United States Navy

=== Ships ===
{{Main|United States Navy ships|Future of the United States Navy}}
{{See also|List of current ships of the United States Navy|List of currently active United States military watercraft|United States ship naming conventions}}

The names of commissioned ships of the U.S. Navy are prefixed with the letters "USS", designating "United States Ship".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html |title=Ship Naming in the United States Navy |publisher=United States Navy |website=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]] |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617070146/http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html |archive-date=17 June 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Non-commissioned, civilian-manned vessels of the navy have names that begin with "USNS", standing for "United States Naval Ship". The names of ships are officially selected by the secretary of the navy, often to honor important people or places.<ref>O'Rourke, Ronald. (2013). [https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22478.pdf Navy Ship Names: Background For Congress.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928194627/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22478.pdf |date=28 September 2015}} Washington, D.C.: [[Congressional Research Service]].</ref> Additionally, each ship is given a letter-based [[hull classification symbol]] (for example, CVN or DDG) to indicate the vessel's type and number. All ships in the navy inventory are placed in the [[Naval Vessel Register]], which is part of "the Navy List" (required by article 29 of the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]).{{dubious |date=July 2013}} The register 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 [[United States Navy reserve fleets|reserve fleet]] of inactive vessels that are maintained for reactivation in times of need.

The U.S. Navy was one of the first to install [[Nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear reactors aboard naval vessels]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Citation&nbsp;– Presidential Unit Citation for making the first submerged voyage under the North Pole |url=http://www.ussnautilus.org/events/panopo50th/puc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204062318/http://www.ussnautilus.org/events/panopo50th/puc.html |archive-date=4 February 2009 |website=[[US Navy Submarine Force Museum and Library|US Navy Submarine Force Museum]]}}</ref> Today, [[Nuclear power|nuclear energy]] powers all active U.S. aircraft carriers and [[submarine]]s.

In early 2010, the U.S. Navy had identified a need for 313 combat ships but could only afford 232 to 243 ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4366292&c=FEA&s=INT |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525032325/https://www.defensenews.com/error-404 |archive-date=25 May 2017 |title=Vice Adm. Barry McCullough |website=Defense News}}</ref> In March 2014, the Navy started counting self-deployable support ships such as minesweepers, surveillance craft, and tugs in the "battle fleet" to reach a count of 272 as of October 2016,<ref>[http://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/FLEETSIZE.HTML Fleet Size] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019001420/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/FLEETSIZE.HTML |date=19 October 2016}} US Navy Retrieved 17 October 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140309/DEFREG02/303090012/US-Navy-Budget-Plan-Major-Questions-Abound |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20140309211717/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140309/DEFREG02/303090012/US-Navy-Budget-Plan-Major-Questions-Abound |archive-date=9 March 2014 |title=US Navy Budget Plan: Major Questions Abound |last1=CAVAS |first1=CHRISTOPHER P. |date=9 March 2014 |website= defensenews.com |publisher=Gannett Government Media |access-date=9 March 2014}}</ref> and it includes ships that have been put in "shrink wrap".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://breakingdefense.com/2014/03/outrage-on-capitol-hill-as-navy-changes-ship-counting-rules/ |title=Outrage on Capitol Hill As Navy Changes Ship-Counting Rules |last1=Freedberg |first1=Sydney J. Jr. |date=11 March 2014 |website=breakingdefense.com |publisher=Breaking Media, Inc. |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213008/http://breakingdefense.com/2014/03/outrage-on-capitol-hill-as-navy-changes-ship-counting-rules/ |archive-date=12 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The number of ships generally ranged between 270 and 300 throughout the late 2010s.<ref name="CSR1">{{cite report |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10486 |title=Defense Primer: Naval Forces |author=Ronald O'Rourke |date=21 July 2021 |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]] |page=2 |access-date=21 July 2021 |archive-date=21 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721154538/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10486 }}</ref> As of February 2022, the Navy has 296 battle force ships, however analyses state the Navy needs a fleet of more than 500 to meet its commitments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 February 2022 |title=CNO Gilday: 'We Need a Naval Force of Over 500 Ships' |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/02/18/cno-gilday-we-need-a-naval-force-of-over-500-ships |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=The Editorial Board |date=23 February 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} America Needs a Bigger Navy |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/america-needs-a-bigger-navy-admiral-mike-gilday-pentagon-defense-spending-11645649492 |access-date=28 February 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

