Here's Every Class of Ship in the U.S. Navy

The US Navy is the most powerful group of ships, carriers, and sailors on Earth.

The Navy is older than the US – founded in 1775 as the Continental Navy – and is currently made up of 430 ships and submarines. It’s been involved in more than 10 major wars, and combat has taken the Navy all over the world.

The surface fleet is made up of 16 different classes of vessels, and includes amphibious assault ships, aircraft carriers, command ships, mine sweepers, destroyers, littoral combat ships, and more.

We put together a list of all the types of surface ships in service with the US Navy:

[gulfwing]

Actually, you put nothing together, this was a Business Insider article that you stole and added a crap robot voice to it. *golf clap*

[pedrotinaco]

As a Navy Veteran (1983-1992), ET on board Nimitz, I find this video a great introduction to current serving major operating ships.

[genghispecan]

LOL - "...the war of one thousand eight hundred twelve."

[iraphael]

Please do something about the computer voice...it's awful!

[KC-lfly]

Don't use computer generated voice.

[-wicked-eharmonywithme]

Honestly America's air force is really impressive too.

[alecpost]

Could you guys not find a narrator or something? lol
Impressive ships though.

[johnargus]

Every class of ship, huh? Where did I ever get the idea the navy had submarines... ?

[javieranguiano]

God Bless All you that have thank you for your And God Bless Our Armed Forces.

[sherman]

Nimitz class carries more planes than most Air forces!!
Awesome kit!

[styletie]

"The war of one thousand eight hundred twelve". I LOLed.

[chiefseadawg]

What is particularly of note is that there is not a single active frigate currently in service with the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy is currently in the selection process, as to which design will be chosen under the New Frigate Program – FFG(X). Construction of the first frigates is expected to begin in 2021. There are also plans to upgrade the two variants of Littoral Combat Ships and to redesignate them as frigates.

The Ticonderoga-class cruisers are getting old, with the first five ships of the class having already been decommissioned. A total of 22 Tico cruisers still remain in service. The decommissioned Ticonderoga's had two Mark 26 missile launchers, while those which remain in service field the Mark 41 vertical launch system. All 22 remaining Tico cruisers have undergone modernization programs, which will allow them to have service lives of at least 35 years, but that still means decommissioning of the Ticonderoga-class cruisers will begin in the early 2020s. There is no current guided missile cruiser (CG) replacement program, as most funding is committed to the Ohio Replacement Submarine, so work on a new cruiser is expected to begin in the mid-2020s and begin being fielded by the mid-2030s.

The only other navy in the world today that has operational cruisers is Russia, which operates one Kirov-class battlecruiser -- the Soviet era Pyotr Velikiy, as well as three (3) Slava-class cruisers, which are also increasingly obsolete Soviet-era warships. The largest surface combatants (warships) that Russia is currently building are just small frigates. That means, if funding for the U.S. Navy’s planned CG program is not available (a distinct possibility), the cruiser may become a relic of the past, just like the battleship has.

Always left out of these lists of current U.S. Navy ships are the logistical support ships – the supply ships and replenishment fleet oilers. But these ships are critical, because they provide fuel, provisions, weapons and other critical items, as well as support services to the warships, submarines and their crews. Such ships are not operated by Navy crews; they are instead operated by civilian personnel, who work for the Military Sealift Command -- MSC (they are designated as “USNS – U.S. Naval Ships, ” instead of, “USS -- United States Ships”). There are also a huge number of miscellaneous ships, also operated by the Military Sealift Command, such as two hospital ships, tanker ships, container ships, Aviation Logistics Support (Roll-on/Roll-off) Container Ships, vehicle cargo ships, expeditionary fast transports, submarine and special warfare support vessels, survey vessels, salvage ships/tugs, harbor tug boats, crane vessels, floating dry docks, oceanographic research ships, and others.

And, then there are the two main classes of submarines: fast attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines (four of which have been converted to cruise missile submarines with expanded facilities for special forces -- i.e. Navy SEALS).

The U.S. Navy is, by far, the most powerful navy in the world, and will remain a such for the foreseeable future. Russia’s navy is actually regressing, as the largest surface combatants (warships) the Russians are building are just small frigates. Russia’s economy is in the toilet and is getting worse by the day. China has a very long way to go before it can come close to matching the U.S. Navy in size and/or capability.

[tillmansomethinrother]

Proud to have been a US Navy member. 1978-1984.

[sooprcoomr]

V22 is really amazing. It doesn't even seem flyable, let alone refuel or airdrop or other things.

[AgentX]

I thought a patrol boat was the smallest naval military ship? 30 foot patrol boat with 20mm mini guns, torpedo launcher, depth chargers and .50 caliber machine gun, 7.62 machine gun and 40mm grenade launcher. Top speed 45 knots. In WW 2 it was called a PT boat. Great ship to launch against heavily armed enemy cruisers and submarines.

[nosyrosie]

Thank you for sharing your information.

[matthewrobinson]

You should use an actual human being to narrate. And you left out the U.S.S. Arizona, which will remain in commission as long as the United States is inexistence.

[richardholladay]

Always remember the story of an American sailor looking over the side of his ship and down at a Royal Navy destroyer moored alongside, he said to the British sailor “What’s it like to be in the second largest navy in the world?” the British sailor replied “Pretty good. what’s it like to be in the second best.” Rule Britannia.

[hvqc]

What happened to the Dreadnaught/Battleship class of ship? Certainly not ones bearing 16in guns like in WW2, but with masses of missile launchers? Or does the Guided Missile Destroyer class occupy this role now?

[Newkinn]

Very Impressive... by far 1st navy in the world
Greetings from France