Sea Classisc Magazine - Battleships At War - America`s Century-Long Romance with the Big Guns of the Fleet (vol.1) ...
 | Sea Classisc Magazine - Battleships At War - America`s Century-Long Romance with the Big Guns of the Fleet (vol.1) (1991).jpeg Rozmiar 47 KB |
The Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War and was essentially disbanded as a separate entity shortly thereafter. The United States Constitution provided the legal basis for a military force by giving Congress the power "to provide and maintain a navy".
Depredations against U.S. shipping by Barbary Coast pirates in the Mediterranean Sea spurred Congress to employ this power by passing the Naval Act of 1794 ordering the construction and manning of six frigates. These ships were used to end most pirate activity off the Barbary Coast. In the 20th century American blue-water navy capability was demonstrated by the 1907–1909 world tour of the Great White Fleet.
The 21st century United States Navy maintains a sizable global presence, deploying in such areas as East Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It is a blue-water navy with the ability to project force onto the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward areas during peacetime, and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it an active player in U.S. foreign and defense policy.
The Navy is administratively managed by the Department of the Navy, which is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Navy. The Department of the Navy is itself a division of the Department of Defense, which is headed by the Secretary of Defense. Traditionally, the highest ranking Naval officer is the Chief of Naval Operations, a position currently held by Admiral Gary Roughead. However, today the highest ranking Naval Officer is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen.