Ever since October 13, 1972, the Navy has celebrated its birthday and this year is no exception. The Navy was officially started in 1775, during the Revolutionary War. “Back then, it was known as the Continental Navy and consisted of a small fleet of ships patrolling to intercept ships sent to resupply British Army troops at or near the colonies. Read more: History. This is not the same as Navy Day, which is celebrated on October 27, but can be celebrated in similar ways: bell-ringing, cake-cutting, or singing the Navy’s anthem, “Anchor’s Away.”

“Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, designated October 13 as the Navy’s official birthday, and directed that it be commemorated so as to ‘enhance the appreciation of our Navy heritage’ and reinforce ‘pride and professionalism in the Naval Service,’” according to https://allhands.navy.