Famous Ships and Boats in History

Sort by

American Ships; First, Last, Oldest

(Another )

Albert M. Boe — American liberty ship
Last Liberty ship built. Though currently landlocked, she is still in use as the home of Trident Seafoods. The ship was withdrawn from the reserve fleet on 19 August 1964 and converted for use as the fish cannery ship Star of Kodiak. LAUNCHED: 1945, September 18 → FATE: Converted to a fish cannery ship in 1964.

Alligator — American submarine
First U.S. Navy submarine. The first American submarine, called Turtle (1776), never served in the U.S. Navy. The first commissioned U.S. submarine was the USS Holland in 1862. LAUNCHED: 1862, May 18 → FATE: Sank in bad weather off Cape Hatteras April 2, 1863.

(Another )

Alvin, DSV — American research vessel; submersible
First Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) able to dive to 4,500 meters or 14,800 feet. She was lost October of 1968 when she accidentally sank in 1500 meters of water, but was recovered in August of 1969 and refurbished. LAUNCHED: 1964, June 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Ancon, SS — American steamship
First ship to officially transit the Panama Canal on August, 15 1914. (Sister ship Cristobal made the first unofficial transit on August 3, 1914). She was acquired by the US Navy from the US Army for troop transport just after the end of World War I. LAUNCHED: 1902 → FATE: As the USS Ancon (ID-1467), she was decommissioned on July 25, 1919.

(Another )

Arthur Foss — American tugboat
One of the oldest wooden-hulled tugboats afloat in the United States. She was cast by MGM to play in the 1933 movie Tugboat Annie. LAUNCHED: 1887 → FATE: Renovated and on display at Seattle's South Lake Union Park.

Birmingham, USS — American scout cruiser, Chester-class
The first airplane takeoff from a ship in history in 1910. During World War I, she patrolled along the northeast U.S. coast until 14 June 1917 when she sailed from New York as part of the escort for the first US troop convoy to France. LAUNCHED: 1907, May 29 → FATE: Sold for scrap, 13 May 1930.

Cairo, USS — American ironclad gunboat
First ship sunk by a naval mine and first vessel of the City class ironclads. Served with the Army's Western Gunboat Fleet during the American Civil War. Remnants of the gunboat are in a museum in the Vicksburg National Military Park. LAUNCHED: 1861 → FATE: Sunk by a naval mine in the Yazoo Riveron December 12, 1862.

Page 2

Cassin Young, USS — American destroyer in World War II
One of only four surviving Fletcher-class destroyers still afloat. Named for Captain Cassin Young (1894-1942), who was killed in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. LAUNCHED: 1943, September 18 → FATE: Docked at the Boston Navy Yard as a museum ship as a museum ship.

(Another )

Charles W. Morgan — American whaling ship
World's oldest surviving merchant vessel; America's only surviving wooden whaleship. After a 5-year, multi-million dollar restoration, she set sail again, July, 2013. LAUNCHED: 1841 → FATE: On exhibit at the Mystic Seaport museum in Mystic, Connecticut.

Clermont — American river steamboat
First enduring and financially successful steamboat, running on the Hudson River. She was never known as Clermont at the time, but North River Steamboat. After it was lengthened and refitted in 1808 at Clermont, NY, it was named the North River. LAUNCHED: 1807, August 18 → FATE: Retired in 1814, then scrapped.

Columbia Rediviva — American full-rigged 3 masted sailing ship
First American ship to circumnavigate the globe. In 1792, Captain Robert Gray in command, she was the first ship to enter the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. LAUNCHED: 1787 → FATE: Salvaged in 1806.

Cusk, USS — American submarine
The first submarine to launch a guided missile from her deck. She appeared in the 1950 movie The Flying Missile as the USS Bluefin. LAUNCHED: 1945, July 18 → FATE: Sold for scrap June 26, 1972.

(Another )

Demologos — American paddle steamers with a catamaran hull
First warship to be propelled by a steam engine. Designed by Robert Fulton, with the steam engine between a double hull, no other ship like her was ever built. (See "Another IMAGE" for cross view of her structure.) LAUNCHED: 1815 → FATE: Accidentally blown up in the Brooklyn Navy Yard on June 4, 1829.

Empress of China — American three-masted, square-rigged sailing ship
First American ship to sail from the newly independent United States to China, opening what is known today as the Old China Trade. She left New York harbor on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1784 and returned to New York after a round voyage of fourteen months and twenty-four days. LAUNCHED: 1783 → FATE: Unknown.

Enterprise, USS — American aircraft carrier
World's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier and the eighth U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. As one of the oldest carriers in the fleet, she was deactivated in 2012 at which time a Gerald R. Ford class carrier, CVN-80, will inherit the name Enterprise. LAUNCHED: 1960, September 18 → FATE: Put in storage in 2017.

