U.S. Navy

**E Division** is a designation used by several military and law enforcement organizations, most notably by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for its operations in British Columbia. Established in the late 19th century, E Division has played a crucial role in maintaining law and order throughout the province, responding to events ranging from the settlement of the West to modern-day security challenges. During World War II, E Division supported national defense efforts on the Pacific coast, including counter-espionage and protection of vital infrastructure. Today, it remains one of the largest and most complex RCMP divisions, handling everything from organized crime investigations to disaster response and community policing.

Naval Base Point Loma, located in San Diego, California, traces its military history to the late 19th century, originally serving as Fort Rosecrans, a coastal defense site. During World War II, the area became a hub for anti-submarine warfare and expanded to support various naval operations in the Pacific. In 1959, the U.S. Navy established the Point Loma Submarine Base, which later merged with other naval facilities in the area. Today, Naval Base Point Loma serves as a critical support and homeport facility for submarines, surface ships, and special warfare units, playing a key role in the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s operations.

USS Acadia (AD-42) was a Yellowstone-class destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1981. Designed to provide maintenance and logistical support to destroyers and other surface ships, Acadia played a crucial role during the Gulf War, deploying to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The ship became notable as the first U.S. Navy combat vessel to deploy with a mixed-gender crew during wartime. After over a decade of service, USS Acadia was decommissioned in 1994 and later sold for scrap.

USS Camden (AOE-2) was a Sacramento-class fast combat support ship commissioned into the United States Navy on April 1, 1967. Designed to provide rapid replenishment of fuel, ammunition, and supplies to carrier battle groups at sea, Camden served extensively in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The ship played a critical logistical role during the Vietnam War and later supported operations during the Gulf War and various other deployments. After nearly 37 years of distinguished service, USS Camden was decommissioned on October 14, 2005.

USS Fulton (AS-11) was a Fulton-class submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1941. Throughout World War II, she provided vital maintenance, repair, and logistical support to submarines operating in the Pacific Theater, including during key campaigns such as those in the Solomons and the Philippines. After the war, USS Fulton continued to serve through the Korean War and into the Cold War era, supporting both conventional and nuclear-powered submarines. Decommissioned in 1991, she was one of the longest-serving submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy, with a distinguished record of service spanning five decades.

Fleet Training Center Norfolk, established in the mid-20th century, has been a cornerstone of naval training for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Located at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the center has provided specialized instruction and technical training to thousands of sailors, ensuring operational readiness across a wide range of naval disciplines. Over the decades, Fleet Training Center Norfolk has adapted its curriculum to keep pace with evolving naval technologies and warfare tactics. Its graduates have played vital roles in naval operations worldwide, making significant contributions to the United States Navy’s mission readiness and effectiveness.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Cecil Field, located in Jacksonville, Florida, was commissioned in 1941 as a training base for pilots during World War II. Throughout the Cold War, it became a major hub for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance squadrons, often deploying aircraft and personnel for operations around the globe. NAS Cecil Field played a crucial role in supporting U.S. Navy operations during conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as in the Gulf War. The base was officially closed as an active naval air station in 1999, transitioning to civilian use, but its legacy remains integral to naval aviation history.

The USS Hancock refers to several notable ships in United States Navy history, most famously the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CV/CVA-19). Commissioned in 1944 during World War II, Hancock participated in major Pacific Theater operations, including air strikes against Japanese forces in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The carrier earned four battle stars for her wartime service and later participated in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, providing vital air support and striking power. Decommissioned in 1976, the USS Hancock remains a symbol of U.S. naval strength and resilience through multiple conflicts.

USS Valley Forge was the name given to several notable ships in the United States Navy, most famously the Essex-class aircraft carrier CV-45. Commissioned in November 1946, USS Valley Forge participated in key operations during the Korean War, providing critical air support during major engagements such as the Inchon landing in 1950. The carrier later saw service during the Vietnam War, earning multiple battle stars for her efforts. After a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades, USS Valley Forge was decommissioned in 1970.

NAVCOMSTA San Diego, officially known as Naval Communications Station San Diego, was established during World War II to serve as a vital communications hub for the United States Navy’s operations in the Pacific theater. Its mission was to provide secure and reliable radio, teletype, and later satellite communication services to naval forces deployed across the Pacific Ocean. Over the decades, NAVCOMSTA San Diego played a critical role during the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Cold War, adapting to advances in communications technology. In the late 20th century, as communications infrastructure evolved, many of its functions were integrated into new commands, and the station’s original site was eventually closed or repurposed.

The United States Naval Academy (USNA), established in 1845 in Annapolis, Maryland, serves as the undergraduate college for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Founded during a period of naval reform, the Academy was created to provide rigorous academic and military training to future naval officers. Throughout its history, USNA graduates have played vital roles in every major American conflict, from the Civil War to modern-day operations. Renowned for its traditions, honor code, and leadership development, the Naval Academy remains a cornerstone in shaping the Navy and Marine Corps’ leadership.

USS **Bainbridge** (CGN-25) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy in 1962. As the first nuclear-powered frigate (later reclassified as a cruiser), she played a pioneering role in demonstrating the strategic value of nuclear propulsion within surface combatants. Bainbridge notably participated in Operation Sea Orbit in 1964, circumnavigating the globe without refueling alongside USS Enterprise and USS Long Beach. Throughout her nearly 33 years of service, Bainbridge was deployed extensively in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Oceans, before decommissioning in 1996.

