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Do You Know When These US Navy Ships Were Commissioned?

By: Jacqueline Samaroo

Do You Know When These US Navy Ships Were Commissioned?

Image: Stocktrek Images/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

About This Quiz

You won't get sea sick from this quiz! No one will lash you to the mast, either ... heck, most of these ships don't even HAVE masts in the sailing sense.

The United States Navy has reasonably strict classifications schemes and nomenclature when it comes to the wide array of vessels that they have commissioned throughout their history. The names of all commissioned ships of the United States Navy start with "USS", which simply stands for United States Ship. When it come to ships, the United States Navy has come a relatively long way from its moderately humble beginnings to the modern powerhouse that it is today.

In fact, the United States Navy is currently, without a doubt, the world's largest navy when it comes to ships (having approximately half of the world's aircraft carriers). Ships in the United States Navy have oftentimes been iconic on a global scale; being the first to achieve milestones, setting records, and leading in advancements. In this quiz, we've taken a handful of U.S. Navy ships from the past few centuries and put them together to see if you can correctly guess when they were commissioned! So, let's jump right in and get started!

USS George Washington (SSBN-598)

In what year was the USS George Washington (SSBN-598) commissioned?

1959

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) is a United States Navy ship that was originally commissioned in 1959. It is the third to be named in honor of George Washington and also the country’s first operational ballistic missile submarine.

1895

1985

1961

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USS Constitution 1797

This iconic ship, the USS Constitution, was commissioned in what year?

1961

1910

1797

This is the USS Constitution, a 44-gun frigate that was commissioned in 1797 and nicknamed “Old Ironsides”. It is notable for being the oldest commissioned naval vessel in the world that is still afloat today

1942

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USS Arizona (BB-39)

In what year was the USS Arizona (BB-39) commissioned?

1941

1943

1944

1916

The USS Arizona (BB-39) is a Pennsylvania-class battleship that was originally commissioned in 1916. It was destroyed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, leading to the loss of over 1,000 officers and crewmen.

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USS Missouri (BB-63)

This battleship, the USS Missouri (BB-63), was commissioned in what year?

1942

1906

1944

This is the USS Missouri (BB-63), an Iowa-class battleship that was commissioned in 1944. It is most notable for being the location of the surrender of the Empire of Japan during World War II.

1911

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USS Archerfish (SS-311)

Do you know the year in which the USS Archerfish (SS-311) was commissioned?

1996

1943

The USS Archerfish (SS-311) is a Balao-class submarine that was originally commissioned in 1943. After decades of service and awards (at least seven battle stars) the ship was retired by the US Navy and then sunk by torpedo.

1895

1945

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USS Reuben James (DD-245)

The USS Reuben James (DD-245) was commissioned in what year?

1961

1928

1975

1920

This is the USS Reuben James (DD-245), a Clemson-class destroyer that was commissioned in 1920. It was attacked and sunk by a German submarine near Iceland, over a month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and The United States’ direct involvement in World War II.

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USS Samuel B. Robert

In what year was this frigate, the USS Samuel B. Robert, commissioned?

1942

1986

The USS Samuel B. Roberts is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate that was originally commissioned in 1986. It was damaged by an Iranian mine in 1988 and had to be carried from Dubai to Rhode Island by the semi-submersible, heavy-lift ship, Mighty Servant 2.

1964

1996

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USS Enterprise (CV-6)

The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was commissioned in what year?

1938

This is the USS Enterprise (CV-6), a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1938. It is one of the most prolific US Navy ships and is actually the most decorated U.S. ship of World War II.

1944

1900

1942

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USS Long Beach (CGN-9)

Do you know when the USS Long Beach (CGN-9) was commissioned?

1911

1961

The USS Long Beach (CGN-9) is a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser that was originally commissioned in 1961. It holds the distinction of being the first nuclear-powered surface combatant in the world.

1943

1941

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USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

Do you know when the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was initially commissioned?

1975

1945

1961

1932

This is the USS Indianapolis (CA-35), a Portland-class heavy cruiser that was commissioned in 1932. It holds the somber record of having the worst loss of life at sea in U.S. Navy history, with hundreds going down with the ship and many more dying from dehydration, exposure, shark attacks and much more.

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USS Hornet (CV-8)

In what year was this aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet (CV-8), commissioned?

1959

1941

The USS Hornet (CV-8) is a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier, that was originally commissioned in 1941. It is perhaps best remembered for its role in the Battle of Midway and the Doolittle Raid.