Page 3

Eureka — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler, ferry
The largest wooden passenger ferry ever built, certified to carry 3,500 people. She was the last example of the fleet of ferry boats carrying passengers and vehicles across the San Francisco Bay. LAUNCHED: 1890 → FATE: Preserved at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Faith, SS — American Concrete cargo steamer
The first concrete ship built in the United States and the largest in the world at the time at 336.5 feet (102.6 meters) and 8000 tons. The first successfully launched cement ship was the 84 foot-400 ton Namsenfjord on August 2, 1917, N.K. Fougner of Norway. LAUNCHED: 1918, March 14 → FATE: After being cracked during a Gulf storm in 1921, she was towed to Cuba for use as a breakwater.

(Another )

Floating Theater — American caravel
The first deliberately-planned showboat, created by British-born actor William Chapman, Sr.; replaced by a new steamboat with a stage and named Steamboat Theatre. In 1914, circus actors James Adams and his wife launched the James Adams Floating Theatre, a showboat that would tour the Chesapeake Bay. LAUNCHED: 1831, and 1836 → FATE: Both unknown.

Halibut, USS — American attack submarine
Unique nuclear-powered guided missile submarine, adapted for spying operations. In the 1970s, she was used on secret underwater espionage missions by the US against the Soviet Union including the underwater tapping of a Soviet communication line (see Operation Ivy Bells). LAUNCHED: 1959, January 9 → FATE: Moth-balled 1976, dismantled in 1994.

Hannah, USS — American schooner
The first armed American naval vessel of the American Revolution and is claimed to be the founding vessel of the US Navy. The city of Beverly, Massachusetts and the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts each claim to have been the home port of the schooner. LAUNCHED: 1775, September 2 → FATE: Unknown.

Holland, USS (SS-1) — American submarine
First modern commissioned submarine for the US Navy. She proved valuable for experimental purposes in collecting data for submarines under construction or contemplation and for training officers and enlisted men. LAUNCHED: 1897, May 17 → FATE: On display in a park in Paterson, New Jersey until sold for scrap, 1932.

Hunley, H.L. — American Confederate submarine
During the American Civil War, the first submarine to sink a ship. She a ttacked by embedding a barbed spar torpedo into the foe's hull and detonating it as she backed away. LAUNCHED: 1863, July → FATE: Sank after attacking and sinking USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor, February 17, 1864.

Ideal X, SS — American cargo ship (container ship)
First container ship. She was converted from a World War II T-2 oil tanker named Potrero Hills by a trucking executive named Malcolm McLean. LAUNCHED: 1944, December → FATE: Scrapped in Japan in 1967.

Page 4

Indiana, USS (BB-1) — American battleship
First battleship in the United States Navy comparable to foreign battleships of the time. Decommissioned in 1919, her name was changed to Coast Battleship # 1. She was subsequently used as a target in ordnance tests and sank as a result. LAUNCHED: 1893, February 28 → FATE: Sunk as target on November 1, 1920

Indianapolis, USS — American Portland-class cruiser
Last U.S. ship sunk by enemy in World War II; greatest loss of life at sea in the U.S. Navy's history. Four days after delivering the 1st atomic bomb to Tinian, she was torpedoed and sank with 300 crew. The 900 survivors faced exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks until 4 days later only 317 were rescued. LAUNCHED: 1931, November 18 → FATE: Sunk by a Japanese submarine July 30, 1945.

Intrepid, USS — American aircraft carrier; Essex-class
In World War II, served extensively in the Pacific; later recovered capsules in space program. Upgraded several times; first American carrier to launch aircraft with steam catapults. One of more than a dozen English and American ships and boats named Intrepid. LAUNCHED: 1943, April 18 → FATE: Currently a museum ship docked at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.

(Another )

Iowa, USS — American fast battleship
First of her class, the last battleship in active service in the world. During a gunnery exercise, on April 19, 1989, an explosion ripped through a gun turret, killing 47 crewmen. LAUNCHED: 1942, August 18 → FATE: Anchored at San Pedro as a museum ship.

John W. Brown, SS — American liberty ship
One of two still operational and one of three preserved as museum ships. After making 12 troop and cargo voyages across the Atlantic during World War II, she served as a training ship from 1946 to 1982. LAUNCHED: 1942, September 7 → FATE: After restoration, now a floating museum stationed in the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore, Maryland.

(Another )

Kalakala — American ferry
The first streamlined ferry with Art Deco styling and luxurious amenities served in Puget Sound from 1935 to 1967. From 1926 to 1933, she sailed as the ferry Peralta; after a fire, the superstructure was rebuilt in modern style. LAUNCHED: 1926, April as Peralta; relaunch 1934 → FATE: Moored at Tacoma, Washington.