==== Aircraft carriers ====
{{Main|List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy}}
[[File:USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 2020 (200604-N-BD352-0199).JPG|thumb|Aerial view of {{USS|Gerald R. Ford}} (bottom), a ship of the new {{sclass|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|4}}, alongside {{USS|Harry S. Truman}} (top), a ship of the previous {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}}]]

[[Aircraft carrier|Aircraft carriers]] act as [[Military airbase|airbases]] for [[carrier-based aircraft]]. They are the largest vessels in the Navy fleet and all are nuclear-powered.<ref name="CSR1" /> An aircraft 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 combat system|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. Modern carriers are [[United States ship naming conventions|named]] after American admirals and politicians, usually presidents.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=25 June 2020|title=Report to Congress on U.S. Navy Ship Names|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/06/25/report-to-congress-on-u-s-navy-ship-names-9|access-date=22 July 2020|website=USNI News|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Navy has a statutory requirement for a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idCNN0615186020100507?rpc=44 |title=US Navy to Gates: Yes, we need 11 aircraft carriers |work=[[Reuters]] |date=6 May 2010 |last=Wolf |first=Jim}}</ref> All 11 carriers are currently active, ten {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|0}} and one {{sclass|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|0}}.

'''Aircraft Carrier Capacity'''

Aircraft Carriers have the ability to house 5,000 people. This is the size of a small town floating in the ocean. Aircraft carriers also have up to 90 aircraft on the ship at one time. 

==== Amphibious warfare ships ====
{{Main|List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships}}
[[File:USS Bataan (LHD-5);10080504.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|6}}, a {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship}}]]

[[Amphibious assault ship]]s are the centerpieces of US amphibious warfare and fulfill the same power projection role as aircraft carriers except that their striking force centers on land forces instead of aircraft. They deliver, command, coordinate, and fully support all elements of a 2,200-strong [[Marine Expeditionary Unit]] in an amphibious assault using both 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 [[well deck]] 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.

[[Amphibious transport docks]] are warships that embark, transport, and land Marines, supplies, and equipment in a supporting role during amphibious warfare missions. With a landing platform, amphibious transport docks also have the capability to serve as secondary aviation support for an expeditionary group. All amphibious transport docks can operate helicopters, LCACs, and other conventional amphibious vehicles while the newer ''San Antonio'' class of ships has been explicitly designed to operate all three elements of the Marines' "mobility triad": [[Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle]]s (EFVs), the [[V-22 Osprey]] tiltrotor aircraft, and LCACs. Amphibious transport docks are typically named after U.S. cities.

The dock landing ship is a medium amphibious transport that is designed specifically to support and operate 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 cities or important places in U.S. and U.S. Naval history.<ref name=":1" />

The Navy operates 32 amphibious warfare ships, eight {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|4}} and two {{sclass|America|amphibious assault ship|4}} amphibious assault ships, four {{sclass|Harpers Ferry|dock landing ship|4}} and six {{sclass|Whidbey Island|dock landing ship|4}} dock landing ships, and 12 {{sclass|San Antonio|amphibious transport dock|4}} amphibious transport dock ships.

==== Cruisers ====
{{Main|List of cruisers of the United States Navy}}
[[File:US Navy 030903-N-5024R-003 USS Port Royal (DDG 73) departed on deployment.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Port Royal|CG-73|6}}, a {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser}}]]

[[Cruiser]]s are large surface combat vessels that conduct anti-air/anti-missile warfare, surface warfare, anti-submarine 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 [[RIM-67 Standard]] missile with the Aegis combat system coordinating the two. {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser|2}}<nowiki/>s were the first to be equipped with 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 [[BGM-109 Tomahawk|Tomahawk missile]] gave cruisers additional long-range land and sea strike capability, making them capable of both offensive and defensive battle operations. The ''Ticonderoga'' class is the only active class of cruiser. All cruisers in this class are named after battles.<ref name=":1" />

==== Destroyers ====
{{Main|List of destroyers of the United States Navy}}
[[File:DDG-125 acceptance trials.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Jack H. Lucas}}, a {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|1}}]]
[[Destroyer]]s are multi-mission medium surface ships capable of sustained performance in anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and offensive strike operations. Like cruisers, guided missile destroyers 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 [[ASROC|VLA rockets]] and [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|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. With very few exceptions, destroyers are named after U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard heroes.<ref name=":1" />

