Important General NAVY Knowledge

Bow

Front of a ship

Stern

Back or rear of a ship

Port

Left side of a ship when facing forward

Starboard

Right side of a ship when facing forward

Forward

Toward the front (bow) of a ship

Aft

Toward the rear (stern) of a ship

Amidships

The middle portion of a ship

Deck

A horizontal surface or floor of a ship

Bulkhead

A wall or partition inside a ship

Hull

The main body or watertight structure of a ship

Keel

The main structural backbone running along the bottom of a ship

Bridge

The area of a ship from which it is commanded and navigated

Galley

A ship's kitchen

Berthing

The area where crew members sleep

Mess deck

Area where sailors eat meals

Draft

The vertical distance from the waterline to the bottom of a ship's hull

Beam

The width of a ship at its widest point

Knot

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour

Nautical mile

A unit of distance equal to approximately 1.852 kilometers

Fathom

A unit of depth equal to 6 feet

000°

North

090°

East

180°

South

270°

West

Latitude

Measurement of position north or south of the Equator

Longitude

Measurement of position east or west of the Prime Meridian

Equator

0° latitude

Prime Meridian

0° longitude

Aircraft carrier

A warship designed primarily to operate and support aircraft

Battleship

A heavily armed and armored large surface warship, historically designed for fighting enemy ships

Cruiser

A large surface combatant designed for long-range operations and multiple missions

Destroyer

A fast surface combatant used for missions such as fleet defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare

Frigate

A smaller surface combatant commonly used for escort and anti-submarine missions

Submarine

A warship designed to operate underwater

Amphibious assault ship

A warship designed to support amphibious operations and transport forces, equipment, and aircraft

Navy birthday

October 13, 1775

Continental Navy

The American naval force established during the Revolutionary War

John Paul Jones rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Captain; Identifying feature: Revolutionary War commander famous for saying 'I have not yet begun to fight!' aboard USS Bonhomme Richard; Key battle: Battle of Flamborough Head

Stephen Decatur rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Captain; Identifying feature: Youngest captain in U.S. Navy history at age 25; hero of the Barbary Wars who led the destruction of the captured USS Philadelphia; Key battles/actions: Raid on Tripoli Harbor, Action off Algiers

Oliver Hazard Perry rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Commodore; Identifying feature: Hero of the Battle of Lake Erie known for the report 'We have met the enemy and they are ours'; Key battle: Battle of Lake Erie

David Farragut rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Admiral (First full Admiral in U.S. Navy history); Identifying feature: Civil War commander famous for 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!' at Mobile Bay; Key battles: Battle of Mobile Bay, Battle of New Orleans

George Dewey rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Admiral of the Navy (Only person to hold this rank); Identifying feature: Commanded the victory over the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay; Key battle: Battle of Manila Bay

Chester Nimitz rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Fleet Admiral (5-star); Identifying feature: Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II; Key campaigns/battles: Battle of Midway, Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Leyte Gulf

Samuel Nicholas rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Major; Identifying feature: First Officer and traditional first Commandant of the Continental Marines; Key battle/action: Raid on Nassau (Battle of Nassau)

Archibald Henderson rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Brigadier General; Identifying feature: Known as the 'Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps' for serving 38 years as Commandant; Key campaigns: Seminole Wars, Indian Wars

John A. Lejeune rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Major General; Identifying feature: 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps who formalized modern amphibious assault doctrine; Key battles: Battle of Saint-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Lewis 'Chesty' Puller rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Lieutenant General; Identifying feature: Most decorated Marine in U.S. history, awarded five Navy Crosses; Key battles: Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Peleliu, Battle of Chosin Reservoir

USS Bonhomme Richard

American warship commanded by John Paul Jones during the Revolutionary War

HMS Serapis

British warship fought by John Paul Jones aboard USS Bonhomme Richard

Battle of Flamborough Head

The 1779 naval battle in which John Paul Jones fought HMS Serapis

Continental Marines

Marine force established during the American Revolution and predecessor of today's Marine Corps