Langley, USS — American aircraft carrier
First American aircraft carrier and U.S. Navy's first turbo-electric-powered ship. Following a conversion in 1936 to a seaplane tender, she fought in World War II. LAUNCHED: 1911, built as a collier converted in 1920 → FATE: Attacked and badly damaged by Japanese planes, she was scuttled, February 27, 1942.

(Another )

Majestic — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler showboat
The last of the original traveling showboats. Now the riverboat is a venue for comedies and musicals. LAUNCHED: 1920 → FATE: Currently docked at the Cincinnati Public Landing in Ohio.

Page 5

Maryland Dove — American merchant vessel
Replica of the Dove, one of two early 17th-century English ship that, in 1634, brought the first settlers to what is now Maryland. The original Dove was the smaller of the two ship, used in shallow waterways along the coast. The accompanied ship with 140 passengers was the Ark. LAUNCHED: 1978, August 18 → FATE: On exhibit at Historic St. Mary's City and occasionally other ports.

Mayflower, USS (PY-1) — American yacht
She served as a private yacht, merchant ship, presidential yacht, and warship in 3 wars. She had many owners, as well serving as a presidential yacht 1905-1929. She was finally purchased by Israel in 1950 and renamed INS Ma'oz. LAUNCHED: 1896 → FATE: Broken up in 1955.

Missouri, USS — American battleship
The site of the surrender of Japan which ended World War II. She was the last battleship built by the United States. LAUNCHED: 1944, January 18 → FATE: On exhibit near the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Monitor, USS — American ironclad warship
With CSS Virginia, first naval battle between two ironclad warships at the Battle of Hampton Roads. She had a rotating gun turret. LAUNCHED: 1862, January 18 → FATE: Sank on December 31, 1862.

Nautilus, USS — American nuclear submarine
World's first nuclear-powered submarine. She was the first vessel to cross under the North Pole. Also the namesake of another U.S. submarine that served in World War II. LAUNCHED: 1954, January 18 → FATE: On exhibit at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

Olympia, USS — American protected cruiser
Famous as the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila. She is the sole floating survivor of the US Navy's Spanish American War fleet. LAUNCHED: 1892, November 18 → FATE: Restored as a museum ship at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia.

(Another )

Oriskany, USS — American aircraft carrier, Essex class
The world's largest, and the U.S.'s first, artificial reef. She had multiple reconfigurations and updates. In 1966, a flare accidentally ignited on the hangar bay causing a catastrophic fire killing 44 crewmen. LAUNCHED: 1945, October 18 → FATE: Sunk as an artifical reef May 17, 2006.

Patrick Henry, SS — American liberty ship; cargo ship
First of 2751 liberty ships built during World War II. Liberty ships were built in a mass production method, each typically in 70 days or less. SS Patrick Henry made 12 voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. LAUNCHED: 1941, September 18 → FATE: Went aground off the coast of Florida July of 1946, scrapped in 1960.

Page 6

Perserverance — American steam boat
First steam boat that operated using a series of vertical paddles. Invented by John Fitch, an improved model carried passengers on round-trips between Philadelphia and Burlington, New Jersey, summer of 1790. LAUNCHED: 1787 → FATE: Unknown.

Ponce, USS — American amphibious assault ship
First "Afloat Forward Staging Base" (AFSB) ship. She was refitted in 2012 to serve as floating port for helicopters and patrol craft. LAUNCHED: 1970, May 18 → FATE: Still in service.

Proteus — American catamaran
First vessel of the wave adaptive modular vessel-type. Developed by Marine Advanced Research, she has been nicknamed "The Spider Ship" because four legs connect the superstructure to the outriggers. LAUNCHED: 2007 → FATE: In active service.

Red Rover, USS — American Confederate paddle steamboat, side-wheeler
First ship fitted and staffed as a hospital ship. During the American Civil War, she was a Confederate barracks ship until the Union captured and refit her in March of 1862. LAUNCHED: 1859 → FATE: Decommissioned and sold at public auction November 29, 1865.

Reuben James, USS — American destroyer
First US ship to be sunk in World War II. She was torpedoed while escorting an Atlantic convoy of supply ships to Britain; 159 crew were lost, 44 survived. LAUNCHED: 1919, October → FATE: Sunk October 31, 1941.

Savannah, SS — American paddle steamship, side-wheeler with sails
First steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. After ocean crossing, her steam plant was removed and she continued sailing up and down the east coast. LAUNCHED: 1819, March → FATE: Ran aground off Long Island, NY in 1823.

Shenandoah, CSS — American Confederate full-rigged ship, iron-clad
During the US Civil War, she captured and/or sank 38 Union merchant vessels. She fired the last shot of the Civil War off the Aleutian Islands, then was surrendered to the British. She was sold to Majid bin Said, the first Sultan of Zanzibar who renamed her El Majidi after himself. LAUNCHED: 1863, August 18 → FATE: As El Majidi, beached during hurricane near Zanzibar in 1872.

