Changes

The Navy was created to fight the American Revolution on October 13, 1775 when the [[Articles of Confederation|Continental Congress]] voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns, and manned by crews of eighty, and to send them out on a cruise of three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. The Royal Navy was so powerful it blockaded the American coast and moved the British army from point to point at will. The American Navy's role was to attack British shipping, while avoiding direct combat.  [[John Paul Jones]], briefly an officer in the American Navy, gained fame with his astonishing victory in the "Bonhomme Richard" over the British frigate "Serapis" (Sept. 23, 1779), Jones however never received another ship and  joined the Russian navy.<ref> Evan Thomas, ''John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy'' (2003)</ref>  Of twenty-seven small men-of-war at sea, only three survived hard fighting and cruising.   

The Navy was created to fight the American Revolution on October 13, 1775 when the [[Articles of Confederation|Continental Congress]] voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns, and manned by crews of eighty, and to send them out on a cruise of three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. The Royal Navy was so powerful it blockaded the American coast and moved the British army from point to point at will. The American Navy's role was to attack British shipping, while avoiding direct combat.  [[John Paul Jones]], briefly an officer in the American Navy, gained fame with his astonishing victory in the "Bonhomme Richard" over the British frigate "Serapis" (Sept. 23, 1779), Jones however never received another ship and  joined the Russian navy.<ref>Evan Thomas, ''John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy'' (2003)</ref>  Of twenty-seven small men-of-war at sea, only three survived hard fighting and cruising.   

Several states operated their own navies--the Massachusetts fleet led by Captain Dudley Saltonstall (called commodore while commanding a fleet) with 18 ships attacked a British outpost at  Penobscot Bay in Maine in 1779; it was trapped and destroyed as the sailors fled and the ships were all burned or captured.<ref> George E. Buker, ''The Penobscot Expedition: Commodore Saltonstall and the Massachusetts Conspiracy of 1779'' (2002)</ref>

Several states operated their own navies—the Massachusetts fleet led by Captain Dudley Saltonstall (called commodore while commanding a fleet) with 18 ships attacked a British outpost at  Penobscot Bay in Maine in 1779; it was trapped and destroyed as the sailors fled and the ships were all burned or captured.<ref>George E. Buker, ''The Penobscot Expedition: Commodore Saltonstall and the Massachusetts Conspiracy of 1779'' (2002)</ref>

The national and state navies and the privateers flying the American flag brought in about 800 prizes, whose cargoes were indispensable to the cause, especially before 1779 when the French alliance and sea power became effective. They captured 102 minor British warships mounting 2,322 guns, besides 16 privateers with 226 guns. It was the French navy that was decisive, by defeating the Royal Navy off Yorktown in October 1781 it forced the surrender of besieged General Charles Cornwallis and his entire army.  

The national and state navies and the privateers flying the American flag brought in about 800 prizes, whose cargoes were indispensable to the cause, especially before 1779 when the French alliance and sea power became effective. They captured 102 minor British warships mounting 2,322 guns, besides 16 privateers with 226 guns. It was the French navy that was decisive, by defeating the Royal Navy off Yorktown in October 1781 it forced the surrender of besieged General Charles Cornwallis and his entire army.  

====1815-60====

====1815-60====

The Algerian War (1815), suppression of West Indian pirates (1816-29), and antislavery patrols (1820-50) provided training for the [[Mexican-American War]] of 1846-48. Mexico lacked a navy so the unchallenged American the navy of 63 warships vessels conducted blockade and amphibious operations, the latter destined to become an American specialty. Captains John Sloat and Robert Stockton helped secure [[California, history|California]]. Captains David Conner and Matthew Perry commanded the bulk of the fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, making possible the transportation to, and landing at, Veracruz (Mar. 13, 1847) and  maintenance of the logistics lifeline for Gen. [[Winfield Scott]]'s triumphal march to capture Mexico City.

The Algerian War (1815), suppression of West Indian pirates (1816–29), and antislavery patrols (1820–50) provided training for the [[Mexican-American War]] of 1846-48. Mexico lacked a navy so the unchallenged American the navy of 63 warships vessels conducted blockade and amphibious operations, the latter destined to become an American specialty. Captains John Sloat and Robert Stockton helped secure [[California, history|California]]. Captains David Conner and Matthew Perry commanded the bulk of the fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, making possible the transportation to, and landing at, Veracruz (Mar. 13, 1847) and  maintenance of the logistics lifeline for Gen. [[Winfield Scott]]'s triumphal march to capture Mexico City.

In 1815 the Board of Navy Commissioners, consisting of three senior officers, was created to provide technical advice to the department regarding naval technology, naval operations being excluded from its purview. In 1842 an organization of technical bureaus was instituted, including bureaus for the Navy Yards and Docks; Construction, Equipment, and Repairs; Provisions and Clothing; Ordnance and Hydrography; and Medicine and Surgery.  

In 1815 the Board of Navy Commissioners, consisting of three senior officers, was created to provide technical advice to the department regarding naval technology, naval operations being excluded from its purview. In 1842 an organization of technical bureaus was instituted, including bureaus for the Navy Yards and Docks; Construction, Equipment, and Repairs; Provisions and Clothing; Ordnance and Hydrography; and Medicine and Surgery.  

=====Landings=====

=====Landings=====

In combined operations with the Union  army--particularly at Hatteras Inlet (Aug. 29, 1861) and Port Royal, S.C. (Nov. 7, 1861),  and at Wilmington, N.C. (Jan. 13-15, 1865)--the Union navy seized strategic locations  on the Confederate coast. These actions not only deprived the South of  blockade-running havens but also provided the North with base facilities and coaling  stations, which enabled the blockading steamships to keep the sea for extended periods.   

