Collection

Ships

Ships, builders, home ports, specifications, and histories.

Showing 4,601–4,650

Name	Type	Hull Num	Class	Status	Comm Is Date	Decom Sunk Or Reclass	Reclass Num	Builder	Built City	Built State	Home Port	Historynotes
Davison	DMS	37		Decom	1945-06-23 00:00:00.000	1949-06-24 00:00:00.000		Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.	Kearny	NJ		Originally commissioned DD-618, qv Reclassified DMS-37 Jun … Originally commissioned DD-618, qv Reclassified DMS-37 Jun 23 1945 Decommissioned Jun 24 1949 Reclassified DD-618 Jul 15 1955
Davison	DD	618	Benson	Reclas	1942-09-11 00:00:00.000	1945-06-23 00:00:00.000	*	Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.	Kearny	NJ		WW II Aug 5 1942, Atlantic Fleet, LCDR W. C. Winn Jul 1943… WW II Aug 5 1942, Atlantic Fleet, LCDR W. C. Winn Jul 1943, Operation Husky, invasion of Sicily, LCDR Walter C. Winn (Navy Combat Narrative lists as "Davidson") Reclassified DMS-37, qv Reclassified DD-618 Jul 15 1955 3 Battle Stars WW II
Davy Crockett					1942-06-02 00:00:00.000			Houston Shipbuilding Corp.	Houston	TX		Maritime Commission Hull 96
Dawn	motorboat											2nd Dawn WW I - 2nd Naval District 1917-18
Dawn	ScStr			Decom	1861-05-09 00:00:00.000	1865-06-17 00:00:00.000		Samuel Sneden	New York	NY		1st Dawn Built 1857 Civil War Decommissioned Jun 17 1865 … 1st Dawn Built 1857 Civil War Decommissioned Jun 17 1865 Sold Nov 1 1865
Dawn	IX	186		Decom	1944-12-26 00:00:00.000	1946-04-12 00:00:00.000		Moore Shipbuilding Co.	Oakland	CA		3rd Dawn Built 1920 Ex Vacuum Transferred to Navy Dec 25 … 3rd Dawn Built 1920 Ex Vacuum Transferred to Navy Dec 25 1944. Commissioned the next day WW II Gasoline storage Decommissioned Apr 12 1946 and returned to War Shipping Administration the same day
Dawson	APA	79	Gilliam	Decom	1945-02-04 00:00:00.000	1946-09-29 00:00:00.000		Consolidated Steel Corp.	Wilmington	CA		Maritime Commission Hull 1872 WW II 1946, Operation Crossr… Maritime Commission Hull 1872 WW II 1946, Operation Crossroads Decommissioned Sep 20 1946 Retained at Kwajalein for radiolagical study Sunk Apr 19 1948
Day	DE	225	Rudderow	Decom	1944-06-10 00:00:00.000	1946-05-16 00:00:00.000		Philadelphia Navy Yard	Philadelphia	PA		Named for Chief Water Tender Francis D. Day WW II Jan 1945… Named for Chief Water Tender Francis D. Day WW II Jan 1945, Invasion at Lingayen Gulf Apr 1945, landings at Legaspi Jun 1945, Invasion of Borneo Decommissioned May 16 1945 2 Battle Stars WW II
Day Star												Merchant ship WW II Jun 3-19 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okin… Merchant ship WW II Jun 3-19 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa Campaign
Daylight	ScStr			Decom	1861-06-07 00:00:00.000	1865-05-24 00:00:00.000		Samuel Sneden	New York	NY		Built 1859 Chartered by Navy May 10 1861 Civil War Purcha… Built 1859 Chartered by Navy May 10 1861 Civil War Purchased by Navy Oct 12 1861 Apr 25-26 1862, bombardment and capture of Fort Macon NC 1863-64, North Atlantic Bolckading Squadron Decommissioned May 24 1865 Sold Oct 25 1865
Dayton	CL	105	Cleveland	Decom	1945-01-07 00:00:00.000	1949-03-01 00:00:00.000		New York Shipbuilding Co.	Camden	NJ		WW II Decommissioned Mar 1 1949 1 Battle Star WW II
De Grasse	yacht											First De Grasse WW I No. 1217 Carried on Navy list from J… First De Grasse WW I No. 1217 Carried on Navy list from Jul to Nov 1918
