Famous Ships of the U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy has had a variety of famous ships. Most of these date back to the 1940s, as it was then that the U.S. Navy was involved in a series of naval battles with the IJN. These are U.S. ships that are among the most famous in American naval history.

USS Arizona

The Arizona was a battleship added to the U.S. Navy in 1916. At approximately 37,000 tons, it was then among the largest battleships built. This was among the dreadnoughts added to the U.S. Navy.

The USS Arizona was a flagship of the U.S. Navy during the interwar period. It was not called up into any naval engagements during this period, but it was a reminder of what the U.S. Navy could call upon if it ever joined China in its war with the Japanese Empire during the 1930s.

During the 1930s, it was added to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. This fleet was located at Pearl Harbor, which became the target for the Japanese Empire as the Allied economic embargo was established in the early '40s. Operation Z was the bold plan that went ahead in late 1941. On December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese aircraft flew over the battleships stationed at Pearl Harbor, dropping armor-piercing bombs that ensured the demise of the USS Arizona. The ship remains at the bottom of Pearl Harbor today.

USS Yorktown

The USS Yorktown was among the aircraft carriers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. After Pearl Harbor, the carrier was called up for further naval support in the Pacific. That began with the transport of Marine reinforcements and then early naval battles against the IJN.

It was included in the Battle of the Coral Sea, a battle that was the first dominated by carriers. Then, the Japanese sent troop transports to occupy Port Moresby, but first, their aircraft carriers had to clear the Coral Sea. In this naval engagement, the Yorktown and Lexington were bombarded by Japanese aircraft, and the Lexington was lost at sea. However, the Yorktown remained afloat and returned to port for further repairs. As the Japanese withdrew before occupying Moresby, the Allies could celebrate a marginal victory.

The Yorktown was quickly repaired and replenished for the Battle of Midway in 1942. In this naval battle, the U.S. fleet went up against a larger number of Japanese ships. Four Japanese aircraft carriers, with generally more effective aircraft, headed to Midway Island. However, the surface fleet ships were largely superfluous in this naval engagement, which began in the skies.

Midway Island

During this naval battle, the Japanese lost all of their aircraft carriers that were wiped out by SBD Dauntless planes. But not before two waves of Japanese planes broke through to strike at Yorktown, which was subsequently set ablaze. The crews did what they could to dampen the fires but abandoned the ship. When salvage ships arrived, it seemed the carrier could reach a port. However, a Japanese submarine intercepted it. Its torpedoes eliminated the aircraft carrier.

USS Enterprise (CV-6)

The USS Enterprise was added to the U.S. Navy in the late 1930s and transferred to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. After Pearl Harbor, it was available for further naval support in the Pacific. This aircraft carrier was among the most effective in the Pacific, as it could not be taken out by the IJN. It was included in the triumphant Battle of Midway, Battle of Santa Cruz, Battle of the Philippine Sea, and Battle of Leyte Gulf. In 1945, the carrier also supported further land battles in the Pacific. The Enterprise picked up 20 battle stars, more than any other U.S. Navy vessel during the period.

While this aircraft carrier was not preserved, more advanced Enterprise-class aircraft carriers were constructed. Among them was the first nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), which was commissioned in the 1960s. That is another famous U.S. Navy ship, partly inspired by the original Enterprise ship.

USS Missouri

The USS Missouri was a battleship added to the U.S. Pacific Fleet in 1944. As a battleship, it provided naval support for amphibious landings, bombarding Japanese coastal positions from the sea. The Japanese surrendered at Tokyo Bay aboard this ship.

After the Pacific War, the USS Missouri remained a part of the U.S. Navy. Although abandoned by the U.S. Navy in the 1950s, the Missouri was modernized in the 1980s and returned for further naval support. In the early 1990s, it provided naval support in the Persian Gulf before anchoring at Pearl Harbor. It remains there as a preserved museum ship, the only remaining ship from the Pacific War.

These are four famous U.S. Navy ships in history. From the Arizona to the Enterprise, they were at the forefront of the U.S. Navy and provided naval support for naval engagements and land campaigns in the Pacific and beyond.

This article of mine was originally submitted to Medium, where you can read it here.