USS Washington
Encyclopedia
Ten ship
s of the United States Navy
have been named Washington, the first six in honor of George Washington
, the seventh (the 1837 revenue cutter) in honor of Department of the Treasury official and assistant Postmaster General Peter G. Washington; ACR-11, BB-47, and BB-56 were named for Washington, the 42nd state; and SP-1241 retained her commercial name Washington after acquisition.
was a schooner
named Endeavor acquired by General George Washington
in October 1775, renamed Washington, and re-rigged as a brigantine
. She was captured in December. Taken to Boston, Washington, upon inspection by the Royal Navy
, was deemed unsuitable for operations on the high seas; she eventually rotted away at Boston.
was a row galley
that operated in Narragansett Bay
during the winter and spring of 1776. In July, the galleys were sent to New York, but after the British captured Manhattan
late in the summer, Washington and her sister galleys vanished in the mists of unrecorded history.
was one of 13 frigate
s authorized by the Continental Congress. She was launched in August 1776, however, the British occupied Philadelphia
in 1777 forcing the local Continental forces to strip and sink Washington to prevent her falling into enemy hands intact. Her remains were later salvaged and sold at Philadelphia.
a lateen-rigged two-masted galley, was built in the autumn of 1776, and served in Brigadier General Benedict Arnold
's fleet at the Battle of Valcour Island
. Heavily damaged, Washington was captured and eventually taken into British service, apparently retaining her name. Her subsequent fate, however, is unrecorded.
a ship of the line
of 1814, was the second such to be launched by the Navy, and was on active service from 1815 to 1820.
was a Tennessee-class
armored cruiser
, launched in 1905. In 1916, Washington was renamed . She was reclassified a heavy cruiser, CA-11, in 1920. In 1941, Seattle was reclassified as IX-39. She was struck from the Navy list in 1946.
was a Colorado-class
battleship
. She was launched in 1921. However, in 1922, after the signing of the Washington Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armaments, all construction work ceased on the dreadnought. She was sunk as a gunnery target in 1924.
was a North Carolina-class
battleship
, launched in 1940. During World War II
she served in both the Atlantic and Pacific, including the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
in 1942. She was decommissioned in 1947, and struck in 1960.
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
have been named Washington, the first six in honor of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, the seventh (the 1837 revenue cutter) in honor of Department of the Treasury official and assistant Postmaster General Peter G. Washington; ACR-11, BB-47, and BB-56 were named for Washington, the 42nd state; and SP-1241 retained her commercial name Washington after acquisition.
was a schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
named Endeavor acquired by General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in October 1775, renamed Washington, and re-rigged as a brigantine
Brigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
. She was captured in December. Taken to Boston, Washington, upon inspection by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, was deemed unsuitable for operations on the high seas; she eventually rotted away at Boston.
was a row galley
Row galley
The row galley was an armed naval craft that used oars rather than sail as a means of propulsion. During the "age of sail" row galleys had the advantage of propulsion while ships of sail might be stopped or running at slow speed because of lack of wind for their sails.Even row galleys were...
that operated in Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
during the winter and spring of 1776. In July, the galleys were sent to New York, but after the British captured Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
late in the summer, Washington and her sister galleys vanished in the mists of unrecorded history.
was one of 13 frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s authorized by the Continental Congress. She was launched in August 1776, however, the British occupied Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in 1777 forcing the local Continental forces to strip and sink Washington to prevent her falling into enemy hands intact. Her remains were later salvaged and sold at Philadelphia.
a lateen-rigged two-masted galley, was built in the autumn of 1776, and served in Brigadier General Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
's fleet at the Battle of Valcour Island
Battle of Valcour Island
The naval Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, took place on October 11, 1776, on Lake Champlain. The main action took place in Valcour Bay, a narrow strait between the New York mainland and Valcour Island...
. Heavily damaged, Washington was captured and eventually taken into British service, apparently retaining her name. Her subsequent fate, however, is unrecorded.
a ship of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
of 1814, was the second such to be launched by the Navy, and was on active service from 1815 to 1820.
- USRC Washington (1833)USRC Washington (1833)The United States Revenue Cutter Washington was one of the 13 cutters of the Morris-Taney class. These cutters were the backbone of the United States Revenue Cutter Service for more than a decade. Samuel Humphreys designed these cutters for roles as diverse as fighting pirates, privateers,...
was a revenue cutter of 1833 that initially operated out of Mobile, AlabamaMobile, AlabamaMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, before shifting to Key West, FloridaKey West, FloridaKey West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
. Washington eventually returned to Mobile, where she was sold in June 1837.
- USRC Washington (1837), a revenue cutter of 1837.
was a Tennessee-class
Tennessee class cruiser
The Tennessee-class armored cruisers were four ships of the US Navy built between 1903–1906. The first pair were authorized in 1902 and the second in 1904...
armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
, launched in 1905. In 1916, Washington was renamed . She was reclassified a heavy cruiser, CA-11, in 1920. In 1941, Seattle was reclassified as IX-39. She was struck from the Navy list in 1946.
was a Colorado-class
Colorado class battleship
The Colorado class battleships was a group of four battleships built by the United States Navy after World War I. However, only three of the ships were completed: , , and . The fourth, , was over 75% completed when she was canceled under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922...
battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. She was launched in 1921. However, in 1922, after the signing of the Washington Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armaments, all construction work ceased on the dreadnought. She was sunk as a gunnery target in 1924.
was a North Carolina-class
North Carolina class battleship
The North Carolina class was a group of two fast battleships, North Carolina and Washington, built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s and early 1940s...
battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, launched in 1940. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she served in both the Atlantic and Pacific, including the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
in 1942. She was decommissioned in 1947, and struck in 1960.
- Washington (SP-1241), not generally included in the chronological list of ships of the name, was a United States Navy vessel that served as a seagoing coal barge in late 1917.