As readable as fiction, as timely as today's headlines, this authoritative, concise history of the U.S. Navy traces the development of American seapower from the raggle-taggle Continental Navy of 1775 to current efforts to deploy strategic and tactical naval innovations for the twenty-first century.

Originally published in 1977 and revised and updated twice, this book has come to be recognized as the standard history of the Navy, treasured by midshipmen at the Naval Academy and valued by general readers looking for a brief but inclusive study. In telling the story of the Navy, author Nathan Miller describes not only its ships and weapons but the role played by its men and women in the creation and protection of the United States.

This new third edition includes enhanced coverage of the Marine Corps.