USN

US Navy Battleships

British (RN)
Japanese (IJN)
German (HSF & KM)
Russian & Soviet
French
Italian

Class Pennant
Number
Name Keel Laid Launched First
Commissioned
Builder Last De-
commissioned
Fate
Pre-Dreadnoughts
Maine-Maine17 Oct 188818 Nov 189017 Sep 1895NYNYSunk at Havana, Cuba 15 Feb 1898, raised 2 Feb 1912, sunk in deep water 16 Mar 1912.
Texas-Texas1 Jun 188928 Jun 189215 Aug 1895NORNYSunk as target 1911
IndianaBB-1Indiana7 May 189128 Feb 189320 Nov 1895Cramp31 Jan 1919Sunk as target 1920, Scrapped 1924
BB-2Massachusetts25 Jun 189110 Jun 189310 Jun 1896CrampScuttled 6 Jan 1921, now diving wreck
BB-3Oregon19 Nov 189126 Oct 189315 Jul 1896UIW12 Jun 1919Museum 1925-1941, Scrapped 1956
IowaBB-4Iowa5 Aug 189328 Mar 189616 Jun 1897Cramp31 Mar 1919Sunk as target, 23 March 1923
KearsageBB-5Kearsarge30 Jun 189624 Mar 189820 Feb 1900NNSBDD10 May 1920Converted to crane ship 1920, scrapped 1955
BB-6Kentucky30 Jun 189624 Mar 189816 May 1900NNSBDD29 May 1920Scrapped 1924
IllinoisBB-7Illinois10 Feb 18974 Oct 189816 Sep 1901NNSBDDServed as training ship for many years. Scrapped 1956
BB-8Alabama2 Dec 189618 May 189816 Oct 1900Cramp7 May 1920Sunk as target 27 Sep 1921, scrapped 1924
BB-9Wisconsin9 Feb 189726 Nov 18984 Feb 1901UIW15 May 1920Scrapped 1922
MaineBB-10Maine15 Feb 189927 Jul 190129 Dec 1902Cramp15 May 1920Scrapped 1923-24
BB-11Missouri7 Feb 190028 Dec 190112 Jan 1903NNSBDD8 Sep 1919Scrapped 1922
BB-12Ohio22 Apr 189918 May 19014 Oct 1904UIW31 May 1922Scrapped 1923
VirginiaBB-13Virginia21 May 19025 Apr 19047 May 1906NNSBDD13 Aug 1920Sunk as target, 5 Sep 1923
BB-14Nebraska4 Jul 19027 Oct 19041 Jul 1907Moran2 Jul 1920Scrapped 1923-24
BB-15Georgia31 Aug 190111 Oct 190424 Sep 1906Bath15 Jul 1920Scrapped 1923-24
BB-16New Jersey2 Apr 190210 Nov 190412 May 1906Fore 6 Aug 1920Sunk as target 5 Sep 1923
BB-17Rhode Island1 May 190217 May 190419 Feb 1906Fore30 Jun 1920Scrapped 1923-24
ConnecticutBB-18Connecticut10 Mar 190329 Sep 190429 Sep 1906NYNY1 Mar 1923Scrapped 1923
BB-19Louisiana7 Feb 190327 Aug 19042 Jun 1906NNSBDD20 Oct 1920Scrapped 1923
BB-20Vermont21 May 190431 Aug 19054 Mar 1907Fore30 Jun 1920Scrapped 1923
BB-21Kansas10 Feb 190412 Aug 190518 Apr 1907NYSB16 Dec 1921Scrapped 1924
BB-22Minnesota27 Oct 19038 Apr 19059 Mar 1907NNSBDD1 Dec 1921Scrapped 1924 at PNSY
MississippiBB-23Mississippi12 May 190430 Sep 19051 Feb 1908Cramp21 Jul 1914Sold to Greece 1914, as Lemnos. Sunk at Salamis April 1941.
BB-24Idaho12 May 19049 Dec 19051 Apr 1908Cramp30 Jul 1914Sold to Greece 1914, as Kilkis. Sunk at Salamis April 1941.
ConnecticutBB-25New Hampshire1 May 190530 Jun 190619 Mar 1908NYSB21 May 1921Scrapped 1923
Dreadnoughts
South CarolinaBB-26South Carolina18 Dec 190625 Jul 19081 Mar 1910Cramp15 Dec 1921Scrapped 1924
BB-27Michigan17 Dec 190611 Jul 19084 Jan 1910NYSB11 Feb 1922Scrapped 1924 at PNSY.
DelawareBB-28Delaware11 Nov 19076 Feb 19094 Apr 1910NNSBDD10 Nov. 1923Scrapped 1924
BB-29North Dakota16 Dec 190710 Nov 190811 Apr 1910Fore 22 Nov 1923Scrapped 1931
FloridaBB-30Florida9 Mar 190912 May 191015 Sep 1911NYNY16 Feb 1931Scrapped 1932
BB-31Utah15 Mar 190923 Dec 190931 Aug 1911NYSB5 Sept 1944Converted to target ship, 1931. Sunk at Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941
WyomingBB-32Wyoming9 Feb 191025 May 191125 Sep 1912Cramp 1 Aug 1947Scrapped 1947-48
BB-33Arkansas25 Jan 191014 Jan 191117 Sep 1912NYSB 29 Jul 1946Sunk as target, 25 Jul 1946
New YorkBB-34New York11 Sep 191130 Oct 191215 Apr 1914NYNY 29 Aug 1946Sunk as target 8 Jul 1948
