Since the beginning of time, humans have already conceived an abundance of techniques in commuting on bodies of water be it lakes or rivers that eventually lead to the big blue. Just like the quote “The sea does not like to be restrained.”, it is presumptive that these waters have proven dangerous especially when battling storms and navigating through rouge waves.
Bordering on 90 ships yet to be uncovered and off 490 ships in reserve fleet and active service, the United States Navy certainly have a few know-hows when it comes to assembling the precise avant-garde warships to tame the wild seas.
1. The Mighty USS CVN-78
Named after the 38th President of the United States, the USS bears a displacement of 100,000 tonnes with the length of 337 meters. She is also cataloged as the world’s largest warship ever engineered as well as aircraft carrier. This magnificent vessel is equipped with state of the art RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile system, four anti-aircraft missiles, an electromagentic launch system for aircrafts and two A1B nuclear reactors.
Primitively to be delivered in 2015 but delayed to May 2017 and commissioned two months later by another President, she is proposed to be leaving for her very first deployment in the year 2022.
2. The USS Independence LCS-2
The USS Independence LCS-2 is listed to be titled for the concept of independence as the sixth vessel of the United States Navy. Her design contests with the Freedom variant models. This lead ship is one of the littoral combat ships in the Independence-class that was launched as well as Christened on the same year and finally commissioned two years later on January 16, 2010.
She is purposed in missions of hunting submarines in shallow waters, finding and destroying mines and fighting small boats although she is unintended to battle warships. The feature that made this vessel different is the alternation of weaponry on board.
3. The USS Emory S. Land AS-39 Lead Ship
Particularly featured in the 2012 naval-thriller movie “Fire of the Raging Dragon”, the USS Emory S. Land AS-39 caters to the needs and necessities that a submarine may need such as water, food, electricity, spare parts and many more. This tanker, named for Admiral Emory S. Land, became the squadron flagship after the commissioning of Submarine Squadron 8 on August 4, 1979.
This underwater craft tender navigates through big areas in cases of where aid is needed by other ships. The Emory S. Land has collected nine ribbons since her first commissioning on May 1979, of which included eight Battle Efficiency Awards.
4. The USS Kidd DDG-100
The USS Kidd DDG-100 was featured in the popular 2009 Sci-Fi film “Transformers Revenge of the Fallen”, where the battleship was depicted firing a railgun at the film’s antihero known as “Decepticon”. Along with 40 other ships, the USS Kidd was also involved in the search and rescue for the Malaysian Airlines MH 370 on March 2014 in the Indian Ocean.
The naming of this ship came by after on board Navy officer Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd ,the first American flag officer to die in World War II, was killed in Arizona during the interim of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
5. The USS Ohio SSGN-726
Standing by its slogan “Always First“, the USS Ohio SSGN-726 is tagged the ‘First and Finest!’. This American lead boat of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines was the fourth on the list of vessels to be named for the 17th state. Before being allocated to her current title, SSGN-726, and converted into a guided missile submarine, she was commissioned with a lower serial identification number of SSBN-726.
This vessel serves as an impressive ballistic submarine adding on to an additional four that were transformed into guided missile submarines. Subsequent to her changeover to SSGN-726, she reassembled the fleet on February 2006.
6. The Seawolf-Class Attack Submarine SSN
Initially to be replacing the Los Angeles-class is the Seawolf-class submarine. Not only the Seawolf is much bigger and much swifter than the Los-Angeles-class submarines, the Seawolf is also able to haul more weaponries and twice as many torpedos. This submarine can be classified in the same category, SSN, as the Virginia-class attack submarines that are known for its speed and nuclear-attacks in deep oceanic environment.
Specifically assembled in 1983 with the objective of battling against ballistic missile submarines, this SSN class was first commissioned in 1997 and is still active. It is recorded that only 3 of these SSN submarines are operating out of the total 26.
7. The USS America (LHA-6)
The fourth ship to be named for the US and known as the lead ship of her class and the United States Navy’s amphibious assault ship, is the USS America LHA-6. She managed to replace the USS Peleliu LHA-5 of the Tarawa-class in the spring of 2014.
The USS America LHA-6 was purposed to execute as a flagship in the occasion of marine expeditions into battle that call for aircraft and helicopters, as well as warships. She is designed as an improved version of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship known as USS Makin Island (LHD-8). She bears the motto “Belle vel pace paratus” which translates to “Ready for War or Peace“.
8. GHOST – Super Cavitating Stealth Ship
The GHOST boat lives up to its name, functioning as a high-caliber security for the personnel of the US Navy. Efficiently bypassing sonar exposure and routing through the ocean with two 4,000 HP mechanized engines, the GHOST boat is assembled and designed by the private American company known as Juliet Marine Systems.
