Naval History and Heritage Command
Modern Surface Warfare
In the early days of the Surface Navy, wooden frigates, propelled by sails, would fire cannon balls at enemy ships in an attempt to either sink or capture the ships on the open seas. The rise of the “New Navy” gave birth to world-wide missions such as the Great White Fleet, convoy operations of World War I, the great carrier battles of World War II, large amphibious landings in Korea, and the United States ability to engage in two simultaneous wars along separate fronts. Advancements in propulsion and weaponry have increased the capabilities of today’s Navy into a force that protects American interests globally. Modern surface warfare conducts a wide variety of missions—from multiple ship classes—including aviation, damage control, and seamanship. More advanced missions include anti-air warfare; amphibious warfare; ballistic-missile defense; visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS); mine warfare; and anti-submarine warfare.
This page highlights Navy vessels that are equipped with modern propulsion systems such as fuel, nuclear or electric.
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Cruisers
- U.S. Navy Fact File: Cruisers—CG
- Navy DD(X) and CG(X) Programs
- Navy Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer Modernization
- Cruisers
- Evolution of the Cruiser infographic
- Battlecruisers in the United States and the United Kingdom 1902–1922
Destroyers
- U.S. Navy Fact File: Destroyers—DDG
- Destroyer Report—Gunfire, Bomb and Kamikaze Damage
- Destroyer Report—Torpedo and Mine Damage and Loss in Action
- Evolution of the Destroyer infographic
Battleships
Amphibious Assault
Amphibious Transport Dock
Amphibious Dock Landing
Amphibious Command
- U.S. Navy Fact File: Amphibious Command Ship—LCC
- Seventh Amphibious Force—Command History 1945
- Amphibious Force, US Pacific Fleet
Littoral Combat Ships
Mine Countermeasure Ships
- U.S. Navy Fact File: Mine Countermeasures Ships—MCM
- U.S. Navy Mine Countermeasures in Terror and War
- Record of Yorktown Mine Warfare Engineering Activity, 1918–1971
Patrol Coastal Ships
- U.S. Navy Fact File: Patrol Coastal Ships—PC
- “Skill in the Surf”: A Landing Boat Manual
- “Combat at Close Quarters”
Aircraft Carriers
Additional Resources
- Ship Command Operations Reports
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Desert Shield/Desert Storm
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Operation Inherent Resolve
- Modern Ships
- Sinking of USS Indianapolis
- The Catastrophic Fire On Board USS Forrestal
- Battle of Midway infographic
- Battle of the Coral Sea infographic
- Amphibious Ready Group infographic
- Guadalcanal Carrier Action infographic
- Guadalcanal Cruiser Night Action infographic
- Guadalcanal Battleship Night Action
Selected Imagery
Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz walk past assembled U.S. naval and military officers to take their places for the surrender ceremonies, on board USS Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Catalog #: 80-G-332660.