De Grasse	AP	164		Reclas	1943-10-08 00:00:00.000	1944-08-20 00:00:00.000	*	Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.	Portland	OR		2nd De Grasse ex Nathaniel J. Wyeth Originally commissione… 2nd De Grasse ex Nathaniel J. Wyeth Originally commissioned AP-164. WW II Jun-Aug 1944, Operation Forager, Invasion of Saipan and Tinian, LCDR William Jordan Reclassified AK-223, qv, 8/20/44
De Grasse	AK	223		Decom	1944-08-20 00:00:00.000	1946-03-28 00:00:00.000		Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.	Portland	OR		2nd De Grasse ex Nathaniel J. Wyeth Originally commissione… 2nd De Grasse ex Nathaniel J. Wyeth Originally commissioned AP-164. Reclassified AK-223 8/20/44 WW II Apr-Aug 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa Campaign Decommissioned 3/28/46, and transferred to Wartime Shipping Administration same day 3 Battle Stars WW II as AP and AK
De Harmon												WW II Jan 1945, invasion at Lingayen Gulf, LCDR T. U. Weeks
De Haven	DD	469	Fletcher	Sunk	1942-09-21 00:00:00.000	1943-02-01 00:00:00.000		Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME		1st De Haven WW II Sunk Feb 1 1943 near Savo Island, Solom… 1st De Haven WW II Sunk Feb 1 1943 near Savo Island, Solomon Islands, by bombs from Japanese aircraft 1 Battle Star WW II
De Haven	DD	727	Allen M. Sumner		1944-03-31 00:00:00.000			Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME		2nd De Haven WW II Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima Jun 194… 2nd De Haven WW II Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima Jun 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa operations Korean War 5 Battle Stars WW II Navy Unit Commendation and 6 Battle Stars WW II
De Kaury	YTB	178						Gibbs Gas Engine Co.	Jacksonville	FL		Ex YT-178 WW II 12th Naval District
De Lesseps	Tug											Tug owned by Panama Canal Co. Named for Ferdinand De Lessep… Tug owned by Panama Canal Co. Named for Ferdinand De Lesseps, French engineer who directed failed French attempt to build a canal across Panama Loaned to Navy in 1918 WW I - 15th Naval District
De Long	DE	684			1943-12-31 00:00:00.000			Bethlehem Steel Co.	Quincy	MA
De Pauw Victory					1945-03-03 00:00:00.000			Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond Two	Richmond	CA		Maritime Commission Victory Hull 727 Merchant ship Origina… Maritime Commission Victory Hull 727 Merchant ship Original operator, American-Hawaiian Steamship WW II
De Sota					1944-05-26 00:00:00.000			Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.	Chickasaw	AL		Maritime Commission Hull 1603 Merchant ship Original opera… Maritime Commission Hull 1603 Merchant ship Original operator, Waterman Steamship WW II
De Soto				Decom	1861-08-21 00:00:00.000	1868-09-11 00:00:00.000						1st De Soto Purchased by Navy Aug 21 1861 Civil War Sep 1… 1st De Soto Purchased by Navy Aug 21 1861 Civil War Sep 1863, recaptured Leviathan, a US vessel recently captured by Confederate Teaser. Made at least 17 captures bu Jun 10 1864 Decommissioned Jun 16 1864 RecommissionedAug 12 1865 Decommissioned Sep 11 1868 Sold Sep 30 1868
De Soto	SwStr			Renamed		1862-10-24 00:00:00.000	*		New Albany	IN		2nd De Soto Built 1860 Civil War Taken by Confederacy as … 2nd De Soto Built 1860 Civil War Taken by Confederacy as gunboat in 1861 Apr 7 1862, carried officers who surrendered Island No. 10 to Flag Officer Foote. Surrendered to Union forces Became USS De Soto as Army transport Transferred to Navy Sep 30 1862 Renamed General Lyon, qv, Oct 24 1862
De Soto	SwStr											Civil War Confederate Captured by Union at Island No. 10 … Civil War Confederate Captured by Union at Island No. 10 Apr 7 1862 Became USS DeSoto, and renamed General Lyon, qv Also see DeSoto, a Union SwStr.
