Today is the 247th birthday of the United States Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sea service officially commenced operations on Oct. 13, 1775, when the Continental Congress commissioned two ships, each outfitted with 80 men and various swivel and carriage guns to intercept transports providing munitions and supplies to British personnel in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move was the culmination of efforts by select members of Congress, including John Adams, who had long been advocating for a unified Navy to supplant the fleets individually operated by colonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor months, [Adams] and a few others had been agitating in Congress for the establishment of an American fleet,\u201d according to the Naval History & Heritage Command<\/a>. \u201cThey argued that a fleet would defend the seacoast towns, protect vital trade, retaliate against British raiders, and make it possible to seek out among neutral nations of the world the arms and stores that would make resistance possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a message celebrating 247 years of international service, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro lauded the nation\u2019s sailors for \u201cdeterring our adversaries and extending power and presence on a global scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n