BB-35Texas17 Apr 191118 May 191212 Mar 1914NNSBDD 21 Apr 1948Museum at San Jacinto State Park, La Porte, TX (1948)
NevadaBB-36Nevada4 Nov 191211 Jul 191411 Mar 1916Fore 29 Aug 1946Sunk as target 31 July 1948.
BB-37Oklahoma26 Oct 191223 Mar 19142 May 1916NYSB 1 Dec 1944Sunk at Pearl Harbor 7 Dec 1941. Raised and partially repaired 1943. Broke tow, lost at sea, 17 May 1947.
PennsylvaniaBB-38Pennsylvania27 Oct 191316 Mar 191512 Jun 1916NNSBDD 29 Aug 1946Scuttled 10 Feb 1948 after being a target ship.
BB-39Arizona16 Mar 191419 Jun 191517 Oct 1916NYNY Sunk at Pearl Harbor, HI 7 Dec 1941
New MexicoBB-40New Mexico14 Oct 191523 Apr 191720 May 1918NYNY3 Jul 1946Scrapped 1947-48
BB-41Mississippi15 Apr 191525 Jan 191718 Dec 1917NNSBDD 28 Nov 1956Scrapped 1956-57
BB-42Idaho20 Jan 191530 Jun 191724 Mar 1919NYSB 3 Jul 1946Scrapped 1947-48
TennesseeBB-43Tennessee14 May 191730 Apr 19193 Jun 1920NYNY 14 Feb 1947Scrapped 1959
BB-44California25 Oct 191620 Nov 191910 Aug 1921Mare Is. 14 Feb 1947Scrapped 1959
ColoradoBB-45Colorado29 May 191922 Mar 192130 Aug 1923NYSB 7 Jan 1947Scrapped 1959
BB-46Maryland24 Apr 191720 Mar 192021 Jul 1921NNSBDD 3 Apr 1947Scrapped 1959
BB-47Washington30 Jun 19191 Sep 1921-NYSBSunk as target 25 Nov 1924
BB-48West Virginia20 Apr 192019 Nov 19211 Dec 1923NNSBDD 7 Jan 1947Scrapped 1961
South Dakota (I)BB-49South Dakota15 Mar 1920--NYNY -Scrapped incomplete 1923
BB-50Indiana1 Nov 1920--NYNY -Scrapped incomplete 1923
BB-51Montana1 Sep 1920--Mare Is. -Scrapped incomplete 1923
BB-52North Carolina12 Jan 1920--NORNY -Scrapped incomplete 1923
BB-53Iowa17 May 1920--NNSBDD -Scrapped incomplete 1923
BB-54Massachusetts4 Apr 1921--Fore-Scrapped incomplete 1923
North CarolinaBB-55North Carolina27 Oct 193713 Jun 19409 Apr 1941NYNY 27 Jun 1947Museum at Wilmington, NC (1962)
BB-56Washington14 Jun 19381 Jun 194015 May 1941PNSY 27 Jun 1947Scrapped at Kearney, NJ 1961-62
South Dakota (II)BB-57South Dakota5 Jul 19396 Jul 194120 Mar 1942NYSB 31 Jan 1947Scrapped 1962-63
BB-58Indiana20 Apr 193921 Nov 194130 Apr 1942NNSBDD11 Sep 1946Scrapped 1963-64
BB-59Massachusetts20 Jul 193923 Sep 194112 May 1942Bethlehem 27 Mar 1947Museum at Fall River, MA (1965)
BB-60Alabama1 Feb 194016 Feb 194216 Aug 1942NORNY9 Jan 1947Museum at Mobile, AL (1964)
IowaBB-61Iowa27 Jun 194027 Aug 194222 Feb 1943NYNY 26 Oct 1990In Reserve
BB-62New Jersey16 Sep 19407 Dec 194223 May 1943PNSYFeb 1991Museum (2000)
BB-63Missouri16 Jan 194129 Jan 194411 Jun 1944NYNY 31 Mar 1992Museum at Pearl Harbor, HI (1998)
BB-64Wisconsin25 Jan 19417 Dec 194316 Apr 1944PNSY 30 Sep 1991In Reserve
BB-65Illinois15 Jan 1945--PNSY Cancelled 12 Aug 1945. Scrapped incomplete
BB-66Kentucky6 Dec 194420 Jan 1950-NORNY Scrapped incomplete
MontanaBB-67Montana---PNSY -Cancelled 21 Jul 1943
BB-68Ohio---PNSY -
BB-69Maine---NYNY -
BB-70New Hampshire---NYNY -
BB-71Louisiana---NORNY -
Battlecruisers
LexingtonCC-1LexingtonJan 8 19213 Oct 192514 Dec 1927Fore Completed as carrier CV-2. Sunk 8 May 1942.
CC-2Constellation18 Aug 1920--NNSBDD-Scrapped 22.7% complete 1923
CC-3Saratoga23 Aug 19207 Apr 192516 Nov 1927NYNY Completed as carrier CV-3. Sunk as target 25 Jul 1946
CC-4Ranger23 Jun 1921--NNSBDD Scrapped 4% complete 1923
CC-5Constitution---PNSY Scrapped 13.4% complete 1923
CC-6United States---PNSY Scrapped 12% complete 1923
AlaskaCB-1Alaska17 Dec 194115 Aug 194317 Jun 1944NYSB Scrapped 1961
CB-2Guam2 Feb 194221 Nov 194317 Sep 1944NYSB-Scrapped 1961
CB-3Hawaii20 Dec 194311 Mar 1945-NYSB -Scrapped 84% complete 1959
CB-4Phillippines---NYSB Cancelled 24 Jun 1943
CB-5Puerto Rico---NYSB
CB-6Samoa---NYSB

