwealth and US Captain Lieutenant or Captain-Lieutenant is a military rank In particular the term Captain Lieutenant may refer to a rank in the Russian Navy, Lieutenant Commander ( Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy) is a Commissioned officer rank in many navies Superior Corvette Captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a Corvette (small warship Commander is a Military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service Frigate Captain is a naval rank It is equivalent to the Royal Navy / Commonwealth / US Navy rank of Commander. For information specifically on the Royal Navy rank of captain see Captain (Royal Navy. A Ship-of-the-Line Captain is a common naval rank The name of the rank derives from the fact the rank corresponded to command of one a ship of the largest class of warship the Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than Flotilla Admiral is the lowest flag rank a rank above Captain, in the modern navies of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany and The uniformed services of the United States have two grades of rear admirals. Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. The uniformed services of the United States have two grades of rear admirals. Vice Admiral is a naval rank equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral is a military Naval officer of the highest rank An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral is a military Naval officer of the highest rank Grand Admiral is a historic naval rank generally being the highest such rank present in any particular country However, commodores can also be temporary positions. For example, during World War II, a Navy captain was assigned duty as a convoy commodore, which meant that he was still a captain, but in charge of all the merchant vessels in the convoy. The most senior rank employed by a navy will tend to vary depending on the size of the navy and whether it is wartime or peacetime, for example, few people have ever held the rank of Fleet Admiral in the U. S. Navy, the chief of the Royal Australian Navy holds the rank of Vice Admiral, and the chief of the Irish Naval Service holds the rank of Commodore. The Royal Australian Navy ( RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. The Irish Naval Service (in Irish: Seirbhís Chabhlaigh na hÉireann or just An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh for "the Naval Service" is the

Marine troops

Main article: Marine (military)

During the era of the Roman empire, the naval forces included legionaries for boarding actions. Marines (from the English adjective marine, meaning of the sea, from Latin language mare, meaning sea via French adjective The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Boarding, in its simplest sense refers to the insertion onto a ship's deck of people These were troops primarily trained in land warfare, and did not need to be skilled at handling a ship. Much later during the age of sail, a component of marines served a similar role, being ship-borne soldiers who were used either during boarding actions, as sharp-shooters, or in raids along the shore. Marines (from the English adjective marine, meaning of the sea, from Latin language mare, meaning sea via French adjective

The Spanish Infantería de Marina was formed in 1537, making it the oldest current marine corps in the world. The Infantería de Marina or Spanish Navy Marines is a corps within the Spanish Navy responsible for providing Amphibious warfare from the sea utilizing The United States Marine Corps became a separate arm in the United States military, with their own equipment. However the U.S. Navy SEALs and the British Royal Marines now serve a similar function, being a ship-based force specially-trained in commando-style operations and tactics as part of the navy. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Royal Marines ( RM) are the marine corps and amphibious Infantry of the United Kingdom and along with the Royal Navy In Military science, the term commando can refer to an individual a Military unit, or a raiding style of military operation. The Royal Marines also have their own special forces, the SBS (Special Boat Service); similar to the US Navy SEALs and the Boat Troops of the SAS. The Special Boat Service ( SBS) is the Special forces unit of the British Royal Navy.


Additional reading

See also

References

  1. ^ | Weighing the US Navy Defense & Security Analysis, Volume 17, Issue 3 December 2001 , pages 259 - 265
  2. ^ Work, Robert O. Thomas Leo Clancy Jr (born April 12 1947) is an American author best known for his technically detailed espionage and Military science storylines The Hunt for Red October is a Novel by Tom Clancy. The story follows the intertwined adventures of Soviet Submarine captain Marko Red Storm Rising is a 1986 Techno-thriller novel by Tom Clancy and Larry Bond about a Third World War in Europe between Admiral of the Fleet Horatio Hornblower 1st Baron Hornblower, GCB, is a fictional protagonist of a series of Novels by C Cecil Scott Forester was the Pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith ( August 27 1899 – April 2, 1966) an English The Aubrey–Maturin series is a sequence of Historical novels — 20 completed and one unfinished — by Patrick O'Brian, set during the Napoleonic Patrick O'Brian, CBE ( 12 December 1914 &ndash 2 January 2000; born as Richard Patrick Russ) was an English Richard Bolitho is a fictional Royal Navy officer who is the main character in a series of novels written by Douglas Reeman (using the pseudonym Alexander Kent Douglas Edward Reeman (born 15 October 1924 Thames Ditton) is a British Author who has written many Historical fiction books on the Royal Alan Lewrie is the hero and main character of Dewey Lambdin 's naval adventure series of novels Dewey Lambdin (1945- is an American nautical Historical novelist. This is a list of navies, present and historical Current navies Historical Navies See also Navies of landlocked See also [[single-ship action]] [[Single-ship actions and other major naval events]] and [[CategoryNaval battles]] [[CategoryNaval battles]] This list of naval battles The term modern naval tactics refers to tactical doctrines developed after World War II following the final obsolescence of the Battleship and the development of long-range A fleet, or naval fleet is a large formation of Warships, and the largest formation in any Navy. Naval history is the area of Military history concerning War at Sea and the subject is also a sub-discipline of the broad field of Maritime history Naval warfare is Combat in and on Seas Oceans or any other major bodies of water such as large Lakes and wide Rivers History The term blue-water navy is a Colloquialism used to describe a maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans "Winning the Race:A Naval Fleet Platform Architecture for Enduring Maritime Supremacy". Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Online. Accessed April 8, 2006. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

External links

Dictionary

navy

-noun

  1. a country's entire sea force, including ships and personnel.
  2. a governmental department in charge of a country's sea force.
  3. (color) a dark blue colour, usually called navy blue.

-adjective

  1. belonging to the navy.
  2. (color) having a dark blue colour.
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