I really don't know. I got out in late 1980 and the Navy was in the process then of assuming some security such as taking over the brig and making Master At Arms an actual rating for E-5 and above I think. Up till then it was T.A.D. pooled among the divisions. The main reason carriers had MARDET was for the nukes. But conventional are still a significant security risk. I know there are Marine Squadrons.
BTW, when little ol’ peon me got guard duty or Duty NCO in “the field” back then we had 5 rounds of rifle ammo or five rounds of 45 for the pistol. And we were sure were not allowed to chamber—— ahem. Or do it and make damn sure you don’t have an AD.
I do know somebody who had a 22 revolver hidden under his field jacket when pulling guard duty in the middle of the night in wintertime-——but I can’t mention that guy’s name ;)
We couldn't have a firearm on the ship but we had our own defenses LOL. I had a 12" Crescent Hammer in my rack. All Engineering Machinery spaces required a Vital Area Badge for entry. We seldom wore them ourselves but we challenged with Chief Engineer's blessings anyone entering our spaces we knew didn't belong there. Then there was this rumor back in the day of Snipes being armed with rope and cans of graphite grease and hazing aka welcome to the shop LOL. Today such acts is a Court Martial offense. :>{ WIMPS
In Okinawa I had a hefty three foot wooden club between my mattress and springs in the barn.
One of the deck apes we were friendly with on the Duluth related a story about one night in Subic Bay. Four black marines came in liquored up at curfew time and started giving the ship’s watch officer a ration of shit in the mess. They were threatening to beat up him and a couple of other swabbies. Anyway, another sailor saw this, went to berthing and quickly something like forty guys came swarming up with hammers, crowbars, pipes, pipe wrenches, chains, mop handles, you name it.
Meanwhile, one of the marines had gone for more of them-— they were portside under the helicopter deck-—and brought back four more assistants.
In ended up being about forty or fifty to eight. The drunks sobered up and didn’t want to fight anymore.