U.S. NAVY SHIPS NAMED FOR CONFEDERATE OFFICERS

Posted By : manager

Posted : February 26, 2022

By Mike Thomas

Last month’s newsletter carried the story of Captain Duncan Ingraham, a native Charlestonian, and Confederate Commodore, for whom 4 different U.S. Navy warships carried his name. There are at least 8 other examples of Confederates being honored in this manner. A listing of those ships, with some brief notes, provides some interesting thoughts.

Lt. George E. Dixon, commander of the H.L. Hunley which sank the USS Housatonic: The USS Dixon AS-37, a submarine tender in commission
1971-1955

USS Dixon
USS Dixon

Horace L. Hunley, builder and name-sake of the H.L. Hunley: The USS Hunley AS-31, a submarine tender, was in service 1961-1994.

The USS Hunley AS-31
The USS Hunley AS-31

Raphael Semmes, Captain of the CSS Alabama, CSN Rear Admiral and, lat-er, a CSA Brigadier General: Semmes has 2 different ships named for him. The first USS Semmes was Destroyer (DD-189), later converted to AG-24 and in service 1920-1946. The other was a Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG-18 in service 1962-1991

DDG-18
DDG-18

James I. Waddell, Captain of the CSS Shenandoah. The Waddell (DDG-24), a Guided Missile Destroyer served well 1964-1992.

The Waddell (DDG-24)
The Waddell (DDG-24)

Josiah Tattnall, Commanded the CSS Virginia and was the only full admiral in the Confederate navy. The USS Tattnall (DDG-19), was a Guided Missile Destroyer in service 1963-1991.

The USS Tattnall (DDG-19)
The USS Tattnall (DDG-19)

Franklin Buchanan, CSN Admiral, commanded the CSS Virginia and had 3 USN warships named for him. The first USS Tattnall was a Destroyer (DD-131) in-service 1919-1940 & then given to the British. The next two vessels were Destroyer (DD-484) in-service 1942-1948, and a Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG-14) in service in 1962-1991. The superintendent’s house at Annapolis is named the “Buchanan House” in his honor.

USS-Buchanan-Destroyer-DDG-14
USS-Buchanan-Destroyer-DDG-14

Richard L. Page, who was a fine CSN officer but later became a Brigadier-General in the CS Army and became a hero for his leadership in fighting at Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan. The USS Richard L. Page (FFG-5) was a Guided Missile Frigate with service 1967-1988.

The USS Richard L. Page (FFG-5)
The USS Richard L. Page (FFG-5)

Robert E. Lee had a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine named in his honor, SSBN-601. It served 1960-1983. Christening of the vessel when launched was performed by his Grand-Daughter.

Robert E LEE SSBN-601
Robert E LEE SSBN-601

Stonewall Jackson also had a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine carrying his name. SSBN-634 served proudly 1964-1996.

Stonewall Jackson SSBN-634
Stonewall Jackson SSBN-634

There were also 2 vessels named the USS Dixie, each a Destroyer Tender. The first (AD-1) served 1898-1922. The second (AD-13) had an unbelievable record of service stretching from 1940-to 1982.

Only a single ship in commission today has a connection with the Confederacy. The USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), a guided-missile cruiser, has been in continuous service since 1989, quite a long period of sustained service. The same people wanting to change names of army bases named for Confederate officers are also pushing to have this ship re-named or decommissioned because her name reflects a battle won by the Confederate army.

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