De Soto County	LST	1171		Decom	1958-06-10 00:00:00.000	1972-07-17 00:00:00.000		Avondale Marine Ways, Inc.	Avondale	LA		Vietnam War Decommissioned Jul 17 1972 Meritorious Unit Co… Vietnam War Decommissioned Jul 17 1972 Meritorious Unit Commendation in Mediterranean 1 Battle Star Vietnam War
De Wert	FFG	45	Oliver Hazard Perry	Active	1983-11-19 00:00:00.000			Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME	Mayport	Named for Hospital Corpsman Richard De Wert, qv
De Witt Clinton					1943-04-29 00:00:00.000			Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.	Portland	OR		Maritime Commission E Hull 1629 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 1629 Merchant ship Original operator, James Griffiths & Sons WW II
Dea	Cargo							R. thompson & Sons	Sutherland	EN		Built 1911 Norwegian vessel WW II Allocated to Army
Deal	AG	131	Camano	Decom	1947-08-03 00:00:00.000	1955-09-08 00:00:00.000		Wheeler Shipbuilding Corp.	Whitestone	NY		Ex FS-263 (Army) Acquired by Navy Mar 2 1947 Also clssifie… Ex FS-263 (Army) Acquired by Navy Mar 2 1947 Also clssified AKL-2 Mar 31 1949 Not clear when named Deal or whn classified as AG-131 Korean War Decommissioned Sep 8 1955 Sold Dec 18 1961
Dealey	DE	1006	Dealey		1954-06-03 00:00:00.000			Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME		Named for CDR Samuel D. Dealey, qv
Dean Emery	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Dean II	motor boat			oos	1917-05-10 00:00:00.000	1918-05-31 00:00:00.000						Free-leased to Navy No. 98 Placed in service May 10 1917 … Free-leased to Navy No. 98 Placed in service May 10 1917 WW I - 3rd Naval District Out of service May 31 1918 Returned to owner
Deane	Fri			Renamed					Nantes	FR		Named for Revolutionary War leader Silas Deane Revolutionar… Named for Revolutionary War leader Silas Deane Revolutionary War Brought to United States May 1778 1779, captured Viper 1779, together with other ships, captured eight ships, including Sandwich and HMS Thorn Renamed Hague, qv, 1782
Dearborn	PF	33	Tacoma	Decom	1944-06-20 00:00:00.000	1946-06-05 00:00:00.000		Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc	Superior	WI		Ex Toledo. Renamed Dearborn before commissioning Maritime … Ex Toledo. Renamed Dearborn before commissioning Maritime Commission Hull 1444 WW II Decommissioned Jun 5 1946 Sold Jul 8 1947
Deborah Gannett					1944-04-21 00:00:00.000			Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc.	Baltimore	MD		Maritime Commission E Hull 2620 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 2620 Merchant ship Original operator, T. J. Stevenson WW II
Decatur	Slp			Decom		1859-06-20 00:00:00.000		New York Navy Yard	New York	NY		1st Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv Mexican War Dec… 1st Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv Mexican War Decommissioned Jun 20 1859 Civil War 1863, refited as harbor battery and stationed off San Francisco Sold Aug 17 1865
Decatur	DD	341	Clemson	Decom	1922-08-09 00:00:00.000	1945-07-28 00:00:00.000		Mare Island Navy Yard	Vallejo	CA		3rd Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv WW II Aug 5 194… 3rd Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv WW II Aug 5 1942, Atlantic Fleet, LCDR D. C. E. Hamberger Decommissioned Jul 28 1945 Sold Nov 30 1945 2 Battle Stars WW II
Decatur	DD	5	Bainbridge	Decom	1902-05-19 00:00:00.000	1919-06-20 00:00:00.000		William R. Trigg co.	Richmond	VA		2nd Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv WW I - Decommis… 2nd Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv WW I - Decommissioned Jun 20 1919 Sold Jan 3 1920
