ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

World War II United States Merchant Navy

Alright kiddo, let me tell you about the United States Merchant Navy in World War II!

So, during World War II, there were two main groups of ships: naval vessels and merchant ships. Naval vessels were owned and operated by the Navy, and were used for fighting battles and protecting supplies. Merchant ships, on the other hand, were owned by private companies and were used to transport goods, like food, fuel, and weapons, across the ocean.

The United States Merchant Navy was the group of merchant ships and the people who worked on them during the war. The people who worked on these ships were called merchant mariners, and they were civilians, not members of the military.

The merchant navy was really important during the war because they were responsible for transporting supplies to the Allied forces. Without them, the soldiers wouldn't have had the food, ammunition, and other things they needed to fight the war. But it wasn't an easy job - the merchant ships had to travel through dangerous waters, where they were often attacked by enemy submarines and planes.

The merchant navy crew included a captain who was in charge of the ship and the crew, and other crew members who worked in different roles, like engineers, radio operators, and cooks. They had to work long hours and be ready for anything that could happen at sea.

Eventually, the United States Merchant Navy became the largest fleet in the world, with over 5,000 ships transporting supplies across the ocean. They helped the Allies win the war, and their bravery and hard work will never be forgotten.