During the Mexican-American War, what was the Navy's primary duty?

• A. Blockade of Havana
• B. Conduct amphibious landings at Vera Cruz, Mexico
• C. Bombardment of Tripoli
• D. Support for land campaigns in California

Answer: (B)

Projecting power ashore through an amphibious assault was the Navy’s central role in this conflict. The decisive operation was the landing at Vera Cruz, where naval forces transported and supported the Army, bombarded coastal defenses, and established a bridgehead that enabled the ground campaign to move inland toward Mexico City. This coordinated naval action was essential to opening the path for the American army to advance, making it the primary duty of the Navy in the Mexican-American War. Other options refer to actions in different wars or theaters (such as the blockade of Havana in a later conflict or the bombardment at Tripoli), or to lesser naval support for campaigns elsewhere, but none had the same direct impact on the war’s main campaign as the Vera Cruz amphibious assault.