Image: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images
About This Quiz
The U.S. military is, without a doubt, one of the strongest on the planet. In particular, the U.S Navy is legendary and well-respected throughout the world. While it has dealt with its fair share of unfortunate events and battles over the years, it has always rebounded. It is currently the largest and most powerful Navy in the world by a wide margin and shows no signs of relinquishing that spot anytime soon.
But how much do you know about the U.S Navy and the men and women who serve in it? Do you know how long the Navy has been around in total? How about the size of their largest aircraft carrier? With the long and storied history of the Navy, there is a lot to know and learn. If you want to prove your high-ranking knowledge of all things related to the Navy, or you want to learn more about it quickly, this quiz is for you.
Do you have what it takes to be a Navy SEAL, or will the high tides and rough waters be too much for you? Read on and challenge yourself against our quiz to find out!
1775
The United States Navy has been around since 1775, when it was known simply as the Continental Navy. This means that the Navy was founded before the United States of America became a country.
1801
1939
1733
Advertisement
30
6
11
The USA has 11 aircraft carriers. While that may not seem like a lot, there are only 44 of these giant ships on the planet. These are operated by 13 different countries, with the USA having the most.
19
Advertisement
Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Navy
Rising through the ranks of the Navy is a goal that many people have when they enlist. There are many ranks you can rise through, but none higher than Admiral of the Navy. It is equivalent to General of the Armies.
Navy Commander
Commander of the Seas
Advertisement
Orange and Red
Blue and Gold
Blue and gold are the Navy's two colors. This doesn't mean those in the Navy always wear uniforms that feature these colors, but these are the official colors and have been for a long time.
Purple and Green
White and Black
Advertisement
65,000 tonnes
20,000 tonnes
180,000 tonnes
100,000 tonnes
The USS Gerald Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the USA's fleet. It has a displacement of approximately 100,000 tonnes. Displacement measures how much water is pushed aside while the ship is floating.
Advertisement
Around 336,000
The U.S has the largest and one of the most impressive navies on the planet. It has approximately 336,000 active duty personnel and many other employees in civilian jobs.
Around 2.1 million
Around 150,000
Around 900,000
Advertisement
One for all, all for one
Not for self, but for country
While the Navy's official motto is "Always Courageous," it also has an unofficial motto. This motto is "non sibi sed patriae," which stands for "not for self, but for country.".
The few, the proud
The Navy leads the way
Advertisement
Two
191
While you might think NCIS is just a show, it's not. The Naval Criminal Investigative service operates 191 different locations around the world. There are offices in 41 countries.
70
18
Advertisement
Two
Four
Six
Dozens of president's have served in the military in some capacity, but only six have served in the Navy or the Naval Reserve. All six actually served in the same war, World War II.
Eight
Advertisement
George Washington
Russell Smith
David Farragut
The very first admiral in the U.S Navy was David Farragut. Farragut became an admiral after the Civil War. The Navy operated for many decades before ever naming anyone an admiral.
Robert Burke
Advertisement
Virginia
The Pentagon is the Navy's headquarters, as well as the headquarters of other U.S military branches. The Pentagon is located in Virginia, which was one of the earliest states to join the nation.
Maryland
New York
Arizona
Advertisement
1797
That's right, a ship that first launched in 1797 is still commissioned to this day. The USS Constitution only cost $300,000, which is a tiny fraction of the cost of most ships built today or in recent decades.
1901
1888
1930
Advertisement
Officers who only work underwater
An animal that works with the Navy
The special forces of the Navy
Navy SEALs are the Navy's primary special forces team. While many people think this is a reference to a real seal. But SEAL is actually an acronym for Sea, Air and Land. The SEALs have been around since 1962.
A special vehicle for use on the water
Advertisement
Six weeks
Eight Weeks
Basic training and boot camp for the Navy takes eight weeks. Basic training prepares individuals for life as a sailor and gets them accustomed to what they will face during combat and times of peace.
12 weeks
16 weeks
Advertisement
March 27
February 19
August 11
October 13
The Navy's birthday is October 13. That is the date on which the original Navy was founded in 1775. This means the Navy is very close to celebrating its 250th anniversary.
Advertisement
The first female admiral in the Navy
The first woman to enlist in the Navy
Loretta Perfectus Walsh is best known as the very first woman to enlist in the U.S Navy. She enlisted in 1917 and was the first woman to ever serve in the U.S armed forces as something other than a nurse. Her rank was Chief Yeoman.
She pretended to be a man to enlist in the Navy.
She came up with calling it the "Navy"
Advertisement
War of 1812
While the U.S Navy is now the most powerful in the world, that wasn't always the case. During the War of 1812, the U.S. Navy was outnumbered 40 to 1 by the British navy and its many ships.
World War II
The Cold War
World War I
Advertisement
They are assigned.
