[JohnnyP]

Subs used to be named after fish.

[Gaffer]

Yep...I remember..... But to me, you just can't beat an Arizona, an IOWA, or a MISSOURI.....

I sure would hate to be on ship carrying the name USS Jimmy Carter......if they ever want to name a ship for our President, I suggest USS Obola.

[PLMerite]

"Subs used to be named after fish."

I can see it now: "In deference to cultural sensibilities, the latest Hunter-Killer submarine will be named after the State Fish of Hawaii":

The USS Humuhumunukunukuapua'a.

[real saxophonist]

A very good friend served on the USS BATFISH SSN-681, a Sturgeon class attack sub. Long since scrapped.

USS North Dakota is a Virginia class attack sub, hence the SSN designation, not SSBN.

[elcid1970]

Submarines were indeed named for fish in WWII.

USS Squalus (shark in Latin) sank soon after launching in 1939. Half the crew perished, others were rescued by a diving bell. After the sub was raised, it was decommissioned as Squalus & recommissioned as USS Sailfish.

Sailors on board the Sailfish who so much as uttered the word “squalus” or even worse, “squailfish”, were subject to court-martial. USS Sailfish served throughout WWII.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

In World War II, submarines were named after fish, battleships after states, cruisers after cities, destroyers and DEs after people (almost always men), heavy aircraft carriers variously (former ships, people, whimiscally, e.g., Shangra-la), and jeep carriers (baby flat tops) after battles.

[rottndog]

Subs used to be named after fish.

Yes....and I was on the last of the fish boats....