Ships

News, explainers, and analysis about military naval vessels, from carriers to cruisers, destroyers and submarines.

Latest in Ships

The MV Ocean Trader, a merchant ship outfitted for U.S. special operations, including addition of a helicopter hanger and extensive communication equipment over its bridge, in Fremantle, Australia in 2022.
Ships

The elusive ship built to carry US special operators is in the Caribbean

By Jeff Schogol, By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Sep 25, 2025

The USS Canberra sails in the CENTCOM area of operations.
Ships

The Navy turned its ‘little crappy ship’ into a mine hunter

By Kyle Gunn

Posted on Sep 9, 2025

The US Navy warship USS Lake Erie (CG 70) docks at the Port of Balboa in Panama City on August 29, 2025. The United States sent three warships to the region amid escalating tensions with Venezuela, which deployed warships and drones to patrol the country's coastline on August 26, 2025. (Photo by Mauricio VALENZUELA / AFP) (Photo by MAURICIO VALENZUELA/AFP via Getty Images)
Ships

Navy warships amass near Venezuela

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Aug 30, 2025

USS George Washington (CVN-73), HMS Prince of Wales (R09), JS Kaga (DDH-184), and an American amphibious assault ship sail together in the North Philippine Sea, with several aircraft overhead.
Carriers

3 aircraft carriers and ships, fighters from 6 navies train in the Pacific

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Aug 10, 2025

Kyle Carpenter Ship
Destroyers

Navy destroyer named for Marine Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Aug 4, 2025

Ranger transits the Pacific Ocean during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, Sep. 15, 2023.
Ships

Robot warships are here. Now the Navy needs to figure out how to use them.

By Kyle Gunn

Posted on Aug 1, 2025

210421-N-FC670-1008 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 21, 2021) A Seahawk medium displacement unmanned surface vessel participates in U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21, April 21. UxS IBP 21 integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe)
Ships

What the US Navy could learn from Ukraine about sinking enemy ships

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jul 31, 2025

A man fishes in front of the Russian Navy Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier moored off the coast of the town of Limassol, in the Meditteranean island of Cyprus on February 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO / YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU (Photo credit should read Yiannis Kourtoglou/AFP via Getty Images)
Carriers

Russia might finally be done with its perpetually broken aircraft carrier

By Nicholas Slayton

Updated on Jul 13, 2025

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA- 7) , departs Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., April 7, 2022. Tripoli completed flight deck operations with 20 F-35B Lightning II jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 211 and 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, as well as Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing strike platforms when needed, capable of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz)
Ships

Lightning Carriers: The Marines’ secret weapon in the Pacific

By Kyle Gunn

Posted on Jun 26, 2025

Five U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons assigned to the 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron taxi within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 29, 2025. U.S. and Coalition forces are postured to rapidly establish credible, combat-ready forces within the AOR to deter adversary threats of aggression and, if necessary, respond with effective and overwhelming force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Dunkleberger)
Ships

2 aircraft carriers, 9 destroyers, and multiple fighter wings gather in the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jun 20, 2025

The superstructure of the aircraft carrier the USS Harry S. Truman, with a combat action ribbon banner.
Carriers

USS Harry S. Truman returns home after six months of fighting Houthis

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jun 2, 2025

Sailors stand on top of a submarine as it sits in port.
Submarines

Navy commissions its newest submarine, the USS Iowa

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 6, 2025

Aircraft fly ahead of several aircraft carriers and other ships in a deep blue sea.
Ships

This is what it looks like when you have 3 aircraft carriers from 3 countries at sea

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 15, 2025

The USS Indianapolis at sea with two smaller boats in front of it.
Ships

The Navy is upgrading littoral combat ships to fight drones

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 18, 2025

A red coast guard icebreaker sails through water.
Ships

The Coast Guard is building up its Arctic fleet

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 26, 2024

The littoral combat ship USS Nantucket sails on the water, the sun setting behind it.
Ships

US Navy commissions latest littoral combat ship, the USS Nantucket

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Nov 17, 2024