The US Navy’s Newest Ships in June 2024

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As it stands now, the U.S. Navy has upwards of 400 vessels in its fleet, each playing a unique role within the whole. The backbone of the fleet is the series of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers which were introduced more than half a century ago. However, there are a number of other warships and submarines that make up most of the fleet. ( This nation has the largest navy in the world. )

Going forward, the U.S. Navy has plans to update its fleet with a new line of aircraft carriers to replace the aging Nimitz-class. Along with these, there are a series of other ships and submarines that are just now entering the service for the U.S. Navy, like the Arleigh Burke-class or Virginia-class.

To determine the U.S. Navy’s newest warships, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the military data site World Directory of Modern Military Warships’ directory of all active ships in the U.S. and cross-referenced with data from the Naval Vessel Register . We compiled data on all ships and submarines -- 30 in total -- that have been commissioned in the service of the U.S. Navy for five years or less and ranked them by age. It should be noted that this list is current as of February 2024.

For the U.S. Navy, the Nimitz-class carriers are starting to age out, as most are 30 years and older, and the U.S. is replacing them with the newer Ford-class supercarriers. The newest is the Gerald R. Ford which entered service in 2017. Going forward, the Navy is planning to replace the Nimitz carriers on a one-for-one basis for Ford-class carriers as they slowly age out.

Currently, the U.S. Navy is composed of destroyers which account for about 30% of its naval fleet. Submarines come in a close second in terms of allocation, making up about a quarter of the fleet. Beyond this, a fleet of cruisers followed by littoral combat ships and amphibious assault support ships accounts for the rest of the naval vessels. (These are the U.S. Navy's oldest ships and submarines. )

Here is a look at the 30 newest ships to enter the U.S. Navy: Why Are We Covering This?

Knowing the most recent ships and submarines to enter the U.S. Navy is important for understanding the state of national security in the United States. Also the Navy is primarily how the United States projects power across vast distances and maintains a secure balance within the global community.

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