The United States Navy was created by an act of the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775. It operated during the Revolutionary War as its own fighting force. After the war is was effectively disbanded as a force in its own right. For almost a full decade the US did not have an official Navy.

The sea forces were under the control of the US Revenue Cutter Service, a forerunner of the US Coast Guard. The Navy, as a separate service, was reestablished and soon ordered its first 6 warships. In 1797 saw the first of the new US Navies ships launched, USS United States, USS Constellation and USS Constitution.

The US Navy has taken part in many armed conflicts over the years. Ships from the USN have provided humanitarian aid to countries all over the world. USN ships have at onetime or another sailed in nearly every major body of water around the world, with the exception of a few scattered lakes and inland seas.

The USN and USMC, although separate branches of military, share a common civilian leader, the Secretary of the Navy.

There are many names associated with the USN, Preble, Halsey, Nimitz, Jones, Essex, Enterprise, Bainbridge, Constitution, Constellation, etc…

Over the next few weeks we shall begin to cover many of the words, traditions, and people of the USN.