The United States Navy has a long and storied history of protecting the nation’s waters, but does the US Navy have ships on the Great Lakes? The answer is yes, but not in the traditional sense.
The US Navy has a presence on the Great Lakes in the form of several Coast Guard cutters that are operated by the US Coast Guard. These vessels are used to patrol and protect the Great Lakes from illegal activity such as smuggling, drug trafficking, and terrorism. The Coast Guard also assists with search and rescue operations on the lakes.
In addition to these Coast Guard vessels, there are also several Navy vessels that are stationed on the Great Lakes for training purposes. These vessels include submarines, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. The Navy uses these ships to train sailors in navigation and other maritime skills that they will need when they deploy overseas.
The US Navy also has a presence on Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is home to Naval Station Great Lakes which is one of two major naval bases in the United States. This base is home to several training schools for sailors as well as a variety of other activities related to naval operations.
So while it may not be what most people think of when they hear “US Navy”, there is indeed a presence of US Navy ships on the Great Lakes. These ships provide an important service to both our nation’s security and its citizens who live near or use these waters for recreation or commerce.