Sonar operators recieve bearings

Sonar in the Sea Services

Dolphins have been using sound for object detection for millions of years, but the earliest recorded instance of man’s venturing into the realm of hydroacoustics occurred in 1490, when Leonardo ...

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
March 2020
Operation Crossroads’ Task Unit 1.2.6

Organizing for the Fight

The U.S. Navy’s operational forces are divided into numbered fleets that are organized into geographic areas of responsibility.

By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
January 2020
Deck firefighting team on board the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-60)

A Responsibility for All Hands

Both in port and at sea, a ship’s crew must be ready at all times to prepare for and react to emergency situations.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
December 2019
Seven different editions of the Bluejacket's Manual on a table

An American Classic

While The Bluejacket’s Manual has evolved through its 25 revisions (and counting), its original purpose has remained steadfastly on course.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
October 2019
Air-to-air left front oblique view of Grumman XTB3F-1S Guardian in flight

Pre-1962 Naval Aircraft Designation Systems

Readers of naval history prior to 1962 will encounter several other aircraft identification systems used by the sea services.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
August 2019
NRA-3B Skywarrior aircraft equipped with electronic warfare (jammer) pods, with its wing folded up at the Pacific Missile Test Center.

Cracking the Aircraft Designation Code

The aircraft designation system currently in use by all branches of the armed forces can be confusing, but it is mostly logical and definitely decipherable.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
June 2019
Sailors directing an F-35C Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in December 2018.

Naval Aviation 101

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps perform a wide variety of missions from the decks of ships and from Navy and Marine Corps air stations all over the world.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
April 2019
Profile and overhead diagram showing pre-1949 U.S. Navy ship compartments

‘Navigating’ within a Pre-1949 Ship

Today's system of compartment identification only came into practice in 1949. Ships built before that time used a different method of identifying compartments and spaces.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
February 2019
Ship level diagram

The Bullseye: 'Navigating' within a Ship

Just as a town or city has a system using street signs and addresses to help you find your way around, so does a Navy ship.

By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
December 2018
U.S. Navy

Securing a Ship to a Pier

If you have ever watched a movie in which the captain of a Navy ship yells down from the bridge wing, telling his deck crew to “Cast off all lines,” ...

Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
June 2018