Throughout
history there have been at least six United States Navy ships that have
borne the name New York, after the 11th state. Below is a summary of
all six:
1) Gondola: USS New York
The first New York was a gondola, built on Lake Champlain in 1776, that participated in the Battle of Valcour Island.
2) Frigate: USS New York
The
second New York was a 36-gun frigate commissioned on 1800 and burned by
the British in 1814. Built in New York City and funded by the citizens
of New York, the second New York was a 36-gun frigate. Commissioned in
October 1800 and commanded by Captain Richard V. Morris, New York
sailed to the Mediterranean in 1802 the ship served as flagship in the
war against the Barbary Pirates. In two engagements the ship
participated in driving off Tripolitan gunboats. New York returned to
the Washington Navy Yard in 1803 where she remained for 11 years until
the British burned the ship on 24 August 1814.
3) Ship-of-the-Line: USS New York
The
third New York was a 74-gun ship of the line, laid down in 1820 but
which never left the stocks and was burned in 1861. After the War or
1812, Congress authorized the construction of 9 ships of the line as a
potential deterrent to future war with Britain. War never came and so
the New York, whose keel was laid in 1820 and was ready for launching
in 1825, never left the stocks. On 20 April 1861, this 74-gun
ship-of-the-line was burned by Union forces to avoid capture by
encroaching Virginians at the start of the Civil War.
4) Armored Cruiser: USS New York
The
fourth New York (CA-2) was an armored cruiser commissioned in 1893, in
action in the Spanish-American War, renamed to Saratoga in 1911,
renamed Rochester in 1917, decommissioned in 1933, and scuttled in
1941. Laid down in 1890, the armored cruiser New York was commissioned
in August 1893. She served as flagship Admiral Sampson's in the Battle
of Santiago when the American Squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in
1898.
5) Battleship: USS New York
The fifth
New York (BB-34) was a battleship that saw action in both World War I
and World War II. On 11 September 1911, the battleship New York was
laid down and then commissioned on 15 April 1914. The battleship served
as flagship of Battleship Division 9 in World War I supporting the
British Grand Fleet in the North Sea with blockade and escort missions.
New York was present when the German High Seas Fleet surrendered on 21
November 1918. After the War, USS New York was decommissioned on 29
August 1946 and sunk as a target ship in 1948.
6) Amphibious Transport Dock: USS New York
The
sixth New York (LPD-21) is an amphibious transport dock currently under
construction. Some of the metal used comes from the rubble of the World
Trade Center.
Notes: (1) There was also a nuclear powered attack
submarine, USS New York City (SSN 696) that was commissioned in 1979
and decommissioned in 1997. (2) LPD 21 will be the longest and widest
ship to bear the name New York and within 2,000 tons of having the same
displacement as the battleship. A screw sloop named New York was laid
down in 1863 as Ontario, renamed in 1869, and sold while still on the
stocks, in 1888. Sources of Data: www.greatwhitefleet.org/newyork and and Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships published by the Naval Historical Center.
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Above, the bow of the Armored Cruiser USS New York on display at the Intrepid Museum, New York City.
Between
wars, the Battleship USS New York (above) served primarily in the
Pacific Fleet until 1935, before transferring to the Atlantic Fleet. At
the start of World War II, New York escorted convoys and later provided
naval gunfire support in the Invasion of North Africa on November 8,
1942. Following this action, the ship trained gunners and providing
training cruises for the Naval Academy until transferring to the
Pacific Fleet in 1945. USS New York earned three battle stars for World
War II service. |