Privateer

A privately owned armed ship authorized by a government to attack enemy ships

Naval Act of 1794

The law that authorized construction of six frigates for the United States Navy

Six original frigates

USS United States, USS Constitution, USS President, USS Congress, USS Chesapeake, and USS Constellation

USS United States

One of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794

USS Constitution

One of the six original frigates and famous U.S. Navy warship known as Old Ironsides

USS President

One of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794

USS Congress

One of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794

USS Chesapeake

One of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794

USS Constellation

One of the six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794

Old Ironsides

Nickname of USS Constitution

USS Constitution launch year

1797

Barbary Wars

Conflicts between the United States and North African Barbary States involving piracy and tribute

Barbary States

North African states including Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, and Morocco involved in the Barbary conflicts

Tripoli

A North African state and major location of the First Barbary War

Thomas Jefferson rank, identifying feature, and key conflict

Rank/Role: 3rd U.S. President; Identifying feature: Commander in Chief during the First Barbary War who ordered naval forces to defend American shipping against piracy; Key conflict: First Barbary War

USS Philadelphia

U.S. Navy frigate captured by Tripoli after running aground and later destroyed by Stephen Decatur's expedition

Burning of USS Philadelphia

Famous 1804 action in which Stephen Decatur led an expedition to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia

War of 1812

War between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere

Famous War of 1812 victory by USS Constitution

USS Constitution vs HMS Java

Famous War of 1812 victory by USS Constitution

Battle of Lake Erie

Important American naval victory during the War of 1812 commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry

Thomas Macdonough rank, identifying feature, and key battles

Rank: Commodore; Identifying feature: U.S. naval commander who led American forces to victory at the Battle of Lake Champlain; Key battle: Battle of Lake Champlain

Battle of Lake Champlain

Important American naval victory during the War of 1812 commanded by Thomas Macdonough

Quote associated with Oliver Hazard Perry

'We have met the enemy and they are ours'

Civil War Navy

The Union and Confederate naval forces that fought during the American Civil War

Union blockade

The Union naval blockade designed to prevent Confederate trade and supply

Blockade runner

A ship that attempts to evade a naval blockade

Ironclad

A warship protected by iron or steel armor

USS Monitor

Union ironclad that fought CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads

CSS Virginia

Confederate ironclad that fought USS Monitor at the Battle of Hampton Roads

Battle of Hampton Roads

1862 naval battle between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia

USS Monitor side

Union

CSS Virginia side

Confederacy

Anaconda Plan

Union strategy during the Civil War that included blockading Confederate ports and controlling the Mississippi River

Spanish-American War

War between the United States and Spain in 1898

USS Maine

U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, becoming a major event leading to the Spanish-American War

Havana Harbor

Location where USS Maine exploded in 1898

Battle of Manila Bay

1898 American naval victory over Spain commanded by George Dewey

Philippines

Location of the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War

Battle of Santiago de Cuba

Major 1898 naval battle in which the U.S. Navy defeated the Spanish fleet near Cuba

Great White Fleet

U.S. fleet of 16 battleships that circumnavigated the globe from 1907 to 1909

Theodore Roosevelt rank, identifying feature, and key action/battles

Rank/Role: 26th U.S. President; Identifying feature: Dispatched the Great White Fleet to demonstrate American naval power and promote U.S. diplomatic interests; Key battle/action: Battle of San Juan Hill (Spanish-American War)

Purpose of the Great White Fleet

To demonstrate American naval power and promote U.S. diplomatic interests

World War I U.S. entry year

1917

U-boats

German submarines used extensively during World War I and World War II

Convoy

A group of ships traveling together under protection, often naval escort

Lusitania

British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, influencing American public opinion

Zimmermann Telegram

German message proposing an alliance with Mexico against the United States during World War I

Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii