[dp0622]

anybody know the largest sized Fleet we had in recent memory?

[jjotto]

Close to 600 after Reagan’s increases.

[kabar]

During WWII. By war's end in 1945, the United States Navy had added nearly 1,200 major combatant ships, including 27 aircraft carriers and 8 battleships, and had over 70% of the world's total numbers and total tonnage of naval vessels of 1,000 tons or greater.

At its peak, the U.S. Navy was operating 6,768 ships on V-J Day in August 1945, including 28 aircraft carriers, 23 battleships, 71 escort carriers, 72 cruisers, over 232 submarines, 377 destroyers, and thousands of amphibious, supply and auxiliary ships.

[Mariner]

“At its peak, the U.S. Navy was operating 6,768 ships on V-J Day in August 1945, including 28 aircraft carriers, 23 battleships, 71 escort carriers, 72 cruisers, over 232 submarines, 377 destroyers, and thousands of amphibious, supply and auxiliary ships.”

However, modern platforms are FAR more capable and likely 700 ships could do the same job today.

[2001convSVT]

“anybody know the largest sized Fleet we had in recent memory?”

Good Question! I would add, what is the total tonnage? and how has that change? We may have fewer combat ships but equal tonnage, or not.

[NorthMountain]

anybody know the largest sized Fleet we had in recent memory?

President Reagan never quite got his 600 ship navy, but we were close. It has been downhill ever since.