1982

1895

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USS Cole (DDG-67)

Do you know when the USS Cole (DDG-67) was commissioned?

1996

This is the USS Cole (DDG-67), a Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was commissioned in 1996. It was attacked by al-Qaeda suicide bombers in 2000 but survived and is currently in active service.

1797

1913

1943

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USS Washington (BB-56)

When was the USS Washington (BB-56) commissioned?

1938

1961

1941

The USS Washington (BB-56) is a North Carolina-class battleship that was originally commissioned in 1941. It is notable for having suffered no losses to hostile action throughout the entirety of World War II.

1964

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USS Skate (SSN-578)

Do you know when this record-holding US Navy vessel; the USS Skate (SSN-578), was commissioned?

1944

1957

This is the USS Skate (SSN-578), a Skate-class submarine that was commissioned in 1957. It is notable for being the first ship to surface at the North Pole and also the first to make a completely submerged trans-Atlantic crossing.

1941

1900

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USS Triton (SSRN-586)

When was the USS Triton (SSRN-586) commissioned?

1943

1897

1959

The USS Triton (SSRN-586) is a nuclear-powered submarine that was originally commissioned in 1959. It is the only non-Soviet submarine that was powered by two nuclear reactors and also the first vessel to make a submerged circumnavigation of the world.

1928

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USS Nautilus (SSN-571)

In what year was the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) commissioned?

1920

1941

1938

1954

This is the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), a nuclear-powered submarine that was commissioned in 1954. It is notable for several reasons; it is the first operational nuclear-powered submarine and also the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole.

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USS Gato (SS-212)

In what year was the USS Gato (SS-212) commissioned?

1986

1957

1941

The USS Gato (SS-212) is a Gato-class diesel-electric submarine that was originally commissioned in 1941. This ship (and the rest of its class) was one of the most successful and influential vessels in the US Navy in World War II.

1906

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USS Phoenix (CL-46)

When was this Brooklyn-class cruiser, the USS Phoenix (CL-46), commissioned?

1938

This is the USS Phoenix (CL-46), a Brooklyn-class cruiser that was commissioned in 1938. It was eventually sold to Argentina in 1951 and then sunk by the British in the Falklands War.

1941

1954

1892

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USS Langley (CV-1)

This US Navy aircraft carrier, christened the USS Langley (CV-1), was commissioned in what year?

1910

1916

1996

1913

The USS Langley (CV-1) is a Langley-class aircraft carrier that was originally commissioned in 1913. It holds the distinction of being the very first aircraft carrier in the US Navy.

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USS Stark (FFG-31)

When was the USS Stark (FFG-31) commissioned?

1982

This is the USS Stark (FFG-31), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate that was commissioned in 1982. It was devastatingly struck by Iraqi anti-ship missiles in 1987; which is to this day, the only successful anti-ship missile attack on a U.S. Navy warship.

1932

1959

1999

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USS Vincennes (CG-49)

In what year was this controversial US Navy ship, the USS Vincennes (CG-49), commissioned?

1920

1961

1901

1985

The USS Vincennes (CG-49) is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser that was originally commissioned in 1985. In 1988 it misidentified Iran Air Flight 655 as an enemy fighter and shot it down, killing 290 civilians (274 passengers and 16 crew members).

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USS South Carolina (BB-26)

The USS South Carolina (BB-26) battleship was commissioned in what year?

1986

1910

This is the USS South Carolina (BB-26), a South Carolina-class battleship that was commissioned in 1910. It is notable for being the first American modern dreadnought battleship.

1942

1913

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USS Batfish (SS-310)

The iconic USS Batfish (SS-310) was commissioned in what year?

1938

1961

1994

1943

The USS Batfish (SS-310) is a Balao-class submarine that was originally commissioned in 1943. One of its notable achievements is the fact that it sank three Japanese submarines within a five-day period during World War II.

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USS Connecticut (BB-18)

When was the "Great White" USS Connecticut (BB-18) commissioned?

1916

1906

This is the USS Connecticut (BB-18), a Connecticut-class battleship that was commissioned in 1906. It was notably the flagship for the Great White Fleet.

1911

1941

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USS Olympia (C-6)

In what year was the historic USS Olympia (C-6) commissioned?

1895

The USS Olympia (C-6) is a protected cruiser that was originally commissioned in 1895. In present day, the vessel has been preserved as a museum ship.

