This Week in Navy History: Feb. 17, 1776
The Continental Navy was put to sea on its first cruise.

-USN-

Status of the Navy: Feb. 18, 1998
Personnel:
388,439 active duty
55,519 officer
326,391 enlisted
4,027 midshipmen
202,057 civilians
219,733 Ready Reserve Force:
93,426 SELRES/125,984 IRR
Aircraft: 4,666
Ships: 348
Underway: 158 ships (46%)
Deployed: 107 ships (31%)
58,761 personnel
Exercises: 11
Carriers/Airwings at Sea:
USS Nimitz (CVW-9): in transit, Mediterranean
USS George Washington (CVN-73): SOUTHERN WATCH, Arabian Gulf
USS Independence (CVW-5) SOUTHERN WATCH, Arabian Gulf
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) COMPTUEX, west Atlantic
LHAs/LHDs/LPHs at Sea:
USS Peleliu/13th MEU: in transit, Pacific
USS Guam/24th MEU: in transit, Arabian Gulf
USS Belleau Wood: SOCEX 98-1, west Pacific
USS Essex: east Pacific
USS Tarawa: in transit, Pacific Ocean
USS Inchon: in transit, Gulf of Mexico
Ships assigned to Maritime Interception Operatons:
USS Young, USS Samuel B. Roberts
Other Exercises/Operations:
COUNTER DRUG OPS, east Pacific/Caribbean Sea
Information source: OPNAV Staff
-USN-

Tom Robison
Ossian, Indiana
tcrobi@adamswells.com
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