The GHOST boat is equipped with advanced hydroplane automation that minus dragged hulls and allows it to glide over quickly across the ocean. This is only possible with the supercavitation hull which is a waterplane-area twin-hull otherwise called SWATH. The SWATH acts as a booster lessening the dragging of boats when in water by providing room for gas bubbles around each of the boat’s footings.
9. The USS Enterprise CVN-65 Aircraft Carrier
Nicknamed as the “Big E” as well as earlier known as the CVA(N)-65 is the now inactive USS Enterprise CVN-65. The CVN-65 was the very first United States Navy aircraft carrier that was nuclear-powered and the eight to acquire the name.
In the list followed by the USS Gerald R. and the Nimitz class, the CVN-65 is ranked as the 12th heaviest carrier which is able to carry a crew of 4,6000 service members laboring in it. She is also recorded to be the third oldest vessel, servicing for over 55 years, that was commissioned in the United States Navy which was demilitarized on December 1st, 2012.
10. The USS Somerset LPD-25
Frequently docked at the San Diego port in California, the Somerset is known after its displacement of 25,000 tons and capacity of about 800 passengers on deck. Another amphibious transport dock ships, the USS Somerset LPD-25 is in the league of the San Antonia-class vessels and was first barraged on the April of 2012.
She was commissioned on March 2014 after being named as a tribute to the passengers who were killed on the United Airlines Flight 93 in Somerset County Pennsylvania which was hijacked in September 11, 2001’s terrorist attacks. Somerset was recorded to be the last Navy vessel to ship off from the Avondale Ship Yard before its termination.
11. The USS Wasp LHD-1
The class leader of her Wasp-class, the USS Wasp LHD-1 is a multi-functioning amphibious assault vessel with the main purpose of grounding forces to enemy territories for fast troop operation as well as upkeeping the battalion with its two Rolling Airframe Missile systems, two NATO Sea Sparrow missile systems, 0.50-caliber M2HB machine guns and another two Phalanx CIWS.
She can also cater accommodation to full range Navy and Marine helicopters such as the F-35B Lightning II multi-role fighter , the tiltrotor MV-22 Osprey, conventional landing crafts and amphibious vehicles. She also has a motto of “Honor, Tradition, Excellence” and is still active in its service.
12. The USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 Supercarrier
Tenth and the last Nimitz-class supercarrier of the United States Navy is the USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 which was named for the 41st President of the United States and former Director of Central Intelligence George H. W. Bush who was a naval aviator during World War II.
She was first assembled in 2003 and completed in 2009 at a cost of $6.2 billion. Displacing 102,000 long tons and a total length of 332.8 meters, she was given the nickname ‘Avenger’. The USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 is known to be docked at her home port in Norfolk, Virginia.
13. The USS Zumwalt DDG 1000
Despite her large size, the USS Zumwalt DDG-1000 is known for her stealth bearing a radar cross-section that is comparable of that to a fishing boat’s. The USS Zumwalt DDG-1000 is recorded to be the most compelling aircraft carrier and destroyer and not forgetting that she is also a guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy.
Named after Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, she started her first sea trial in joining the Pacific Fleet which is headquartered at the Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. With her home port being in San Diego, the USS Zumwalt DDG-1000 was commissioned in Baltimore in October 2016.
14. The USS Santa Fe SSN-763
Weaponized with Tomahawk land missiles, Harpoon anti-surface ship missiles and a 10 Mk48 ADCAP torpedo reloads, The USS Santa Fe SSN-763 is listed as one of the 30 Los Angeles-class submarines. She was first released in December 1992 and later then commissioned in January 1994.
Displacing an astonishing 6,927 tons and measuring up to 110.3 meters, the Santa Fe was seen in her first deployment in the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf in 1997. She brought home five naval awards between the years 2000 and 2006 and was not a stranger to the topic of state of the art sensory systems.
15. The USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413
The USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413 was recorded to have participated in the unbelievable win against a Japanese force that was attacking an American fleet close by to the Philippine island of Leyte in the battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.
She is a destroyer escort and was named for Coxswain Samuel Booker Roberts, Jr., a Navy Cross recipient who was voluntarily steering a Higgins boat towards the enemy forces so that the fires from the enemy were diverted. The USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413 was launched in January 1944 and was commissioned in the April of 1944.
16. The USS Peleliu LHA-5
Named for the Battle of Peleliu of World War II and serviced in 1980, the USS Peleliu LHA-5 was sent to the Persian Gulf on various occasions with the mission of evacuating the US Naval Base Subic Bay in the occasion of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. She is one of the many amphibious assault ships in the Tarawa-class series.
Before settling for its final name of the USS Peleliu LHA-5, she was known as the USS Khe Sanh or the USS Da Nang. She sailed with the motto of “Pax per Potens.” which means “Peace through Power.” during her days of service.
