Introduction
You may have heard of U.S. Navy ships named after presidents of the United States. What many people do not know is that there have been many ships named after presidents, so many, in fact, that this blog post cannot mention all of them (it would be a really long article). However, we can take the time to mention 10 ships named after presidents that you should know about.
Here is USAMM’s list of 10 ships named after presidents and their history and legacy. They are in no particular order.
USS George Washington (CVN-73)
The USS George Washington is an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1992. The ship is named after the first President of the United States, George Washington. He is arguably considered one of the most important Founding Fathers, and served as president from 1789 to 1797. The ship has participated in many important missions and operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The USS George Washington is one of six Nimitz-class ships and the Nimitz-class ships were succeeded by another class of ship, the Gerald R. Ford-class. These are newer classes of ships named after presidents.
USS John Adams (SSBN-620)
The USS John Adams was a ballistic missile submarine that was commissioned in 1963. The ship was a Lafayette-class submarine and it was the second ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Founding Father, John Adams (1735–1826), the second president of the United States (1797–1801), and his son John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), the sixth president of the United States (1825–1829).
Both names were used with the captains of the Blue and Gold crews alternately using the names John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The ship was decommissioned in 1989 after serving for 26 years as one of many ships named after presidents.
USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618)
The USS Thomas Jefferson was another one of many U.S. Navy ships named after presidents. A ballistic missile submarine that was commissioned in 1962, the Jefferson was named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. He served as president from 1801 to 1809. USS Thomas Jefferson was an Ethan Allen class nuclear-powered submarine. It was the second ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Founding Father Thomas Jefferson,
The Thomas Jefferson was later reclassified as an attack submarine and redesignated SSN-618. The ship was decommissioned in 1995 after serving for 32 years.
USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645)
The USS James K. Polk was a ballistic missile submarine that was commissioned in 1965. The ship is named after the 11th President of the United States, James K. Polk. He served as president from 1845 to 1849. The ship was decommissioned in 1999.
Of the many ships named after presidents, the USS James K. Polk, a Benjamin Franklin class fleet ballistic missile submarine was the second ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for James K. Polk. She was later converted into an attack submarine and redesignated SSN-645.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
The USS Abraham Lincoln is an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1989. The ship is named after the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. He served as president from 1861 to 1865.
The Lincoln is the fifth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and it has participated in many important missions and operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
These ships are not only ships named after presidents, but they are the largest warships in the world. According to the U.S. Navy’s website, “Nimitz-class aircraft carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat, and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea and engage in sustained power projection operations in support of U.S. and coalition forces.
“The aircraft carrier and its strike group also engage in maritime security operations to interdict threats to merchant shipping and prevent the use of the seas for terrorism and piracy. Aircraft carriers also provide unique capabilities for disaster response and humanitarian assistance,” the Navy’s website said.
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is another of many ships named after presidents. The aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1986. The ship is named after the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. He served as president from 1901 to 1909.
The ship has participated in many important missions and operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the ship’s website, the ship is “Tasked with maintaining open sea lanes of trade and communications ... capable of projecting air superiority to all points of the globe.”
The “Carrier Air Wing aircraft serve as outstanding instruments of peace. Anytime and anywhere TR reports for duty, she brings 4.5 acres of sovereign U.S. territory and 97,000 tons of diplomacy.”
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB/CVA/CV-42)
The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1945. The ship was named after the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. He served as president from 1933 to 1945. The ship was decommissioned in 1977 after serving for 32 years.
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
The USS Ronald Reagan is an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2003. The ship is named after the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He served as president from 1981 to 1989. The ship has participated in many important missions and operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
The USS George H.W. Bush is an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2009. The ship is named after the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush. He served as president from 1989 to 1993.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)
The USS Gerald R. Ford is an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2017. The ship is named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. He served as president from 1974 to 1977. The ship is the latest addition to the U.S. Navy.
Conclusion
Each of these 10 U.S. Navy ships named after former presidents of the United States is a testament to the enduring legacy of these leaders. From George Washington to Gerald R. Ford, these Presidents helped shape the course of American history, and their names will forever be associated with these mighty ships.