Aircraft Carrier Names

self | November 19, 2001 | Jim Noble

[Jim Noble]

Question for someone more knowledgeable than I:

When did aircraft carriers stop being named after battles (Saratoga, Lexington) and start being named after minor politicians (Stennis, Vinson)?

This question came up in dinner conversation last night, and I haven't been able to find anyone who knows. Thanks.

[curmudgeonII]

The navy has veered from time to time from the traditional naming of ships. One of our earliest battleships was named after another ship, and not a state [Kearsarge, named after the US ship that sank the Confederate raider Alabama .

Also one of our second world war [I think] carriers was named after a non-existant land in a novel and movie [Shangri La . This was the response that WW II President Roosevelt gave when asked where the bombers came from that initially bombed Tokyo.]

[Trueblackman]

Hey I was a ABH and on my first ship The U.S.S. Independence CV-62 I slept right under Cat-1 but when you work 16 hours a day you can sleep through the cat shuttle slamming into the waterbrakes. I also served aboard The U.S.S. George Washington CVN-73 but when it comes to my first and only love for a ship it will be The Independence and my two years in Japan serving my nation. I really grew up on that ship and was sad to see her decommisoned!!!

[steve-b]

The trend has actually been to name them after major Presidents.

Somehow I don't think we're going to see a USS William J. Clinton anytime soon.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Boomers (SSBN) are States (Ohio), Battleshis are States (Wisconsin), Cruisers (Ticonderoga Class) are battles, Attack Subs are cities (SSN), Destroyers/Frigates are naval soldiers (Oliver Hazard perry Class/Arleigh Burke Class), Carriers are generally presidents as of late though they are named after politicans who favored the navy (Stennis?), historical carrier names (Independence, Enterprise), and in case of the Vinson I think a former NavSec

[Yankee]

All the ones that you named are actually CVN (Nuclear) except Kitty Hawk which is conventionally fueled.

I don't know the numbers off-hand.

[Yankee]

Here are the Nimitz Class Carriers and their numbers:

USS Nimitz (CVN 68), San Diego, Calif.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Norfolk, Va.
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Bremerton, Wash.
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Norfolk, Va.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Everett, Wash.
USS George Washington (CVN 73), Norfolk, Va.
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), San Diego, Calif.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Norfolk, Va.
Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) (Commisioned and being fitted out)

The other nuclear powered carrier is Enterprise (CVN 65), She is not in the Nimitz class.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

And don't forget my personal favorite- USS RANGER (CV 61)!

[El Gato]

Vinson I think a former NavSec

Congressman Carl Vinson. I don't mind them naming them after Presidents,who represented the nation as a whole, as long as they stay away from der Sinkmeister. But Congresscritters, many of whom only wanted jobs in their districts, not caring a whit for the Services or Service Members? I don't particularly like that. Surely the Navy has enough historic ship names to use.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

It appears that the only consistent rule is that for every rule there is always an exception.

[ChemistCat]

Stupid question from a Navy brat who oughta know better: what exactly does "fitted out" mean? I thought the Ronald Reagan was FINISHED. And is there significance to you leaving the USS off the front of only that ship?

[Uni-Poster]

Don't forget the USS Clinton!

[Jim Noble]

Excellent!

[Jim Noble]

Naming two of our most significant fleet units after Stennis and Vinson is a disgrace, pure and simple.

Personally, I wouldn't do Presidents, either-but I can see the point of doing it.

How about the USS World Trade Center?

[Jim Noble]

Thanks for the link! It was just what I was looking for!

[tm22721]

Aircraft carriers have always been named by hull number. The Ronald Reagan is CVN76.

BUMP

[The Squid]

The RONALD REAGAN has not been commisioned yet only christened, her official message traffic will be sent to PCU RONALD REAGAN (Pre Commisioning Unit). The ship is officially named at the christening and actually becomes Navy property and joins the fleet at the commisioning ceremony and becomes USS RONALD REAGAN. Ship names are always written in all capital letters, especially fitting in the case of the USS RONALD REAGAN I would say.

[The Squid]

Don't count on it, Congress now approves all ship names and in many cases assigns them over the objections of the Department of the Navy.

[Thinkin' Gal]

USS Hawkbill SSN-666

http://www.usshawkbill.com/

[Thinkin' Gal]

see above

[ChemistCat]

Oh my goodness. The things I never learned at my Dad's knee! Actually, I was literally knee-high when he had to get out of the Navy. He had dengue fever, and he still gets bouts of it every few years. I guess it's like shingles--if it is going to come back, it will do it again and again.

I am thinking that the all-caps rule must apply only to military vessels, as I haven't seen cruise or cargo ships' names written that way.