Today marks the 247th year since the Continental Congress established a Naval Force to fight the British. The debate over challenging the Royal Navy was a fierce one, but George Washington ended the debate when he commissioned the USS Hannah to raid British merchant shipping. On 13 October 1775 the Continental Navy authorized the purchase of two small, armed merchant vessels.
It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.
— George Washington 15 November 1781, to Marquis de Lafayette
Following the Revolutionary War, the fledgling country couldn’t afford a navy and the last vessel of the Continental navy, Alliance, was sold. The country would be without a navy until 1797, when the USS Constitution, Constellation, and United States were commissioned.
Naval power . . . is the natural defense of the United States.
John Adams
The Navy has grown since its humble beginnings. The service now consists of 296 combatant vessels, 2464 aircraft and 346,200 sailors.