US Navy 246th Birthday

US Navy 246th Birthday

Reported By C.Moalli October 13, 2021

Two hundred forty-six years ago, on October 13th, 1775, the Continental Navy was founded during the American Revolutionary War. Although the current service of the US Navy started on March 27th, 1794, after the US spent ten years without a naval force, the date used to celebrate US Navy's birthday is the same one from the founding of the Continental Navy as authorized by Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zumwalt in 1972.

During the revolutionary war, the main objective of the Navy was to interdict British merchant ships and capture supplies transported by them. After the US achieved independence, Congress slowly dismantled its naval force, and by 1785 the Continental Navy was disbanded. However, motivated by the frequent loss of American merchant ships to pirates, Congress reformed the US Navy.

Still, in the 19th Century, the US Navy took part in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War, mostly blockading ports and controlling river systems navigation. Moving to the 20th Century, the US Navy provided crucial defense for the ships transporting American Expeditionary Forces troops to Europe across the North Atlantic.

World War II was the peak of action of the US Navy, with most of its memorable battles occurring in this period. Once more, the Navy was vital in securing the movement of troops and supplies across the Atlantic against the ever-present threat of the U-Boats, but also was the central pillar which the US Military stood at the Pacific Theater of War. After being struck heavily at the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Navy recovered, fighting and winning several notable sea battles such as the Battle of Midway, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of the Philipines Sea, Battle of the Leyte Gulf, and many others.

Currently, the US Navy counts over 346,000 personnel, and its Chief of Naval Operations is Admiral Michel M. Gilday.