Key to builders:
BathBath Iron Works
BethlehemBethlehem Steel, Quincy (formerly Fore River), Quincy MA
CrampWm. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia PA
ForeFore River Shipbuiding Co., Quincy MA
MoranMoran Co., Seattle WA
Mare Is. Mare Island Navy Yard
NNSBDDNewport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock, Newport News VA
NORNYNorfolk Navy Yard
NYNYNew York Navy Yard
NYSBNew York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden NJ
PNSYPhiladelphia Naval Ship Yard
UIWUnion Iron Works, San Francisco, CA


US Battleship and Battlecruiser names
American battleships were almost always named after states. The sole exception was the USS Kearsage (BB-5), which was given the name of the ship which sank the Confederate raider CSS Alabama in order to sooth Northern opposition to the naming of a battleship Alabama. Memories of the Civil War (1861-1865) were still fresh enough.....

American battlecruisers names came from two sets:


US name prefixes
Since the late 18th century, American ship names have been prefixed with "USS", which stands for United States Ship.

United States Navy Battleship Chronology

15 Feb 1898: USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana Harbor. Contemporary investigations suggested that a mine caused the explosion, more recent investigations demonstrated that the explosion was almost certainly an accidental explosion in the coal bunker.

21 Apr 1898 - 12 Aug 1898: Spanish American War: Significant victory for the United States

16 Dec 1907 - 22 Feb 1909: Great White Fleet world tour: 15 US battleships sail around the world.

6 Apr 1917 - 11 Nov 1918: World War I Victory for the United States, although US battleships had only a very limited role. They operated with Britain's Royal Navy in the North Sea, enforcing the blockade of Germany, but saw no real action there.

21 Nov 1918: German fleet interned at the British naval base at Scapa Flow. American battleships New York (BB-34), Texas (BB-35) Wyoming (BB-32) and Arkansas (BB-33) are present.

Washington Treaty

7 Dec 1941-2 Sep 1945: World War II: Victory for the United States.

17 Jan 1950: USS Missouri (BB-63) the USN's only operational battleship runs aground at Thimble Shoals in Virginia.

Jul 1950 - 28 Jul 1953: Korean War: Stalemate.


8 Mar 1958: USS Wisconsin (BB-64) decommissions for the second time. The USN has no active battleships, for the first time since 1896.

4 Aug 1964 - 30 Jan 1975: Viet Nam War: Defeat for the United States.


28 Dec 1982: USS New Jersey (BB-62) recommissioned.

25 Sep 1983: USS New Jersey (BB-62) arrives at Berut, Lebanon, intervening in the Lebanese Civil War.

14 Dec 1983: USS New Jersey (BB-62) fires 11 rounds at hostile positions in Lebanon.

8 Feb 1984: USS New Jersey (BB-62) fires 300 rounds at Syrian positions in Lebanon's Bekka Valley, killing the top Syrian general in Lebanon. Syrian forces retreat.

28 Apr 1984: USS Iowa (BB-61) recommissioned.

10 May 1986: USS Missouri (BB-63) recommissioned.

22 Oct 1988: USS Wisconsin (BB-64) recommissioned.

19 Apr 1989: USS Iowa (BB-61) Turret 2 severely damaged in an explosion. 47 dead. The exact cause of the explosion was never determined.

26 Oct 1990: USS Iowa (BB-61) decommissioned. Turret 2 was not completely repaired.

2 Aug 1990 - 28 Feb 1991 : Persian Gulf War: Victory for the United States.

30 Sep 1991: USS Wisconsin (BB-64) decommissioned.

31 Mar 1992: USS Missouri (BB-63), the last active battleship, is decommissioned.





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