USS BELLEAU WOOD

48 members

USS **Belleau Wood** refers to two notable ships in United States Navy history, named after the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood. The first, **USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)**, was a light aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943, serving with distinction in the Pacific Theater during World War II, participating in major campaigns such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea. For her service, she earned 12 battle stars before being transferred to the French Navy in 1953. The second, **USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)**, was an amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1978, supporting numerous operations including humanitarian missions and Operation Desert Storm, before decommissioning in 2005. Both ships upheld the legacy of their namesake, embodying valor and service in their respective eras.

USS FRANK CABLE

48 members

The USS FRANK CABLE (AS-40) is a submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1979. Named after Frank Taylor Cable, a pioneer in submarine development, the vessel was originally homeported in Charleston, South Carolina, providing maintenance and logistical support to submarines and surface ships. In 1996, the Frank Cable was forward-deployed to Guam, where it continues to serve as a vital support platform for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, enhancing the Navy's operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific region. Over its decades of service, the ship has participated in numerous missions, humanitarian assistance efforts, and joint exercises with allied nations.

USS Yosemite is the name given to several ships in the United States Navy, with the most notable being a converted auxiliary cruiser commissioned during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Originally built as the civilian steamer El Sud, she was quickly outfitted for military service and played a key role in blockading Spanish forces in the Caribbean, particularly around San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship was praised for her speed and effectiveness in disrupting enemy shipping. Sadly, Yosemite was lost in a typhoon off Guam in 1900, but her brief service was marked by dedication and valor.

AEWBARRONPAC, officially known as Airborne Early Warning Barrier Squadron, Pacific, was a United States Navy unit established in the 1950s during the Cold War. Its primary mission was to provide airborne early warning coverage using Lockheed WV-2 (EC-121) Warning Star aircraft, patrolling the Pacific Barrier between Midway Island and Alaska to detect potential Soviet bomber or missile threats approaching North America. AEWBARRONPAC crews operated long, grueling flights, often in challenging weather conditions, to maintain a continuous radar surveillance line. The unit was disestablished in the mid-1960s as advances in radar technology and satellite surveillance made its mission obsolete.

The Great Lakes naval region has played a significant role in U.S. military history, particularly during the War of 1812, when both American and British forces vied for control over vital waterways. The establishment of Navy training facilities, most notably Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois in 1911, marked the area as a crucial center for naval preparation and support. Throughout both World Wars, the station trained hundreds of thousands of sailors, contributing greatly to the U.S. Navy's operational strength. Today, Naval Station Great Lakes remains the Navy’s only boot camp, training all enlisted personnel and continuing its legacy as a backbone of naval readiness.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Chase Field was established in 1943 near Beeville, Texas, as a pilot training facility during World War II. Originally designed to support the U.S. Navy’s need for more aviators, Chase Field played a key role in training naval aviators during the war and continued its mission through the Korean and Vietnam War eras. The base specialized in advanced jet training, notably hosting Training Air Wing Three and serving as a home for various training squadrons. NAS Chase Field remained a critical part of naval aviation training until its closure in 1993 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

Naval Station Newport, located in Newport, Rhode Island, traces its origins to the establishment of the Naval Torpedo Station on Goat Island in 1869, marking the beginning of Newport's critical role in U.S. naval operations. Over the decades, the station evolved into a major center for naval education and training, notably becoming home to the prestigious Naval War College in 1884. During World War II, Newport served as a key site for officer training and research in torpedo development. Today, Naval Station Newport remains a vital hub for Navy education, hosting multiple commands including the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and the Officer Training Command Newport.

Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Pearl Harbor was established to provide essential maintenance and repair support to the United States Navy fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Throughout its operational history, SIMA Pearl Harbor played a crucial role in ensuring the operational readiness of surface ships through intermediate-level repairs, upgrades, and logistical support. The unit supported naval operations during critical periods, including the Cold War and post-Cold War eras, adapting to evolving technological and strategic demands. In the early 2000s, SIMA Pearl Harbor was reorganized as part of broader Navy maintenance restructuring, eventually merging into the Regional Maintenance Center system to enhance efficiency and fleet support.

USS Hancock (CV-19) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the United States Navy in April 1944. She served with distinction in the Pacific Theater during World War II, participating in major operations including the Battle of Leyte Gulf and supporting air strikes against Japanese positions across the Pacific. After the war, Hancock was modernized and played a vital role during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, providing air support and conducting combat missions. The carrier was eventually decommissioned in 1976, leaving behind a legacy of valor and service across three decades of American naval history.

USS HORNET

47 members

USS Hornet is the name carried by several distinguished ships in U.S. Navy history, most famously the aircraft carrier CV-8. Commissioned in 1941, USS Hornet (CV-8) played a pivotal role in World War II, notably launching the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942, the first air raid to strike the Japanese home islands. The carrier also participated in the pivotal Battle of Midway, contributing to the turning of the tide in the Pacific Theater. Despite her heroic service, CV-8 was sunk during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942, but her legacy endures through subsequent ships bearing the Hornet name, including CV-12, which served in World War II and later as a recovery ship for Apollo missions.

USS Iowa (BB-61) is the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships, commissioned into the United States Navy in 1943. She served with distinction in World War II, providing fire support during the Pacific campaigns and escorting aircraft carriers. USS Iowa later saw action during the Korean War, bombarding enemy positions along the coast. After periods of decommissioning and modernization, she was reactivated in the 1980s before finally being decommissioned in 1990, and now serves as a museum ship in Los Angeles, California.

USS MISSOURI

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The USS Missouri (BB-63), an Iowa-class battleship, was commissioned into the United States Navy on June 11, 1944. She played a significant role in World War II, providing fire support during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and famously served as the site of Japan’s formal surrender on September 2, 1945, ending the war. The "Mighty Mo" later saw action during the Korean War, delivering naval gunfire in support of UN forces. After being decommissioned and reactivated, she participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 before her final decommissioning in 1992.