Surprising Facts About the US Navy

The United States Navy was founded on March 27, 1794, and has been a mainstay of the American military. Comprised of several different units, from submarines and destroyers to carriers and amphibious assault ships, it is one of the largest navies in the world. Due to its recent combat against Houthi rebels, the U.S. Navy has been brought to the forefront recently and is a reminder of how important this sea-faring branch, and all branches, of the military is,

Most people know that the Navy involves ships, sailors, and submarines, but there are many more facets of the Navy that most people don't realize. Many facts listed here will likely leave you in awe. For instance, from 1961 to 1993, every president was a veteran of the Navy, or knowing that the Navy has its own construction crew that's been around since World War II. It might also astonish you to learn the real meaning behind the name Navy SEAL or that the popular TV show "NCIS" is named after a real department in the Navy.

To determine surprising facts about the U.S. Navy, 24/7 Tempo referenced many sources across the internet, including government sources such as the United Service Organizations (USO), The American Legion, and Navy Federal. We also checked historical sites, including History.com and Britannica. We think you'll find this list very enlightening. If you want to learn about other branches of our government, check out this list of the 12 things you didn't know about the Marines.

One thing you likely didn't know about the Navy is that George Washington was responsible for the original incarnation. He had the idea of creating a separate branch of the Army to disrupt British supply lines. His first order of business was to convert a few fishing boats into warships. The first official warship was named the Hannah, and it departed in September 1775. This version of the Navy did not last long, but by the time it was dissolved in 1777, it had captured 55 British ships.

The Navy actually has two birthdays. The branch first came about back on Oct. 13, 1775, about six months into the Revolutionary War, and it was called the Continental Navy. However, the branch was disbanded. The problem was that with no protection, the U.S. became an easy target for pirates, so the new version of the Navy was created under the name of the U.S. Navy.

It would be understandable if the one thing you didn't know about the Navy is that working on a submarine long-term is completely voluntary. Many imagine enlisted folks spending most of their time in a submarine, but that's far from the truth. It's not easy to work on a sub.

You're underwater for weeks or months at a time while working and spending time in tight quarters with many other sailors, so they only want people who are up for it doing the job. Even if you volunteer, you'll need to pass strict physical and psychological tests to get aboard.

There have been many famous entertainers and movie stars who are veterans of the Navy. Some of the stars of classic Hollywood served, including jazz singer John Coltrane, and actors Cesar Romero, Ernest Borgnine, Humphrey Bogart, and Buddy Ebsen. Other famous faces include talk show host Johnny Carson and actors Paul Newman and Kirk Douglas. In addition to walking on the moon, Neil Armstrong was a Naval aviator who fought during the Korean War. He was forced to eject from his plane and land on Korean soil.

Many American politicians are also veterans of the Navy. In fact, except for Ronald Reagan, every president from 1961 to 1993 was a Navy veteran. Six incredibly brave presidents fought during World War II, including Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, and John F. Kennedy.

Other noteworthy politicians who are also Navy veterans include Rep. Daniel Crenshaw, Rep. Ryan Zinke, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, among many others.

If you watch a lot of television, you may have stumbled across the show "NCIS." It's not just fiction. The acronym stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and it's the law enforcement agency of the Navy. The group contains about 1,200 agents, 200 military members, and 900 civilian professors. They operate out of 140 locations. Their job is to reduce crime, fight terrorism, and protect government secrets. They tackle a lot, and it's enough for many episodes of fascinating TV.

One thing you didn't know about the Navy is that since the 1900s, they have had a mascot named Bill the Goat. Legend is there was a pet goat on a Navy ship, but it died. The sailors wanted to keep Bill's memory alive so they agreed to save his skin and have it mounted.

However, before they could, the ensigns were distracted by the Naval Academy football game. During halftime, one of the men wore the skin and ran around the stands. The Navy ended up winning that game, and the goat has represented the Naval Academy ever since.

The United States Navy is the largest in the entire world. Other countries have naval branches, but most of them pale in comparison. There are currently more than 109 personnel and 323,000 active members of the Navy. The Naval fleet itself is also quite large. The U.S. has more than 3,700 aircraft, 72 submarines, nine assault ships, 62 destroyers, 10 aircraft carriers, and 288 battleships.

When you join the Navy, you're forced to learn lingo that challenges what you've known since you were a child. When you're on a ship, there are no walls. Instead, there are bulkheads. There are no windows because ships have portholes. Instead of looking to the right or left on a ship, you look to the port or starboard.

When you want to eat, you don't go to the lunchroom, you go to the mess deck. You also don't look up at the ceiling. Instead, you look up at the overhead. Saying the wrong thing in the Navy may get you ridiculed, so it's best to get these definitions straight.

One thing you likely didn't know about the Navy is its impressive global reach. Just about every major body of water around the planet has at least one Navy ship. The Navy has a presence in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. You'll also find naval ships in the Horn of Africa and the Persian Gulf. Navy ships are also deployed to Japan and Europe.

One thing you likely didn't know about the Navy is what the term SEAL stands for, though you've likely heard the term. These specially trained soldiers comprise 1% of all Navy personnel. The acronym stands for Sea, Air, and Land. The soldiers are so well-equipped that they can engage in combat in planes, boats, and land. Unless you're a SEAL yourself, that's all you likely know about this team. Their training is highly secretive.

As a casual observer of the Navy, you likely didn't know that they have their own construction crew, called the Seabees. This talented group is responsible for constructing military bases and paving all the roads and airstrips in combat zones. The group has been around since 1942, and they've been working hard ever since.

They began during World War II when the Navy recruited civilians to help with construction, and it has continued ever since. (Want to learn more about that famous war? Check out this list of the 25 things you don't know about World War II.)