US Navy History in Pictures

There’s something about old pictures that conveys the times. The following images do more than share the Navy’s history, they give you a feel for events.

Established October 13, 1775, the US Navy is actually older than the country. The continental navy was significantly inferior to the British Royal Navy, but the war managed to create America's first naval hero, John Paul Jones, who captured the 50-gun British frigate HMS Serapis. Shown here is an engraving by J. Rogers depicting the battle.

After the Revolutionary War, the Navy was disbanded due to lack of money and cooperation among the states and more isolationist and peaceful goals. The late 18th century saw the construction of six frigates which would be used in a short, naval quasi-war with France and in the war of 1812. A memorable battle, depicted here, saw the defeat of the British HMS Guerriere by the USS Constitution. After seeing cannonballs bounce off of the Constitution's live-oak hull, sailors nicknamed the ship 'Old Ironsides.' The Constitution is still anchored in Boston Harbor.

In 1945, the Japanese signed surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri (l.). Here, F4U and F6F aircraft fly in formation during surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay.

Seen here is an artist's rendering of the Zumwalt class destroyer DDG 1000, a new class of multi-mission U.S. Navy surface combatant ship designed to assist Marine strike forces ashore and perform littoral, air and sub-surface warfare.

For the full pictorial history, visit the Christian Science Monitor’s website.