Editing Navy (section)

== Naval organization ==
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=== Ships ===
{{main|Naval ship}}
Historically, navy ships were primarily intended for warfare. They were designed to withstand damage and to inflict the same, but only carried munitions and supplies for the voyage (rather than merchant cargo). Often, other ships that were not built specifically for warfare, such as the [[galleon]] or the armed merchant ships in [[World War II]], did carry armaments. In more recent times, navy ships have become more specialized and have included supply ships, troop transports, repair ships, oil tankers and other logistics support ships as well as combat ships.

Modern navy combat ships are generally divided into seven main categories: [[aircraft carrier]]s, [[cruiser]]s, [[destroyer]]s, [[frigate]]s, [[corvette]]s, [[submarine]]s, and [[amphibious assault ship]]s. There are also support and auxiliary ships, including the [[Replenishment oiler|oiler]], [[minesweeper]], [[patrol boat]], hydrographic and oceanographic [[research vessel|survey ship]] and [[Ship's tender|tender]]. During the [[age of sail]], the ship categories were divided into the [[ship of the line]], frigate, and [[sloop-of-war]].

Naval ship names are typically prefixed by an abbreviation indicating the national navy in which they serve. For a list of the prefixes used with ship names ([[Her Majesty's Ship|HMS]], [[United States Navy#Ships|USS]], [[Long Éireannach|LÉ]], etc.) see [[ship prefix]].

Today's warships are significantly faster than in years past, thanks to much improved propulsion systems. Also, the efficiency of the engines has improved, in terms of fuel, and of how many sailors it takes to operate them. In World War II, ships needed to refuel very often. However, today ships can go on very long journeys without refueling. Also, in World War II, the engine room needed about a dozen sailors to work the many engines, however, today, only about four or five are needed (depending on the class of the ship). Today, naval strike groups on longer missions are always followed by a range of support and replenishment ships supplying them with anything from fuel and munitions, to medical treatment and postal services. This allows strike groups and combat ships to remain at sea for several months at a time.

=== Boats ===
The term "boat" refers to small craft limited in their use by size and usually not capable of making lengthy independent voyages at sea. The old navy adage to differentiate between ships and boats is that boats are capable of being carried by ships. (Submarines by this rule are ships rather than boats, but are customarily referred to as boats reflecting their previous smaller size.)

Navies use many types of boat, ranging from {{convert|9|ft|m|adj=on}} dinghies to {{convert|135|ft|m|adj=on}} landing craft. They are powered by either diesel engines, out-board gasoline engines, or waterjets. Most boats are built of aluminum, fiberglass, or steel. [[Rigid-hulled inflatable boat]]s are also used.

[[Patrol boat]]s are used for patrols of coastal areas, lakes and large rivers.

[[Landing craft]] are designed to carry troops, vehicles, or cargo from ship to shore under combat conditions, to unload, to withdraw from the beach, and to return to the ship. They are rugged, with powerful engines, and usually armed. There are many types in today's navies including [[hovercraft]]. They will typically have a power-operated bow ramp, a cargo well and after structures that house engine rooms, pilot houses, and stowage compartments. These boats are sometimes carried by larger ships.

Special operations craft are high-speed craft used for insertion and extraction of special forces personnel and some may be transportable (and deployed) by air.

Boats used in non-combat roles include lifeboats, mail boats, line handling boats, buoy boats, aircraft rescue boats, torpedo retrievers, explosive ordnance disposal craft, utility boats, dive boats, targets, and work boats. Boats are also used for survey work, tending divers, and minesweeping operations. Boats for carrying cargo and personnel are sometimes known as launches, gigs, barges or shore party boats.

=== Units ===
Naval forces are typically arranged into units based on the number of ships included, a single ship being the smallest operational unit. Ships may be combined into [[squadron (naval)|squadrons]] or [[flotilla]]s, which may be formed into [[Naval fleet|fleets]]. The largest unit size may be the whole Navy or [[Admiralty (navy)|Admiralty]].

A [[task force]] can be assembled using ships from different fleets for an operational task.
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=== Personnel ===
Despite their acceptance in many areas of naval service, [[Women in the military|female sailors]] were not permitted to serve on board U.S. submarines until the U.S. Navy lifted the ban in April 2010.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 June 2010 |title=The Associated Press: Biden notes big year, sub service for Navy women |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIMxaTQ7lpX-Ow6grVziJ7ZKeNpQD9FVUPKG3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601135420/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIMxaTQ7lpX-Ow6grVziJ7ZKeNpQD9FVUPKG3 |archive-date=1 June 2010}}</ref> The major reasons historically cited by the U.S. Navy were the extended duty tours and close conditions which afford almost no privacy. The United Kingdom's Royal Navy has had similar restrictions. Australia, Canada, Norway, and Spain previously opened submarine service to women sailors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/review/2001/0102-09.htm|title=NATO Review – Vol. 49 – No 2 – Summer 2001|website=NATO |access-date=22 March 2021|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428215258/https://www.nato.int/docu/review/2001/0102-09.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Ranks ===
{{main|Naval officer ranks}}A navy will typically have two sets of ranks, one for [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] personnel and one for [[officer (armed forces)|officers]].

Typical ranks for commissioned officers include the following, in ascending order ([[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] ranks are listed first on each line; USA ranks are listed second in those instances where they differ from Commonwealth ranks):
* [[Midshipman]] / [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] / [[Corvette Lieutenant]]
* [[Sub Lieutenant]] / [[Lieutenant Junior Grade]] / [[Frigate Lieutenant]]
* [[Lieutenant]] (Commonwealth & US)/ [[Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant]] / [[Captain Lieutenant]]
* [[Lieutenant Commander]] (Commonwealth & US)/ [[Corvette Captain]]
* [[Commander]] (Commonwealth & US)/ [[Frigate Captain]]
* [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] (Commonwealth & US)/ [[Ship-of-the-Line Captain]]
* [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] / [[Flotilla Admiral]] (in US only: [[Rear Admiral (lower half)]])
* [[Rear Admiral]] (in US only: [[Rear Admiral (upper half)]])
* [[Vice Admiral]] (Commonwealth & US)
* [[Admiral]] (Commonwealth & US)
* [[Admiral of the Fleet]] (Commonwealth) / [[Fleet Admiral]] (US) / [[Grand Admiral]]

"Flag officers" include any rank that includes the word "admiral" (or commodore in services other than the US Navy), and are generally in command of a [[Battleship battle group|battle group]], strike group or similar flotilla of ships, rather than a single ship or aspect of a ship. However, commodores can also be temporary or honorary positions. For example, during World War II, a Navy captain was assigned duty as a convoy commodore, which meant that he was still a captain, but in charge of all the merchant vessels in the convoy.

The most senior rank employed by a navy will tend to vary depending on the size of a navy and whether it is wartime or peacetime, for example, few people have ever held the rank of Fleet Admiral in the U.S. Navy, the chief of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] holds the rank of Vice Admiral, and the chief of the [[Irish Naval Service]] holds the rank of Commodore.