As the US Navy turned 251, American politicians rushed to salute the force with patriotic birthday wishes. There was just one catch. Some of the warships they passed off as American, belonged to the navies of India and Russia, turning a celebration of US naval power into an ironic display of mistaken maritime identity.

As the US Navy turned 251, American politicians rushed to salute the force with patriotic birthday wishes. There was just one catch. Some of the warships they passed off as American, belonged to the navies of India and Russia, turning a celebration of US naval power into an ironic display of mistaken maritime identity.