Navy

A navy (often Navy) is the branch of a country's military forces principally designated for naval warfare, namely lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It includes operations conducted by surface vessels (ships), submarine vessels, and seaborne aviation, as well as ancillary support, communications, training, and other fields; recent developments have included space-related operations. 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 forestall and frustrate sea-borne projection-of-force by enemies.

Naval organisation

Naval vessels

Historically, naval vessels have been specialized ships that were primarily intended for warfare. 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. On occasion, naval vessels have also served as troop carriers or supply ships.

Related Topics:
Galleon - World War II

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Modern naval vessels are generally divided into five main categories. The categories are: Aircraft Carriers, Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers, and Submarines. There are also support and auxiliary vessels, including the minesweeper, patrol boat, and tender. During the age of sail, the vessel categories were divided into the ship of the line, frigate, and sloop-of-war.

Related Topics:
Aircraft Carriers - Battleships - Cruisers - Destroyers - Submarines - Minesweeper - Patrol boat - Tender - Age of sail - Ship of the line - Frigate - Sloop-of-war

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Naval ship names are typically prefixed by an abbreviation indicating the national navy in which they served. For a list of the prefixes used with ship names (HMS, USS, &c.) see ship prefix.

Related Topics:
HMS - USS - Ship prefix

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Navy units

Naval forces are typically arranged into units based on the number of vessels included, a single vessel forming the smallest operational unit. Vessels may be combined into squadrons or flotillas, which may be formed into fleets. The largest unit size may be the whole Navy or Admiralty.

Related Topics:
Squadron - Flotilla - Fleet - Admiralty

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Naval ranks

A navy will typically have two sets of ranks, one for enlisted personnel and one for officers.

Related Topics:
Enlisted - Officer

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Typical enlisted ranks include the following, in ascending order:

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• seaman
• petty officer (petty officers and chief petty officers are equivalent to non-commissioned officers, or NCOs, in other services)
• chief petty officer

Within the U.S. Navy, sailors are more commony referred to by their "rating," which indicates both their rank and job specialty (for example, "BT3 Jones" for "Boiler Technician 3rd Class Jones").

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Warrant officers, including chief warrant officers, are senior to enlisted sailors and junior to commissioned officers. The United States draws its warrant officers from the enlisted ranks. Warrant officers serve in more technical positions than commissioned officers.

Related Topics:
Warrant officer - Commissioned officers

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Typical ranks for commissioned officers include the following, in ascending order:

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• Midshipman
• Ensign
• Sub Lieutenant (or Lieutenant Junior Grade)
• Lieutenant
• Lieutenant of the Corvette
• Lieutenant of the Frigate
• Lieutenant of the Navy
• Lieutenant commander
• Commander
• Lieutenant Captain
• Captain of the Corvette
• Captain of the Frigate
• Captain of the Navy
• Captain
• Commodore
• Flotilla Admiral
• Rear admiral (which may be split into two "halves", lower and upper)
• Vice admiral
• Admiral
• Admiral of the Fleet (or Admiral of the Navy)

"Flag officers" include any rank that includes the word "admiral", and are generally in command of a battle group or similar flotilla of vessels, rather than a single vessel or aspect of a vessel.

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