1932

1945

1954

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USS Panay (PR-5)

This river gunboat, the USS Panay (PR-5), was commissioned in what year?

1959

1975

1928

This is the USS Panay (PR-5), a river gunboat that was commissioned in 1928. It was sunk by Japanese aircraft in 1937; however, the Japanese apologized and paid an indemnity, claiming that they had thought it was a Chinese vessel (who they were currently fighting in the Second Sino-Japanese War).

1904

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USS Holland (SS-1)

The USS Holland (SS-1) submarine was commissioned in what year?

1797

1961

1900

The USS Holland (SS-1) is a military submarine that was originally commissioned in 1900. It notably holds the distinction of being the very first submarine that was commissioned in the U.S. Navy.

1957

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USS Liberty (AGTR-5)

In what year was the USS Liberty (AGTR-5) commissioned?

1895

1964

This is the USS Liberty (AGTR-5), a Belmont-class technical research ship that was commissioned in 1964. It notably participated in several key missions for the National Security Agency in the 1960s.

1941

1833

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USS England (DE-635)

When was this destroyer escort, named the USS England (DE-635), commissioned?

1943

The USS England (DE-635) is a Buckley-class destroyer escort that was originally commissioned in 1943. It was actually named after Ensign John C. England, who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

1944

1996

1926

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USS Maine (ACR-1)

The USS Maine (ACR-1) was commissioned in what year?

1943

1842

1895

This is the USS Maine (ACR-1), an armored cruiser that was commissioned in 1895. It notably sank during the Cuban revolt against Spain and was one of the primary events that initiated the Spanish–American War.

1941

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USS Thresher (SSN-593)

The USS Thresher (SSN-593) submarine was commissioned in what year?

1982

1961

The USS Thresher (SSN-593) is a Thresher-class submarine that was originally commissioned in 1961. It accidentally sank during deep-diving tests in the Atlantic (off the coast of Boston, Massachusetts) in 1963.

1900

1932

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USS Long Island (CVE-1)

When was the USS Long Island (CVE-1) escort carrier commissioned?

1913

1943

2008

1941

This is the USS Long Island (CVE-1), a Long Island-class escort carrier that was commissioned in 1941. It is notable for being the first of over 100 escort carriers built by the U.S. during World War II.

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USS Essex (CV-9)

The USS Essex (CV-9) aircraft carrier was commissioned in what year?

1961

1895

1942

The USS Essex (CV-9) is an Essex-class aircraft carrier that was originally commissioned in 1942. It and the rest of its family of vessels were a notable part of the U.S. Navy's forces during World War II.

1938

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USS Greeneville (SSN-772)

When was the USS Greeneville (SSN-772) submarine commissioned?

1941

1964

1922

1996

This is the USS Greeneville (SSN-772), a Los Angeles-class submarine that was commissioned in 1996. Its name is a direct reference to the town of Greeneville in Tennessee.

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USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

When was the "salty" USS Nimitz (CVN-68) commissioned?

1954

1975

The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that was originally commissioned in 1975. It is currently still in active service and has earned the nickname “Old Salt”.

1856

1928

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USS Pueblo (AGER-2)

The sneaky USS Pueblo (AGER-2) was commissioned in what year?

1959

1799

1938

1945

This is the USS Pueblo (AGER-2), a Banner-class environmental research ship, that was commissioned in 1945. It was operated by the U.S. as a Navy intelligence spy ship and was captured by North Korean forces after it was found off the coast of the country.

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USS Utah (BB-31)

When was the USS Utah (BB-31) battleship commissioned?

1911

The USS Utah (BB-31) is a Florida-class battleship that was originally commissioned in 1911. It is notable for being the second of only two Florida class of dreadnought battleships that were ever created.

1957

1906

1944

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USS Maddox (DD-731)

The USS Maddox (DD-731) was commissioned in what year?

1911

2002

1944

This is the USS Maddox (DD-731), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer that was commissioned in 1944. It was notably sold to Taiwan in 1973 and then finally decommissioned in 1985 and then scrapped.

1895

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USS Juneau (CL-52)

Do you know when this light cruiser was commissioned?

1942

The USS Juneau (CL-52) is an Atlanta-class light cruiser that was originally commissioned in February of 1942. It had an extremely short-lived existence, being sunk by a torpedo later that same year (13 November 1942).

1910

1797

1996

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USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

When was the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise (CVN-65) commissioned?

1941

1985

1961

This is the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), an Enterprise-class aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1961. It notably holds the distinction of being the very first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

1959

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