List of U.S. military vessels named after women

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The guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper and cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart conduct an underway replenishment in 2009. Both vessels are named after women.

On this list of U.S. military vessels named after women, there are many ships that have seen service with the United States military. Most of these were named in civilian service and then subsequently commissioned into the United States Navy as combat vessels, or as service vessels with U.S. Military Sealift Command. The earliest ships served in the Continental Navy. Overall, few ships have been named after women by the military. Ships often are named after people who served in the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or the government. Women have only recently been in such prominent positions, and therefore few have been so honored by the Navy.

Continental Navy[edit]

United States Maritime Commission[edit]

United States Navy[edit]

USS Higbee in 1969

The following is a list of ships in the United States Navy named after specific women:[1]

  • The sidewheel steamer Harriet Lane was launched in 1857. She was the first armed ship in service with the U.S. Navy to be named for a woman. Originally a Revenue Cutter, she was named for Harriet Lane, niece of President James Buchanan, who served as Buchanan's White House hostess.
  • The sternwheel river steamer Bloomer was launched in 1856. This name was retained from a former name, of feminist Amelia Bloomer. Bloomer was captured from Confederates in 1862, but then served in the U.S. Navy from 1863–65.

Other Navy ships with a woman's name[edit]

Many of these ships served in one or both of World War I, World War II, and some also during the interwar period. Many were the patrol boats (SP), while others were civilian craft (ID) taken into naval service. Others served in the Stone Fleet, or were prizes during the Age of Sail. The names often came from a previous owner and almost all were commissioned into the Navy. While some were named by the navy, it is not known which.[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "US Navy Ships Named in Honor of Women". Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "Watseka". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.