17. The USS Turner Joy DD-951
Listed as one of the 18 Forrest Sherman-class destroyers of the United States Navy and named for Admiral Charles Turner Joy USN who loyally served the US Navy during World War II and the Korean War, is the USS Turner Joy DD-951 which was first commissioned in 1959.
She spent her entire days of service in the Pacific actively participating in the Vietnam War as well as in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that was also known as the USS Maddox incident. The USS Turner Joy DD-951, was decommissioned in 1982 and is now in Bremerton, Washington as a museum ship.
18.The USS Arleigh Burke DDG-51
The lead ship of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers and laid down by the Bath Iron Works on December 1988 at Bath Maine is the USS Arleigh Burke. She was launched in 6 December 1989 and is famous for her privy technology to deceive anti-ship missile. Still active in her service, she sails with the motto of “Fast and Feared“.
The USS Arleigh Burke DDG-51 is also equipped with a combat system that can not only evade missiles but also trace and launch missiles. With complete steel construction to provide effective protection and a Collective Protection System that allows operation in haste environments.
19. The USS Chief MCM-14
An Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship of the United States Navy and named after the Rate of Chief Petty Officer is the USS Chief MCM-14. Assembled by Peterson Shipbuiders in Sturgeon Bay, Winsconsin, she is docked in Sasebo, Japan. USS Chief MCM-14 is named for the former USS Chief AM-315 to honor the Chief Petty Officers’ service and tradition in the United States Navy.
She is purposed in minesweeping missions out of the United States waterways. Structured with materials of wood that is layered with plastic and strengthened by glass fibers. She was part of the US Navy Pacific Fleet after being launched in the June of 1993.
20. The USS Ticonderoga DDG/CG-47
Bearing the namesake for the Battle of Ticonderoga, the USS Ticonderoga DDG/CG-47 is a non active guided-missile cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the first ever battleship that featured the Aegis combat system which is a state of the art technology that allows the ship to engage and track more than one target. Before “Tico” was decommissioned in 2014, her constructors, the Ingalls Shipbuilding, were awarded on September 1980.
She has been recorded to have participated in the Persian Gulf in efforts of the Operation Earnest Wall. Although she is meant to be destroyed, Tico can now be found at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.
21. The Virginia-Class Attack Submarine SSN-774
The lead ship of her class and a nuclear powered cruise missile attack submarine of the United States Navy, is the Virginia-Class Attack SSN-774. Known as the first submarine that was named after an American state. She was commissioned in October 2004 and to be active in her service until the year 2060.
Storing Tomhawk tubes, missiles and torpedoes, this beauty is equipped with a handful of features that the older navy ships were lacking of. Not missing out that she was also the first ever US Navy submarine that was entirely designed by the use of a computer.
22. The USS Los Angeles SSN-688
The USS Los Angeles SSN-688 was the fourth submarine that was named for the American state Los Angeles, California. She was launched on April 1974 and was later then deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in 1977 which won her the award of a Meritorious Unit Citation a year after. Throughout her 32 years of being active in the service, she was recorded to have gone through 17 Pacific deployments.
She was purposed to function in underwater warfare, surface warfare, strike warfare, mining operations, special forces delivery and intelligence collection for the United States Navy. With her 34 year long career, she was in the list of one of the longest active submarine.
23. The USS Midway CV-41 Aircraft Carrier
Recorded as the largest ship and the very first US aircraft carrier that was unable to transit the Panama Canal because it was “too big”, is the USS Midway CV-41. The Midway CV-41 was first commissioned only 7 days after the end of World War II and was active in her service for 47 years of which she spent in the Vietnam War and in the Persian Gulf as a flagship in 1991.
She was then nicknamed “Midway Magic“. After being decommissioned in 1992, the USS Midway CV-41 is now displayed as a museum ship in San Diego, California.
24. The USS Nimitz CVN-68
This nuclear powered supercarrier is the lead ship of her class and the largest warships in the world. She was nicknamed as the “Old Salt” and first tittled as a CVAN-68, she was commissioned on May 1975 with the main purpose of serving as a multi mission aircraft carrier.
The interesting thing about this vessel is that because of its class, Nimitz-class, she only requires fueling once in every 50 years of her service. This is only possible as the CVN-68 bears a nuclear powered system. With the motto of “Teamwork, a Tradition.”, she is weaponized with two Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, two Gatling guns and many more.
25. The USS Freedom LCS-1
The third USSN vessel to be named after the ideology of freedom, the USS Freedom LCS-1 is designed to perform different kinds of missions in the shallow waters of the sea providing humanitarian relief as well as minesweeping against small ships and submarines. She bears the endurance of 21 days in sea and is still active in her service after being commissioned in the November of 2008.
Although this ship was the first to be designed after two different ships, the only problem with the USS Freedom LCS-1 is that she is about six percent overweight which means that she can easily sink when experiencing minor damage.
