Circa 1957 “Join modern mobile mighty Navy ” recruiting poster by Joseph Binder. LC-USZC4-3355
Today marks 25 years from 13 October 1775, the day the Continental Congress authorized the outfitting of two armed vessels to intercept British supply ships, marking the official birth of the Continental Navy (although Washington’s Cruisers predated this by seven weeks) and the precursor to the United States Navy.
For those interested, the official graphics are here, while there are printable coloring pages for the kiddies, here.
Continental Navy sloop-of-war Fly (8 guns) along with Continental Navy sloop-of-war Mosquito (4 guns). Both ships were mentioned as being on station in Delaware Bay with Fly watching six British ships in a letter dated 30 December 1776. This image from a 1974 painting by William Nowland Van Powell is currently in the U.S. Navy Art Collection
The Navy marked its 249th official birthday (well, technically begun as the Continental Navy) this week.
They released a well-produced 8-minute moto video, below, that is very decent.
Just living the dream since 1775…(or maybe 1798, depending on how you mark it):
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) fires its 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise, Sept. 24, 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan U. Kledzik/Released) 180924-N-UY653-444
A 13 October 1775 resolution of the Continental Congress established what is now the United States Navy with “a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months….” After the American War of Independence, the U.S. Constitution empowered the new Congress “to provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798.
In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized official recognition of 13 October as the birthday of the U.S. Navy. Since then, each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.”