The U.S. Navy currently has 75 destroyers, 73 {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|0}} destroyers and two {{sclass|Zumwalt|destroyer|0}} stealth destroyers, with a third (the {{USS|Lyndon B. Johnson}}) expected to enter service sometime in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-13 |title=Last Zumwalt-class Destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson Leaves Bath Iron Works Bound for Mississippi |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/01/13/last-zumwalt-class-destroyer-lyndon-b-johnson-leaves-bath-iron-works-bound-for-mississippi |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Frigates and Littoral combat ships ====
{{Main|List of frigates of the United States Navy}}
{{See also|Littoral combat ship}}
[[File:USS Independence LCS-2 at pierce (cropped).jpg|thumb|{{USS|Independence|LCS-2|6}}, a [[littoral combat ship]]]]

Modern U.S. [[frigate]]s mainly perform anti-submarine warfare for carrier and expeditionary strike groups and provide armed escort for supply convoys and merchant shipping. They are designed to protect friendly ships against hostile submarines in low to medium threat environments, using torpedoes and LAMPS helicopters. Independently, frigates are able to conduct counterdrug missions and other maritime interception operations. As in the case of destroyers, frigates are named after U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard heroes.

In late 2015, the U.S. Navy retired its most recent class of traditional frigates in favor of the littoral combat ship (LCS), relatively small vessels designed for near-shore operations that was expected to assume many of the duties the frigate had with the fleet. The LCS was "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating [[Anti-access/area denial|anti-access]] and [[Asymmetric warfare|asymmetric threats]] in the [[Littoral zone|littorals]]",<ref>{{cite web |title=Product Lines at Supship Bath |url=http://www.navsea.navy.mil/supship/Bath/Products.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301113457/http://www.navsea.navy.mil/supship/Bath/Products.aspx |archive-date=1 March 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |publisher=Navsea.navy.mil}}</ref> although their ability to perform these missions in practice has been called into question.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-04 |title=The Pentagon Saw a Warship Boondoggle. Congress Saw Jobs. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/littoral-combat-ships-lobbying.html |access-date=2023-03-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The Navy has announced it plans to reduce procurement of the LCS and retire early examples of the type.

In the future, the Navy plans to purchase up to 20 of the {{sclass|Constellation|frigate|1}}, based on the [[FREMM multipurpose frigate]], already in service with European navies.

The U.S. Navy currently has 23 littoral combat ships, eight {{sclass|Freedom|littoral combat ship|0}} and 15 {{sclass|Independence|littoral combat ship|0}} ships.

[[File:USS Constitution fires a 17-gun salute.jpg|thumb|[[USS Constitution|USS ''Constitution'']], firing a 17-gun salute in 2014]]
A special case is the {{USS|Constitution}}, commissioned in 1797 as one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy and which remains in commission at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. She occasionally sails for commemorative events such as [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]].

==== Mine countermeasures ships ====
{{Main|List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy}}

[[Mine countermeasures vessel]]s are a combination of [[minehunter]]s, a naval vessel that actively detects and destroys individual [[naval mine]]s, and [[minesweeper]]s, which clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of the mines. MCM vessels have mostly legacy names of previous US Navy ships, especially World War II-era minesweepers.

The Navy operates eight {{sclass|Avenger|mine countermeasures ship|1}}s, with four expected to be retired in 2024.

==== Submarines ====
{{Main|Submarines in the United States Navy}}
[[File:USS Kentucky (SSBN-737).jpg|thumb|{{USS|Kentucky|SSBN-737|6}}, an {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|0}} [[ballistic missile submarine]]]]

The U.S. Navy operates three types of submarines: [[attack submarine]]s, [[ballistic missile submarine]]s and [[guided missile submarine]]s. All current and planned U.S. Navy submarines are nuclear-powered, as nuclear propulsion allows for a combination of stealth and long-duration, high-speed, sustained underwater movement.

Attack submarines typically operate as part of a [[carrier battle group]], while [[guided missile submarine]]s generally operate independently and carry larger quantities of cruise missiles. Both types have several tactical missions, including sinking ships and other subs, launching [[cruise missile]]s, gathering intelligence, and assisting in special operations. Ballistic missile submarines operate independently with only one mission: to carry and, if called upon, to launch the [[Trident nuclear missile]].

The Navy operates 69 submarines, 29 {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|4}} attack submarines (with two more in reserve), 18 {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|4}} submarines with 14 configured as ballistic missile submarines and four configured as guided missile submarines, three {{sclass|Seawolf|submarine|4}} attack submarines, and 19 {{sclass|Virginia|submarine|4}} attack submarines.