U.S. Navy

Created by an act of Congress on April 30, 1798, as the Department of the Navy, the U.S. Navy took part over the years in the War of 1812 with Great Britain, the Mexican War from 1846 to 1848, and the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, which saw the end of wooden ships and the birth of ironclads. In the War with Spain in 1898 and in World War I from 1914 to 1918, the capture of the Philippines helped defeat the German submarine threat, and women were accepted into the U.S. Navy. In World War II from 1941 to 1945, the U.S. Navy bore the brunt of the war in the Pacific as submarines cut Japanese supply lines and aircraft carriers destroyed the Japanese fleet, while in the Atlantic the Navy helped defeat the German U-boats and spearheaded the invasion of Europe. During the Korean Conflict from 1950 to 1955, it provided amphibious support at Inchon, and in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975, riverine forces were used to destroy Vietcong sanctuaries in the Delta area. In the Persian Gulf War from 1990 to 1998, it provided support to fire weapons at targets up to 800 miles away and air support from aircraft carriers.

Port St. Lucie, Florida · United States