The Navy helps secure the waters.
The United States Navy has the responsibility to maintain, instruct and arm "combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas," according to the official website of the United States Navy. Depending on the mission, the Navy employs various ships for diverse purposes.
Battleships
A battleship is an armored warship that is geared for use during battles and carries out shore bombardment. At the time of publication, there were no battleships in the Navy. The USS Monitor, the first battleship, engaged in battle with the CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862. On March 31, 1992, the USS Missouri, the last battleship on active duty, was decommissioned.
Cruisers
A cruiser is a combat ship that can engage numerous targets at the same time and can offer support in battles or battle on its own. Cruisers are typically on numerous missions, such as naval surface fire support, undersea warfare and surface warfare. These combat vessels have Tomahawk cruise missiles, and some also have ballistic missile defense capability. Cruisers include the USS Bunker Hill, USS Shiloh and USS Port Royal.
Frigates
Frigate ships protect other warships in missions. The Navy refers to frigates as anti-submarine warfare combatants. The vessels feature short-range anti-air combat ability and do not participate in multiple missions at the same time. Some Navy frigates are the USS Boone, USS Rentz and USS Taylor.
Destroyers
The destroyer can operate as part of an underway replenishment group, surface action group, carrier strike group or amphibious-ready group. A destroyer can also tackle missions independently. This is a warship with the ability to offer defensive and offensive assistance. Destroyers come equipped with eight vertical launch system cells; aviation capability; and a tumblehome hull, which gets narrower as its distance from the water line increases. Navy destroyers include the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Russell and USS Gonzalez.
Submarines
A submarine can travel in the water without being noticed during involvement in numerous missions. The Navy has attack submarines, ballistic missile submarines and guided missile submarines. An "attack submarine is one of the most lethal weapons in the nation's arsenal," according to the Navy. It looks for and destroys rival submarines and ships. Ballistic missile submarine can launch missiles and deliver nuclear warheads. The Navy gears guided-missile submarines toward special operation and strike missions.
