I was pleased to see the official announcement that the Navy will name the CVN-78, the USS Gerald R. Ford.

After a long time of having a sensible system of naming ships (BBs for states, CAs for cities, DDs for famous people, SS for fish, and CVs for famous ships or battles) the navy got off course. With the change in composition and importance of different types of ships over the years some of that was inevitable, for example the decision to name boomers after states and fast attack boats after cities made pretty good sense. (Except deciding to identify three hull numbers, 21-23 as the Seawolf, the Connecticut and the Jimmy Carter right in the middle of hull numbers 773 and 774!)

But carriers have really had an "identity crisis". I suppose naming the late war CV-42 the FDR was bound to happen given his 4 terms as president, being the former Secretary of the Navy and dying almost at the end of the war.

When carrier building resumed after the Korean war, I suppose it was inevitable that the first "super carrier" would be named after Forrestal given his place as SecDef and all the controversy between the Navy and the Air Force over nuclear strategy. Things were fine for a while and then again it was inevitable that the CV-67 would be named the JFK.

Finally, begining with the CV-68 the practice of naming carriers after famous people or former presidents (you know, like John Stennis and Carl Vinson) has become the standard, and in this case I think very appropriate. Gerald Ford not only was a former Naval Officer, but he served for 18 months in combat in the Pacific aboard the USS Monterey, CVL-26.

We sure could have done a lot worse.

Which leads to a question. Almost every former president since FDR has had a carrier named after him,(along with Teddy Roosevelt, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln), and Jimmy Carter (a former submariner) has a fast attack boat.

Do you think that any of the other 3 FORMER presidents since WW II will ever be honored in that way? My bet is N W.

And a second question. Who should be on the list for CVN-79 and beyond??

Tom

I have no problem with the carrier being named after President Ford. After all, he did serve in the Navy during WW2, as you said.

CVN-77 has already been named after the first President Bush, while Mr. Carter has a submarine named after him. Sooooo, that leaves only Presidents Nixon and Clinton.

Nixon won't have anything named after him because of the way his Presidency ended. I can't imagine Clinton will have anything named after him either - at least not a supercarrier. Love him or hate him (I will admit to being the latter category) - he was not a fan or supporter of the military and I can't see a ship being named after him. Not EVERY President has a warship named after him (USS Hoover, anyone?).

I don't think the current President will get a ship named after him either, as he is too polarizing of a figure.

For CVN-79 and beyond, I'd like to see them go back to naval aviations roots: Yorktown, Lexington, Saratoga or Enterprise.

While I'm sure there are a few good presidents left, I agree with Martin. I know the US Navy would not go long with out another Big E. It's time to resurect the old names including the Hornet.

Kenny

Did I miss something? Don't we presently have an Enterprise? As to future names for the Supercarriers..how about MacArthur, Marshall, Bradley, Patton...wadda ya mean they're Army folks so was Eisenhower. He was President? Oh ......never mind

Steve, that's what tanks are for.

Kenny

You are aware that the Navy currently uses the hornet name for there F/A-18 fighters right?

Edit: oops hit send to soon.

Personally I don’t know that any of the other presidents will have carriers named after them except possibly Bush. (Hey his presidency isn’t over yet. Who knows what could still happen.)
The other 2 just can’t see it happening. At least not for some time.

I wasn't aware of the Jimmy Carter. When I first heard of the USS George Bush, no W, I didn't like it one bit. I frankly am not a fan of naming ships after living people. I guess that ship has sailed, pun firmly intended , so I doubt we'll go back. I think that Ford certainly deserves the honor. As others have said not every president gets something named after him, and certainly not a carrier. I can't see Nixon getting anything. Most of the Navy guys I know would love to name some target ship after Clinton. :-)

I am a political liberal but when it comes to things like this I'm traditional to the bone. I would very much like a return to the traditional names, possibly starting with Lexington.

Steve, yes we do have an Enterprise, but if I'm not mistaken, the USS Ford is slated to replace the Enterprise. From that perspective, I like Martin's idea. Starting with CVN-79, let's go back to the beginning, not unlike they did starting with CV-60. They brought back Saratoga, Ranger and Enterprise, and at the time, Lexington, Yorktown, Wasp, and Hornet were still around as modernized Essex Class carriers.

I like the idea of continuing the existance in commission of the original carrier names, if that name hasn't already been given to another ship.

The one other post war president not covered is LBJ, and oddly enough, he also "served" in the Navy, but nothing like the way the both GHW Bush and Ford did. The elder Bush was actually a naval aviator and was shot down I believe. Given LBJ's linkage to Vietnam, (and THAT polarization) I suspect he'll not be honored with a CV either.



Tom

Well, according to the Navy, there will only be a CVN-79 & 80 and no more in the class. So, choose well you must.

