Is the Navy necessary for a country? or in other words; Do we need a Navy?

Question

My Asian friend has been arguing with me on this topic for months and there will be more months to argue about it more. We are taking comments and want to know what you think about the Navy. I am for the Navy, with there transportation to secert attacks and he thinks planes, the Army, and Marines can cover it. What do you think?

Answer 1

Your friend doesn't know much about the Navy.



The Air Force needs bases from which to launch strikes. It needs the men and equipment at those bases on a permanent basis to maintain the aircraft.



The Navy has aircraft carriers that are equipped with everything the Air Force has. And it can send an their "bases" wherever they're needed.



The Air Force has huge cargo planes for transporting men and equipment rapidly. The Navy leaves that to the Air Force. They have a few workhorses, but they're small.



You're friend says the Marines can do all the necessary fighting. I think the Army would take exception to that. The Marines are designed for a high-intensity, low profile assault. The Army is in there for the long haul. Their missions are different.



You allude to the clandestine missions carried out by SEALs. While the other services have their special forces, if the job is anywhere near the water, the SEALs are best equipped to handle it.



And, I guess your friend has not heard of our submarines. The Navy has subs each with more firepower than some nations. And, like the surface ships, they can go anywhere. Being under water makes them hard to find. Being mobile makes them moving targets.



And, when we have to make our presence know, when we need to make a show of force, when we want to let somebody know that, "Guess what... we're watching you," we don't have to negotiate with a government to allow us access to their land; we don't have to build a base for the Air Force, or to house a couple thousand troops. We send in the Navy.



An aircraft carrier task force is an awesome array of weaponry. It has missiles, it has a small contingent of Marines. It has a air wing consisting of the specific aircraft needed at that place and time. It has all the facilities of a land base... and then some. And it's there... now. There's no "ramp up" time. When it arrives, it's ready to operate. If there's a need to field a large number of troops for the long haul, the Air Force is called in and they build the strips on which to land and from which to take off, establish the support facilities, and begin moving in personnel and equipment. And the Navy will cover them while they put their planes and personnel in place. And the Navy can configure its task forces to meet the needs of the situation. And it can change that configuration rapidly.



Is the Navy done, then? Nope. Depending where they are, and where they are needed, SEAL's take off from carriers, are released from submarines, or are dropped from Navy planes. They take off from land bases too. The Navy also has a few of them left.



Over 70% of the Earth is covered in water. That leaves less than 30% for land. The Army and Air Force are designed to work from that 30%. The Navy can operate from everywhere else.

Answer 2

Your friend is ignorant of many important geo-political things. A short, but by no means comprehensive list:



1) something like 90% of the worlds population is in reach of an aircraft carrier.



2) The oceans are mostly free transit zones, so that aircraft carrier can go pretty much where ever it wants, when ever it wants.



3) more than 90% of the US' strategic raw materials imports arive by sea transport (these are the things we need to make the things we use and sell). No sea transport == impovershment. No navy means sea transport at the mercy of anyone who wants to screw with us.



4) When the US projects power, having an aircraft carrier battle group or a Marine Expiditionary Unit hanging out off shore is MUCH more intimidating than bombers which fly in and fly out again - The carriers and Marines don't HAVE to attack to scare people into behaving, whilst orbiting bombers have no intermediate response level - they're either bombing, which means war, or they're not, in which case they're irrelevant.



5) Marines travel by Navy... And the Marines can ALWAYs get to a remote trouble spot faster than the Army (no slam against the Army - they just have a different job), thanks to the Gator Navy.



6) the sea hides our nukes very, very well. FBM Submarines still go out on patrol, 'cause you never know when some idiot will need a dose of hard-core intimidation to keep them from doing something stupid.

Answer 3

SUBMARINES:

-Insurance policy that the US will have a nuclear ballistic missile capabilty if our bombers were destroyed. Also a sub will almost always be closer to target. Meaning we could still have first stike even if "they" had first launch.



-Covert delivery of Special Forces. This one is self

explanitory (I hope).



-Tracking/eavesdropping capabilities.



- Stealthy, therefore making them deadly in attack with anything at sea.



AIRCRAFT CARRIER:

-Floating base from which to launch airstrikes, ground forces anywhere in the world on short notice. Surely no more needs to be said for the worthiness of an American aircraft carrier.



HOSPITAL SHIPS:

-When you invade an island and start taking casualties, where can they recieve medical care? The local guerrillas?



NAVAL AVIATION:

-When there are no air assets in the area and no Air Force already en route, then you better hope like hell there is a carrier near loaded to the gills with Marine and Navy fighters. A lot of good men are alive today because of a fighter's ability to scramble from a carrier at a moments notice.



NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE:

-SEALs are our maritime special forces operators, bottom line, so if we ever plan on being sneaky from the water we want SEALs around. They are also great at land and air insertions too, hell they aint that bad at anything they do.



*In addition to all these great Naval assets (and many many more I didn't mention), there are some fundamental problems without a Navy that would be tough if not imossible to resolve, such as:



How would the Marines ever make another beach landing?



P.S. It must be said, all of this is coming from a guy who is Army down to his toenails.

Answer 4

The Navy is important. With the Navy, there is always some Amphibious or Carrier battle goup at sea. I guess you can condsider them a quick reaction force. If there was trouble somewhere and we had no Navy, we would have to fly from the US or closest military base. It could take a while for troops to arrive. With the Navy and Marine Corps, we would be there at a moments notice.

Answer 5

the navy possesses the most destructive weapon on earth - just one can decimate an entire continent and we have something like 18 - the ballistic missile sub is a powerful deterrent and will hopefully ensure we never fight an apocalyptic war with russia or china. We have land based missiles as well - but these are effectively sitting ducks - a sub can hide anywhere in th world and launch missiles at any moment that take less than 20 minutes to reach any target on earth.



think about this:





A single ballistic missile submarine in the US navy carries 24 trident D5 missiles.



Each D5 missile contains 12 independently targeted thermonuclear weapons



each thermonuclear weapon has the destructive power of 23 hiroshima bombs

Answer 6

With out the Navy the Marines wouldn't have anybody to protect>> Every service has their special part Navy caries the fighting troops (MARINES ) to there fight always on the ready and guards the seas also they are there for ships at sea for emergency Army an Marines protect land Air force the air Cost guard open seas and lousy boaters smugglers castaways Every body has there place part of the big picture. SERVE AN PROTECT.

Answer 7

A navy is necessary for any country that borders international waters.



The Army can't fly fixed wing aircraft into combat, so your friend is wrong on that. Besides, the Navy has more planes than any other branch. Plus, when planning, it is a great asset to have a runway with the ability to float.

Answer 8

We absolutely need a Navy. Even if it's actions seem to be mostly covert, they are critical for all the points you made. Also, just because the Navy does not currently face a significant threat, one need only look to history to show what happens to naval super powers that begin to question how much they really need that Navy. I recommend citing historical evidence to your friend, I would begin looking into WWII and the American revolution. Good luck, you are on the right side of this argument.

Answer 9

Ever military that has any ability to defend it's country requires a strong NAVY the earth is > 70% water and this allows our country to attack an enemy from any where in the world if we are provolked. The water allows ships to transport increadible weights that the air will never match plans will never carry what ships can carry.

Answer 10

The Navy is essential to our military superiority around the world. Think of it as mobile bases. Also, if we control the waters around the country, we can pretty much control that country.

Answer 11

Tell him maybe not for his country because they got a treaty with one of the worlds finest Navys but here in the U.S. we need the Navy like we need air.

Answer 12

Any nation with open coastlines in a world with access by water to those coast by other nations who might have other intentions than good for us needs a Navy. It is an absolute requirement for national security.

Answer 13

The Navy is not a requirement in order to become a country. It is not an element of a state.

Answer 14

who is "we"?



Costa Rica maybe does not need a Navy. They don't have an Army.



The US needs a Navy. If we didn't have one, you'd quickly discover just how effective modern pirates can be laying in wait just off the port of Long Beach. [Somalia has pirates now, but no Navy.]

Answer 15

Yes, I think we need a Navy, for several reasons:



Control of strategic waterways in time of war.

Defending shipping.

Mobile airbases in the form of carrier strike groups.

Transport for other military services.*



*an old joke is MARINES stands for "My A** Rides In Navy Equipment, Sir!"

Answer 16

Yea how else would the Marines get around ( Simper Fi ! )? We need a Navy to protect our shores, the Coast Guard is not large enough to to the job they do and what the USN does around the world.



Vet-USAF

Answer 17

well i am that asian friend.

k first off i think navy was really important like 1800s cus they didnt have ne good planes or jets or nething. but now days we dont fight on water, we fight upon the sky, on the ground. not really on the water. n i think transport is important but theres nothing else they do, i know marines under navy branch but they guts, now days all navy do is just goin around the world and ship around, when all other branches fight their *** off to save the country. so i think navy is good to have but not to important now days.

they are only doing transportation or something important during war but other than that they dont do ne thing but goin around the world

Answer 18

Of course we need the Navy & they have what it takes to do what they have too.

Answer 19

the Navy is good. so, is any other branch of the military.

Answer 20

Yes they keep us safe along our borders with water (which is thousands of miles).

Answer 21

yes because we wouldnt be able to protect our coastal waters and help the ground forces

Answer 22

Foward Projection. Enough Said!!!!!!!!!!!!!