An introduction to all major types of modern vessels in the US sea services - carriers, battleships, cruisers, frigates, destroyers, cutters, submarines, amphibious warfare ships, logistics and support ships, patrol boats, and icebreakers - explaining their general characteristics, purposes, and operating procedures. It explains how ships are named and designated and defines basic navy terminology. There is a section devoted to ships of the future, complete with artists' renderings of their envisioned appearances. There are answers to questions typically asked by young people about life aboard these ships.