Warship names and their entomology

[ProwlAlpha]

same as the sister ship the HMS Nelson.

British battle cruisers also had the name of the HMS Princess Royal.

I like the American Lexington class battle cruiser names of Lexington, Saratoga, Constitution, Constellation, United States, and Ranger.

 

[Goliath]

same as the sister ship the HMS Nelson.

Yes, but Nelson is a cool-counding name.

Unless you're a Simpsons fan, I suppose.

 

[Marc]

same as the sister ship the HMS Nelson.

Yes, but Nelson is a cool-counding name.

Unless you're a Simpsons fan, I suppose.

Well the Brits will claim they were using it long before the Simpsons came along though given the sorry state of history teaching these days people would think more of Nelson Muntz than Admiral Horatio Nelson.

As for names relating to royalty (following from mention of the Princess Royal), the Royal Navy had the King George V class of battleships - starting with the KGV, had the Prince of Wales and the Duke Of York.

 

[J.T.B.]

As for names relating to royalty (following from mention of the Princess Royal), the Royal Navy had the King George V class of battleships - starting with the KGV, had the Prince of Wales and the Duke Of York.

There were two KGV's (and two KGV classes), one in the WW1 period and one in WW2. It had become a tradition to name a new battleship after the reigning monarch, but George VI preferred that his "naming right" be used for his father.

"Queen Mary" and "Princess Royal" may not have a dashing battle cruiser ring like "Invincible" and "Indefatigable", but they are classy names in their own way.

Here's a little trivia question: Who had two US aircraft carriers named for him in service at the same time?

--Justin

 

[Jono]

^ Prince and the Artist Formerly Known as Prince

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Here's a little trivia question: Who had two US aircraft carriers named for him in service at the same time?

--Justin

I was going to say Samuel Pierpont Langley, but CV-1 was sunk in 1942 and CVL-27 wasn't commissioned until 1943

Another close one -- The Essex class USS Lexington was originally named Cabot but the name was changed on June 16, 1942. The USS Cabot (CVL-28) was laid down as the Wilmington but renamed Cabot on June 23, 1942. The name referred to Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto, called John Cabot in English.

There was a USS Franklin (CV13) and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV42) but they were unrelated names. The franklin was named after Benjamin Franklin, not FDR.

 

[backstept]

Warship Names and Their Study of Insects?

of course the OP meant Etymology

[edit] and it appears this has already been mentioned

now I will actually read the thread

 

[J.T.B.]

I was going to say Samuel Pierpont Langley, but CV-1 was sunk in 1942 and CVL-27 wasn't commissioned until 1943

Another close one -- The Essex class USS Lexington was originally named Cabot but the name was changed on June 16, 1942. The USS Cabot (CVL-28) was laid down as the Wilmington but renamed Cabot on June 23, 1942. The name referred to Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto, called John Cabot in English.

There was a USS Franklin (CV13) and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV42) but they were unrelated names. The franklin was named after Benjamin Franklin, not FDR.

That's good thinking. Here's a clue: they weren't named directly after the person, but for other warships. And it's kind of a tricky one.

--Justin

 

[Bloodwhiner]

dang.. I thought of the USS Wright (AV1 and CVL49)as the latter was a light carrier and the former a lighter-than-air carrier. They did not overlap while in the water but both carried the name at the same time (one was under construction when the other was decommissioned. However they are named for each individual wright brother, so aren't the same person in any case.

Maybe the USS Hancock? CV14 was laid down at the Hancock and renamed Ticonderoga on May 1,1943. CV19 was laid down as Ticonderoga on January 26, 1943 and renamed the Hancock on May 1, 1943... You could argue there were two Hancocks depending on the time of the naming...

Beyond that I'm stumped.

 

[J.T.B.]

It's been almost 24 hours, so here's the answer to the question: Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin CV-13 was named for one of the first US ships-of-the-line, named of course for Benjamin Franklin.

Bon Homme Richard CV-31 was named after the Revolutionary War vessel commanded by John Paul Jones. Her name was the French version of Franklin's pen name, Poor Richard.

CV-13 was commissioned 31 January 1944, decommissioned 17 February 1947 (after devastating war damage in early '45). CV-31 commissioned 26 November 1944, decommissioned 2 July 1971. The "Bonnie Dick" name lives on today with LHD-6, with the preferred spelling of "Bonhomme."

