U.S. Navy Third Fleet
One of the larger, more powerful fleets in the U.S. Navy is the Third Fleet based in San Diego, California. The purpose of the fleet, composed of a group of warships under a single command, is to protect U.S. interests in the Pacific Ocean.
One of the larger, more powerful fleets in the U.S. Navy is the Third Fleet based in San Diego, California. The purpose of the fleet, composed of a group of warships under a single command, is to protect U.S. interests in the Pacific Ocean.
Like their sailing predecessors, power-driven naval vessels are designed for various operations involved in modern naval warfare. Contemporary naval fleets include aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, mine craft, and a variety of transport and support vessels. Naval vessels generally have a slender hull shape that gives them greater speed than their merchant counterparts, which cannot economically sacrifice cargo-carrying capacity for speed.
1. Aircraft Carriers
Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier
Nuclear power propels the huge bulk of the Abraham Lincoln through the water. Part of the fleet of the U.S. Navy, the Abraham Lincoln provides a flight deck for high-performance planes. By naval standards the ship is very long, but its runway is still shorter than most air strips on land. To compensate for this, incoming planes use hooks on their undersides to catch arresting cables on the ship’s deck.
The most important naval ships of modern times, aircraft carriers are massive vessels equipped with flight decks to support the takeoff and landing of military aircraft. The largest and most advanced carriers in the world belong to the Nimitz class. Nimitz carriers stretch 333 m (1,092 ft) in length and carry 85 aircraft. Their crews number more than 3,000, and they also house aircrew and support teams numbering almost 2,500. They are powered by a two-reactor power plant.
2. Battleships
The modern battleship traces its ancestry to the first-rate ships-of-the-line of the sailing era. Until recently, modern battleships served on the front lines of sea battles throughout the world. They have largely been replaced by aircraft carriers.
The last battleships built in the United States were of the Iowa class. The four Iowa-class vessels entered service in the 1940s. The U.S. Navy modernized them in the 1980s, then removed them from service in the 1990s. These steel-hulled ships measured 270 m (885 ft) and traveled at an unprecedented speed of 33 knots.
3. Cruisers
Modern cruisers measure from 162 to 243 m (533 to 796 ft) in length, travel about 30 knots, and have an average crew of 550. The mission of modern cruisers is to destroy enemy surface ships, submarines, aircraft, and missiles. They are equipped with 5-inch guns, Harpoon and Tomahawk guided missiles, antisubmarine warfare helicopters, and torpedoes. Many cruisers now have the Aegis surface-to-air missile system, a highly sophisticated and capable weapons system.
4. Destroyers
The modern destroyer is a light, fast, ship that serves a great variety of functions because of its speed, armament, and maneuverability. It replaced the navy war sloop of the sailing era. Destroyers provide antiair, antisurface, and antisubmarine warfare capabilities. They carry 5-inch guns, a variety of antiship missiles, antisubmarine helicopters, and torpedoes. They range from 133 to 172 m (437 to 563 ft) in length, travel at speeds ranging from 30 to 33 knots, and have crews of about 400.
5. Frigates
Halifax-Class Frigate HMCS Toronto
Canadian Forces navy personnel tie off the massive bowline of the HMCS Toronto. One of seven Halifax-class frigates in the navy fleet, Toronto stretches 134-m (440-ft) long and 16-m (52-ft) wide. The ship carries a 17-m (55-ft) helicopter on its deck and houses up to 225 officers and crew members.
Like its sailing predecessor, the modern naval frigate serves as an ocean escort. It ranges from 126 to 136 m (414 to 445 ft) in length and cruises at below 30 knots. Modern frigates require crews of between 200 and 300 sailors. Most are lighter armed than destroyers, although some frigates carry missiles, antisubmarine rockets, and helicopters, torpedoes, or other weapon systems.
6. Mine Craft
Navy Minesweeper
The USS Swift, a Navy minesweeper, cruises off the coast of Norway in 2004. Minesweepers are used to detect and sweep away underwater mines so that ships can pass safely.
