United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval
warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one
of the seven uniformed services of the United States. It is
larger than the next 13 largest navies combined in terms of
battle fleet tonnage.45 The U.S. Navy also has the world's
largest carrier fleet, with 10 in service, one under
construction (two planned), and two in reserve. The service has
317,054 personnel on active duty and 109,671 in the Navy
Reserve. It operates 288 ships in active service and more than
3,700 aircraft.2 The navy traces its origins to the Continental
Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary
War and was essentially disbanded as a separate entity shortly
thereafter. Depredations against American shipping by Barbary
Coast forces in the Mediterranean Sea spurred Congress to employ
this power by passing the Naval Act of 1794 ordering the
construction and manning of six frigates.6 These ships were used
to end most pirate activity off the Barbary