Decoding A Naval Fleet: A Simplified Guide to Ship Types
So a young acquaintance asks what kinds of ships there are in a navy. That’s kind of a basic question. You would think it lends itself to a pithy answer intelligible to nonspecialists. You would be wrong.
Corbett insisted that wars are won on land because people live on land. Controlling the sea while radiating power ashore is how the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps contribute to ultimate victory, working alongside the Army and Air Force as well as allies. Winning demands combined effort.
So there’s my rough guide to ship types. Does it meet the Richard Feynman sixth-grader standard? You be the judge.
About the Author: Dr. James Holmes
James Holmesi s J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College and a Nonresident Fellow at the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. The views voiced here are his alone.
All images are Creative Commons.