Mine craft include minesweepers and mine countermeasure ships. Minesweepers detect and clear, or sweep, explosive underwater mines so that ships can pass safely. They measure 57 m (188 ft) long and carry a crew of 45. Mine countermeasure ships detect and sweep underwater mines and serve as command and control facilities for mine countermeasure operations. Mine countermeasure ships measure 68 m (223 ft) in length and have a crew of 74.
1. Aircraft Carriers
Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier
Nuclear power propels the huge bulk of the Abraham Lincoln through the water. Part of the fleet of the U.S. Navy, the Abraham Lincoln provides a flight deck for high-performance planes. By naval standards the ship is very long, but its runway is still shorter than most air strips on land. To compensate for this, incoming planes use hooks on their undersides to catch arresting cables on the ship’s deck.
The most important naval ships of modern times, aircraft carriers are massive vessels equipped with flight decks to support the takeoff and landing of military aircraft. The largest and most advanced carriers in the world belong to the Nimitz class. Nimitz carriers stretch 333 m (1,092 ft) in length and carry 85 aircraft. Their crews number more than 3,000, and they also house aircrew and support teams numbering almost 2,500. They are powered by a two-reactor power plant.
2. Battleships
The modern battleship traces its ancestry to the first-rate ships-of-the-line of the sailing era. Until recently, modern battleships served on the front lines of sea battles throughout the world. They have largely been replaced by aircraft carriers.
The last battleships built in the United States were of the Iowa class. The four Iowa-class vessels entered service in the 1940s. The U.S. Navy modernized them in the 1980s, then removed them from service in the 1990s. These steel-hulled ships measured 270 m (885 ft) and traveled at an unprecedented speed of 33 knots.
3. Cruisers
Modern cruisers measure from 162 to 243 m (533 to 796 ft) in length, travel about 30 knots, and have an average crew of 550. The mission of modern cruisers is to destroy enemy surface ships, submarines, aircraft, and missiles. They are equipped with 5-inch guns, Harpoon and Tomahawk guided missiles, antisubmarine warfare helicopters, and torpedoes. Many cruisers now have the Aegis surface-to-air missile system, a highly sophisticated and capable weapons system.
4. Destroyers
The modern destroyer is a light, fast, ship that serves a great variety of functions because of its speed, armament, and maneuverability. It replaced the navy war sloop of the sailing era. Destroyers provide antiair, antisurface, and antisubmarine warfare capabilities. They carry 5-inch guns, a variety of antiship missiles, antisubmarine helicopters, and torpedoes. They range from 133 to 172 m (437 to 563 ft) in length, travel at speeds ranging from 30 to 33 knots, and have crews of about 400.
5. Frigates
Halifax-Class Frigate HMCS Toronto
Canadian Forces navy personnel tie off the massive bowline of the HMCS Toronto. One of seven Halifax-class frigates in the navy fleet, Toronto stretches 134-m (440-ft) long and 16-m (52-ft) wide. The ship carries a 17-m (55-ft) helicopter on its deck and houses up to 225 officers and crew members.
Like its sailing predecessor, the modern naval frigate serves as an ocean escort. It ranges from 126 to 136 m (414 to 445 ft) in length and cruises at below 30 knots. Modern frigates require crews of between 200 and 300 sailors. Most are lighter armed than destroyers, although some frigates carry missiles, antisubmarine rockets, and helicopters, torpedoes, or other weapon systems.
6. Mine Craft
Navy Minesweeper
The USS Swift, a Navy minesweeper, cruises off the coast of Norway in 2004. Minesweepers are used to detect and sweep away underwater mines so that ships can pass safely.
Mine craft include minesweepers and mine countermeasure ships. Minesweepers detect and clear, or sweep, explosive underwater mines so that ships can pass safely. They measure 57 m (188 ft) long and carry a crew of 45. Mine countermeasure ships detect and sweep underwater mines and serve as command and control facilities for mine countermeasure operations. Mine countermeasure ships measure 68 m (223 ft) in length and have a crew of 74.
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