Yes, it was kind of a trick question! Thanks for guessing, Bloodwhiner!

--Justin

 

[RaulMacca]

I always like the mythological streak of Italian Navy's corvettes: my favourites ones are Minerva, Urania, Chimera, Cassiopea, Vega, Sirio and Orione.

Personally, I think the best ship/name combinations in history belong to early-20th century British battleships and battle-cruisers.

Those were impressive-looking warships with impressive-sounding names.

Except, of course, for HMS Rodney, which makes me think of Sir Rodney the Chicken-Hearted from The Wizard of Id.

I mean, seriously--who builds an enormous battleship, and then calls it the "Rodney"?

Rodney is bad, However as with everything come ww2 the USN outdone the Royal Navy's Rodney with the mighty USS MANLOVE.

 

[Goliath]

I mean, seriously--who builds an enormous battleship, and then calls it the "Rodney"?

Rodney is bad, However as with everything come ww2 the USN outdone the Royal Navy's Rodney with the mighty USS MANLOVE.

"Manlove" seems appropriate for sailors, somehow.

 

[Neopeius]

The Japanese name them after provinces and flowers. That's pretty awesome. I'd hate to be wiped out by the Sakura or the Soyokaze.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

It's been almost 24 hours, so here's the answer to the question: Benjamin Franklin.

Interesting and thanks... something else for my military trivia file.

 

[AJBryant]

I'd hate to be wiped out by the Sakura or the Soyokaze.

Not only do they kill you, there's a humiliation factor, too. Sweet.

 

[ProwlAlpha]

Well if you consider the namesake of the USS Manlove, Arthur Manlove who died on the USS Arizona, it is not too much horrible than the HMS Rodney or the HMS Nelson.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Any idea what Arthur Cleon Manlove did to get a ship named after him? I googled but found nothing more than he was killed on the Arizona. I would assume there was a reason he was selected to have a ship named after him...

 

[Captain Ice]

It's been almost 24 hours, so here's the answer to the question: Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin CV-13 was named for one of the first US ships-of-the-line, named of course for Benjamin Franklin.

Bon Homme Richard CV-31 was named after the Revolutionary War vessel commanded by John Paul Jones. Her name was the French version of Franklin's pen name, Poor Richard.

CV-13 was commissioned 31 January 1944, decommissioned 17 February 1947 (after devastating war damage in early '45). CV-31 commissioned 26 November 1944, decommissioned 2 July 1971. The "Bonnie Dick" name lives on today with LHD-6, with the preferred spelling of "Bonhomme."

Yes, it was kind of a trick question! Thanks for guessing, Bloodwhiner!

--Justin

Unfortunately, your information is faulty.

According to the book The Franklin Comes Home (Hawthorne Books, 1974) by A.A. Hoehling, written about the catastrophic damage the USS Franklin received on 19 March 1945, the ship was named for the Battle of Franklin, TN from the Civil War and NOT for a ship of the line or for Benjamin Franklin. This is printed on page 3.

The Franklin's story happens to be one of my favorite tales of overcoming immense obstacles to achieve a goal.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Sorry, Capt Ice but it is your info which is erroneous --

I did some further reading after Justin gave me the answer. This warship was named in honor of the previous four warships that had been named Franklin, those four ships were all named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. None had any relationship to the Civil War Battle of Franklin, Tennessee that was fought during the War Between the States, as is sometimes erroneously reported (ref: the U.S. Naval Historical Center), although a footnote in The Franklin Comes Home (A. A. Hoehling, 1974, Hawthorn Books, New York, p.3) does attribute the naming to the Battle of Franklin.

However the official website of the USS Franklin (http://www.ussfranklin.org/menu/ship.html) is clear that she was the fifth naval vessel to bear the name with the first three being launched well before the Battle of Franklin, TN. The fourth Franklin's keel was laid in 1854 and she was launched on September 17, 1864 (source: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f4/franklin-iv.htm) while the battle of Franklin, TN took place on November 30, 1864.(source: http://www.americancivilwar.50megs.com/BattleFranklin01.html)

USS FRanklin (CV-13) is directly named for these earlier ships and thus indirectly for Benjamin Franklin.

 

[Santaman]

The Brits also named ships after famous battles like HMS Agincourt which has to be the most outrageous battleship design ever.

14 main guns in 7 turrets named after the 7 days of the week.