In combined operations with the Union  army—particularly at Hatteras Inlet (Aug. 29, 1861) and Port Royal, S.C. (Nov. 7, 1861),  and at Wilmington, N.C. (Jan. 13-15, 1865)--the Union navy seized strategic locations  on the Confederate coast. These actions not only deprived the South of  blockade-running havens but also provided the North with base facilities and coaling  stations, which enabled the blockading steamships to keep the sea for extended periods.   

=====River war=====

=====River war=====

On the western waters, shallow-draft Union gunboats carried out a series of decisive  riverine operations that ultimately divided the South along the Mississippi River. After the  capture of New Orleans (Apr. 25, 1862) by a fleet under Flag Officer [[David G. Farragut]],  Union naval forces steaming up the Mississippi and forces fighting their way downstream  converged on [[Battle of Vicksburg|Vicksburg, Mississippi]], the main Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. After a prolonged siege by water and land, Vicksburg fell to Generaly [[Ulysses S. Grant]] on July 4, 1863. President Abraham Lincoln wrote: "The Father of Waters  again goes unvexed to the Sea."   

On the western waters, shallow-draft Union gunboats carried out a series of decisive  riverine operations that ultimately divided the South along the Mississippi River. After the  capture of New Orleans (Apr. 25, 1862) by a fleet under Flag Officer [[David G. Farragut]],  Union naval forces steaming up the Mississippi and forces fighting their way downstream  converged on [[Battle of Vicksburg|Vicksburg, Mississippi]], the main Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. After a prolonged siege by water and land, Vicksburg fell to Generaly [[Ulysses S. Grant]] on July 4, 1863. President Abraham Lincoln wrote: "The Father of Waters  again goes unvexed to the Sea."   

====World War I====

====World War I====

The navy entered World War I with thirty rear admirals. Three billets had the temporary  rank of admiral--Chief of Naval Operations, or CNO (William S. Benson),  Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet (Henry T. Mayo), and Commander of Naval Forces  Operating in European Waters (William S. Sims). Congress did not make the rank  permanent for Benson, Mayo, and Sims, who after the war completed service as rear  admirals, the highest rank at which they could retire, although the temporary admiral  rank continued with the billets of CNO or fleet command, and vice admiral for  seconds-in-command.

The navy entered World War I with thirty rear admirals. Three billets had the temporary  rank of admiral—Chief of Naval Operations, or CNO (William S. Benson),  Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet (Henry T. Mayo), and Commander of Naval Forces  Operating in European Waters (William S. Sims). Congress did not make the rank  permanent for Benson, Mayo, and Sims, who after the war completed service as rear  admirals, the highest rank at which they could retire, although the temporary admiral  rank continued with the billets of CNO or fleet command, and vice admiral for  seconds-in-command.

===World War II===

===World War II===

===Since 1990===

===Since 1990===

In 2007 top Navy officials told Congress it has underway an unprecedented modernization program across the full spectrum of its weapons platforms in both the Navy and Marine Corps. In seeking a $139.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2008, a $12 billion increase, SECNAV [[Donald C. Winter]] said the transformation of the sea services underway includes a new generation of ships, submarines, and aircraft -- with programs in development, production, or already in operation with the fleet.  CNO Adm. Mike Mullen said, "Through the Fleet Response Plan, we continue to meet the demands of the Combatant Commanders for trained, flexible and sustainable forces, with six Carrier Strike Groups available on 30 days notice and an additional Carrier Strike Group ready to surge within 90 days."  The budget allots $14.7 billion for shipbuilding, an increase of about $3.2 billion over 2007. The FY08 ship construction and aviation procurement plan includes the first CVN-21 aircraft carrier, a Virginia-class submarine, one amphibious assault ship, one logistics ship and three Littoral Combat Ships. It also calls for 18 EA-18Gs; 24 F/A-18E/Fs; 21 MV-22 Ospreys, unmanned aerial vehicles, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAP vehicles) and the continued development and procurement of F-35 joint strike fighters.<ref> See [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28095  Navy News Service, "DoN Budget Request for FY08 Addresses Near and Long-term Needs," March 1, 2007]</ref>

In 2007 top Navy officials told Congress it has underway an unprecedented modernization program across the full spectrum of its weapons platforms in both the Navy and Marine Corps. In seeking a $139.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2008, a $12 billion increase, SECNAV [[Donald C. Winter]] said the transformation of the sea services underway includes a new generation of ships, submarines, and aircraft—with programs in development, production, or already in operation with the fleet.  CNO Adm. Mike Mullen said, "Through the Fleet Response Plan, we continue to meet the demands of the Combatant Commanders for trained, flexible and sustainable forces, with six Carrier Strike Groups available on 30 days notice and an additional Carrier Strike Group ready to surge within 90 days."  The budget allots $14.7 billion for shipbuilding, an increase of about $3.2 billion over 2007. The FY08 ship construction and aviation procurement plan includes the first CVN-21 aircraft carrier, a Virginia-class submarine, one amphibious assault ship, one logistics ship and three Littoral Combat Ships. It also calls for 18 EA-18Gs; 24 F/A-18E/Fs; 21 MV-22 Ospreys, unmanned aerial vehicles, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAP vehicles) and the continued development and procurement of F-35 joint strike fighters.<ref>See [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28095  Navy News Service, "DoN Budget Request for FY08 Addresses Near and Long-term Needs," March 1, 2007]</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==