It is done by random draw.
People volunteer for duties on a submarine.
Everyone who works on a Navy submarine is someone who has volunteered or asked to be there. Submarines are quite small, and people on them might be there for weeks or months at a time.
The smallest Navy officers go on submarines.
Advertisement
About 19%
While the Navy, and most of the armed forces, are still primarily made up of males, there is a growing number of females joining the service. In particular, the Navy is made up of around 19% women.
About 27%
About 5%
About 11%
Advertisement
"The Navy is Here"
"Anchors Aweigh"
"Anchors Aweigh" is the Navy's official song. It was composed in 1906 and became the official song in 1907. The original lyrics were revised in 1997.
"The March"
"Navy Strength is Forever"
Advertisement
New York
California
New Mexico
Illinois
The only enlisted basic training location for the Navy in the country is located in Illinois, just outside of Chicago. The location is called the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes.
Advertisement
The secretary of the Navy
The person in charge of naming new ships for the Navy is the secretary of the Navy. This is done under the direction of the President of the United States, and there are many rules to follow, as well.
It is put to a vote.
The admiral of the ship
The vice president
Advertisement
18 to 27
17 to 39
If you want to join the Navy, you need to be between the ages of 17 to 39. If you are only 17, however, you need parental permission before you are allowed to enlist into the armed forces.
Any age over 18
18 to 55
Advertisement
Cow
Goat
Bill the Goat is the mascot for the U.S. Naval Academy. It is a live goat, and the animal was first seen as the mascot in 1893. So far, there have been more than 30 "Bills" throughout Navy history.
Otter
Dog
Advertisement
One
Two
Three
There are many submarines in the Navy, but they fall in only three different classes or types. These are attack submarines, cruise missile submarines and ballistic missile submarines.
Four
Advertisement
188
The attacks on Pearl Harbor were incredibly sad and horrific. In total, the attack in 1941 led to the complete destruction of 188 aircraft. More than 150 others were also damaged.
1,235
299
564
Advertisement
Buzz Aldrin
Neil Armstrong
Before he became an astronaut, Neil Armstrong served in the Navy. Armstrong is best known for being the first person to walk on the moon.
John Glenn
Yuri Gagarin
Advertisement
USS Virginia
USS Arizona
USS Long Beach
The USS Long Beach was the very first Navy surface combat ship to use nuclear power. Named after the city in California, the ship was initially launched in 1959 and was decommissioned in 1995.
USS Carl Vinson
Advertisement
Donald Trump
Mark Esper
Mike Pence
Richard V. Spencer
Ever since he assumed the position on August 3, 2017, Richard V. Spencer has been the U.S Secretary of the Navy. He is also a former U.S. Secretary of Defense and served in the Marines from 1976 to 1981.
Advertisement
The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
The official motto of the U.S Navy SEALs is "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday." Mottos are important to military organizations as motivation as well as to convey values or missions.
Always Moving Forward
Power in Numbers
From Sea to Sea
Advertisement
1947
1972
in 1972, Alene Duerk became the very first female Navy officer. She was also the director of the U.S Navy Nurse Corps from 1970 to 1975. She served for decades and decades and is incredibly decorated.
1930
2001
Advertisement
A well-known naval commander
John Paul Jones was known as a naval commander during the American Revolutionary War. He, along with a few others, share the distinction of being called the "Father of the Navy."
The creator of nuclear power
A pirate who turned into a military hero
The first person to ever graduate from the U.S.Naval Academy
Advertisement
A special fleet of submarines
Navy veterans with more than 10 years served
The name given to Navy uniforms
A flight demonstration squadron
The Blue Angels are a flight demonstration squad that have been around since 1946, making them one of the oldest flight demonstration teams on the planet. They fly in dozens of shows and events every year.
Advertisement
3,700
While the Navy usually deals with boats and submarines, it also has a relatively large fleet of aircraft. In total, the Navy has a fleet of over 3,700 operational aircraft. Some are operated by the Navy, others by the Marines.
75
10,000
450
Advertisement
Ultra Ship Service
Upward State Ship
United Ship Service
United States Ship
USS stands for United States Ship. Every ship that is commissioned by the U.S Navy will have a USS at the beginning of its name. Once a ship is decommissioned, the USS is dropped from its name.
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
.jpg){kind=link}
_in_dry_dock_front_view_2013.JPG){kind=link}
,_while_passing_the_battleship_USS_Missouri_in_her_new_homepo.jpg){kind=link}
_the_Honorable_Ray_Mabus,_right,_looks_on_as_Mark_D._Clookie_discusses_his_appointment_as_Naval_Criminal_Investigative_Service_(NCIS)_director.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
,_circa_1990.jpg){kind=link}
,_USS_Midway_Museum_--_2012_--_5368.jpg){kind=link}