Independent Baptist Friends International

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.” -Psalm 107:23-24

The History of the U.S. Navy

Because it is nearly surrounded by water, the United States uses the oceans as defensive barriers. The importance of the oceans to American security and economic interests makes the U.S. Navy a crucial component in the country’s military. The size of the oceans has served as a strategic buffer by making it difficult for potential enemies to launch attacks against the United States. For more than 200 years, this reliance on the oceans has necessitated the U.S. Navy.

The Role of the U.S. Navy

The United States Navy is the maritime military force of the United States. The Navy can deploy ships, submarines, and aircraft to any of the world’s oceans. The Navy also has the military might to attack land targets in many parts of the world and to transport weapons and personnel for other branches of the U.S. military.  Navy ballistic missile submarines represent a significant segment of American nuclear forces.

The Navy performs four critical military functions for the United States:   

• Controlling the seas
• Using that control to project American power abroad
• Transporting troops, supplies, and equipment by sea, a process known as sealift
• Operating naval craft armed with nuclear weapons to provide deterrence against nuclear attack on the United States
• Using destroyers to perform anti-submarine warfare duty