South Carolina, USS — American dreadnought, battleship
The first American dreadnought and the first of any nation to have its main guns in a superfire arrangement. She was part of America's Great White Fleet that circumnavigated, December of 1907 to February of 1909. LAUNCHED: 1908, July 18 → FATE: Sold for scrap on April of 1924.

Page 7

(Another )

Texas, USS — American New York class battleship
The only remaining World War I era dreadnought battleship. She is noteworthy for being one of only seven remaining ships and the only remaining capital ship to have served in both World Wars. LAUNCHED: 1912, May 18 → FATE: Museum ship at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.

Vincennes, USS — American sloop of war
First U.S. ship to circumnavigate the globe. She was the flagship for the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838. LAUNCHED: 1826 → FATE: Sold in October of 1867 at Boston, Massachusetts; fate unknown.

Virginia, CSS — Americant Confederat ironclad warship
With USS Monitor, first naval battle between ironclad warships at the Battle of Hampton Roads. She was converted to an ironclad from a steam frigate. LAUNCHED: 1862, February → FATE: Destroyed by crew May 11, 1862.

Walk-in-the-Water — American paddle steamboat, stern-wheeler with two masts
First steamboat on Lake Erie and the eastern Great Lakes. Two large paddle boxes amidship housed her paddle wheels. LAUNCHED: 1818, August 23, first voyage → FATE: Grounded on the beach south of Buffalo, NY, October 31, 1821.

Wanderer — American whaling ship
Last American whaling ship. The mast of the Wanderer stands as a flagpole in Boston Navy Yard, a few feet from where it was built. LAUNCHED: 1878 → FATE: Lost in a storm near Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, on August 26, 1924.

The number of American Ships; First, Last, Oldest listed is 52

The contents of this page are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license and the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL).

For a full list of all ships, select HERE

First Ship on each page
Page	Ship Name (Country and Type)
1.	Alligator (American submarine)
2.	Cassin Young, USS (American destroyer)
3.	Eureka (American paddle steamboat)
4.	Indiana, USS (BB-1) (American battleship)
5.	Maryland Dove (American merchant vessel)
6.	Perserverance (American steam boat)
7.	Texas, USS (American New York class battleship)

American Ships; First, Last, Oldest
1.	Alligator American submarine
2.	Alvin, DSV American research vessel
3.	Ancon, SS American steamship
4.	Arthur Foss American tugboat
5.	Birmingham, USS American scout cruiser
6.	Cairo, USS American ironclad gunboat
7.	Cassin Young, USS American destroyer
8.	Charles W. Morgan American whaling ship
9.	Clermont American steamboat
10.	Columbia Rediviva American full-rigged
11.	Cusk, USS American submarine
12.	Demologos American paddle steamers
13.	Empress of China American three-masted, square-rigged sailing ship
14.	Enterprise, USS American aircraft carrier
15.	Eureka American paddle steamboat
16.	Faith, SS American Concrete
17.	Floating Theater American caravel
18.	Halibut, USS American attack submarine
19.	Hannah, USS American schooner
20.	Holland, USS (SS-1) American submarine
21.	Hunley, H.L. American Confederate submarine
22.	Ideal X, SS American cargo ship
23.	Indiana, USS (BB-1) American battleship
24.	Indianapolis, USS American Portland-class
25.	Intrepid, USS American aircraft carrier
26.	Iowa, USS American fast battleship
27.	John W. Brown, SS American liberty ship
28.	Kalakala American ferry
29.	Langley, USS American aircraft carrier
30.	Majestic American paddle steamboat
31.	Maryland Dove American merchant vessel
32.	Mayflower, USS (PY-1) American yacht
33.	Missouri, USS American battleship
34.	Monitor, USS American ironclad warship
35.	Nautilus, USS American nuclear submarine
36.	Olympia, USS American protected cruiser
37.	Oriskany, USS American aircraft carrier
38.	Patrick Henry, SS American liberty ship
39.	Perserverance American steam boat
40.	Ponce, USS American amphibious assault ship
41.	Proteus American catamaran
42.	Red Rover, USS American Confederate paddle steamboat
43.	Reuben James, USS American destroyer
44.	Savannah, SS American paddle steamship
45.	Shenandoah, CSS American Confederate full-rigged ship
46.	South Carolina, USS American dreadnought
47.	Texas, USS American New York class battleship
48.	Vincennes, USS American sloop of war
49.	Virginia, CSS Americant Confederat ironclad warship
50.	Walk-in-the-Water American paddle steamboat
51.	Wanderer American whaling ship

Famous Ships and Boats

In history, movies, books, on exhibit

War ships, ship tragedies, steam ships, yachts, and more

with Images and Information

American Ships; First, Last, Oldest