Kenny

Well if there are only 2 more left to build and they are decommisioning present Enterprise. My vote goes for Lexington and Enterprise. Supplemental votes to Saratoga, Essex or Bunker Hill

How about United States that name was supposed to have been used since the eighties but for one reason or another never happened.

I could never understand why the US names their carriers after presidents. On average, half the US either love or hate their president at the time. It would make more sense to name them after famous battles, either land or sea, to honour your fallen servicemen, not some pencil pushing politician.
The Poms had the right idea with the names of most their warships right from early sail, something that would strike fear into their enemies.

It started as a tribute to FDR with the Midway class. Only a few have been named for presidents since WW2.

Midway - battle
FDR - president
Coral Sea - battle
Forrestal - named after James Vincent Forrestal (1892-1949). He became the first Under Secretary of the Navy in August 1940, charged with building the world's largest Fleet.
Saratoga - historic battle
Ranger - historic navy ship
Independence - historic navy ship
Kitty Hawk - birth place of aviation
Constellation - historic navy ship
Enterprise - historic navy ship
America - duh
John F. Kennedy - WW2 PT boat skipper and president
Nimitiz - admiral
Eisenhower - general and president
Carl Vinson - congressman, Chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs (1931–1946)
Teddy Roosevelt - president
Lincoln - president
Washington - president
Stennis - Senator Stennis (D-MISS) consistently supported a strong U.S. military and gained the honorary title of "the father of America's modern Navy."
Truman - president
Reagan - President
Bush - WW2 naval aviator and president
Gerald Ford - WW2 navy & president

Cruisers are named for famous battles, destroyers are named for famous sailors (except Churchill), Assault flatops are named for famous USMC battles and former navy ships, attack subs are cities and boomers are states.
Geez...my wife is right, I'm full of usless knowledge.

edited.

The only correction to Kenny's list I'll make is that Saratoga was a battle dring the Revolutionary War. I believe it is the first major one we won too. But don't hold me to that. I do know one of the heros (for our side) was Benedict Arnold.

My appologies Kenny, I meant to write 'started naming them after politicians and presidents', but the US does have this way of idolizing elected officials. To most of us in Australia, politicians are just the lying, backstabbing scum they've always been and not worth naming an infectious disease after them.
I hope that is not too politicall orientated, but I hate em' all.

I understand agree with you. I work for 15 politicians.

I think we need to name a carrier after Admiral Rickover. Granted, he was a submariner at heart, but he's been called the "Father of the Nuclear Navy."

The SSN USS Rickover was decommed in December...

Just a thought.

J

Shipmates,
Well, I have to join in on this line. And as most, I have to agree with the famous battles, and for that matter prior famous carriers. I would definitely have to go with Lexington and Saratoga, or perhaps Bunker Hill. Unfortunately, the services have become much more political these days, which means they could care less what an ole Jarhead feels like.

But we definitely need to hold on to our traditions. I must admit I really appreciate the way the Royal Navy name their ships, and stick with the traditions.

Oh well, keep building guys ! See Ya...........................Bruce

CVN-75 was laid down as the fourth United States, but was renamed Harry S. Truman during construction

I agree with you Bruce. I think we should have reused the carrier names from World War 2. It was their finest hour.

K

I think that a Ships name is far more important than many may credit. Especially for the crew, particularly when duty calls. Having served on the Carl Vinson CVN-70. Duty never called thank heavens (it was the cold war) but I witnessed several “mishaps” and some duty that I doubt will be repeated. Carl Vinson’s (fine man he was) name never to my experience inspired anyone and doubt ever would have. CVN-70 known to its sailors as the Chuck-e-V or the Crazy Carl could have and in my opinion should have been named for any of the fine examples of excellence, dedication, honor or valor that our military has a rich abundance of.

Here here!!!! Just my humble opinion on the mighty United States Navy

Des

They have stuck with the naming on its DD/DDG's, famous Naval/Marine people. Then since the SSBN is teh new battleship, they did stick to States, but now the new SSN's are being named for states.

Cruisers used to named for cities, but now are named for battles.

Now carriers are being named for Presidents and other notable Persons in Naval history, Stennis and Vinson.

I too would love to see the old names brought back for the CVN79 class, Hornet, Wasp, Lexington, Saratoga, America, Intrepid. When the Enterprise is retired I hope the NAvy does name a new ship for her. Enterprise has been a US naval ship for so many years it would be a shame to have no Big E in our Navy.

Maybe our Navy could offically retire names, much like sports teams do with players numbers. Just a thought.

I would like the USS FRANKLIN after the one that took all the punishment and still sailed home is WWII

Yes, the Franklin was a tough old girl. The Japanese tried like mad to sink her, but she just would not go down.

I just wish the new carrier class name would have gone to America. It was a real shame they sank the old America. I sailed a good many miles along side America and it would be ncie to see a ship bearing our countries name back at sea.