Decatur	DDG	73	Arleigh Burke	Active	1998-08-29 00:00:00.000			Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME	San Diego	5th Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv
Decatur	DD	936	Forrest Sherman		1956-12-07 00:00:00.000			Bethlehem Steel Co.	Quincy	MA		4th Decatur Named for Stephen Decatur, qv
Decisive	WMEC	629	Reliance	Active							Pascagoula MS
Decker	DE	47	Evarts	Transferred	1943-05-03 00:00:00.000	1948-02-07 00:00:00.000		Philadelphia Navy Yard	Philadelphia	PA		ex BDE 47 Classified DE-47 before commissioning Named for … ex BDE 47 Classified DE-47 before commissioning Named for LTJG Ernest E. Decker, qv WW II LT H. S. Cody Leased to Republic of China Aug 28 1945 Permanently transferred to Taiwan Feb 7 1948 Renamed Taiping. Sunk by Communist Chinese gunboats Nov 14 1954 1 Battle Star WW II
Decoy	Sch			Sold	1822-12-27 00:00:00.000							Ex Zodiac Purchased by Navy Dec 27 1822 1823, West Indies … Ex Zodiac Purchased by Navy Dec 27 1822 1823, West Indies "Mosquito Fleet" Store ship 1825. CaribbeanSold Jan 1826
Deede	DE	263	Evarts	Decom	1943-07-29 00:00:00.000	1946-01-09 00:00:00.000		Boston Navy Yard	Boston	MA		WW II Jul-Aug 1944, Invasion of Marianas Oct 1944, Invasio… WW II Jul-Aug 1944, Invasion of Marianas Oct 1944, Invasion of Peleliu, Palaus Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima Decommissioned Jan 9 1946 Sold Jun 12 1947 6 Battle Stars WW II
Deer	SwStr			Renamed				Jones, Quiggin & Co.	Liverpool	EN		Built 1864 for Confederate Navy Civil War Blockade runner … Built 1864 for Confederate Navy Civil War Blockade runner Captured near Charleston SC February 18 1865 Sold by prize court Renamed Palmyra in commercial service
Deer Lodge												Merchant ship WW II Mar-May 1942, Convoy PQ-15
Defender	Cargo				1945-11-09 00:00:00.000			North Carolina Shipbuilding Co.	Wilmington	NC		Maritime Commission Hull 2796 Merchant ship Original opera… Maritime Commission Hull 2796 Merchant ship Original operator, United States Lines
Defender	MCM	2	Avenger	Active	1989-09-30 00:00:00.000			Marinette Marine Corp.	Marinette	WI	Ingleside
Defense	AM	317	Auk	Reclas	1944-01-10 00:00:00.000	1955-02-07 00:00:00.000		General Engineering & Drydock Co.	Alameda	CA		ex HMS Amity, BAM-4 WW II Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima … ex HMS Amity, BAM-4 WW II Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima Apr-May 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa operations Decommissioned May 31 1946 Recommissioned Feb 16 1952 Korean War Reclassified MSF-317, qv, Feb 7 1955 2 Battle Stars WW I 2 Battle Stars Korean War

Background and Sources Collection notes, historical context, and related resources

Ships

Purpose

The Ships table is the most comprehensive and nearly complete of the tables in this site. It includes tens of thousands of different vessels. It is primarily, but not exclusively, Navy ships, that have helped make American history.

Fewer than half of the vessels in the table are named. Most of the others are identified only by a number but one that is unique to that vessel (called hull numbers by the Navy). The most famous of the latter is PT-109, John Kennedy’s PT boat that was sunk in World War II. Another famous group is the “LSTs”, the Landing Ships-Tank of World War II fame. (Some crew members who served on these big, ungainly vessels said that LST stood for Large Slow Target.) Following World War II, the Navy started giving the LSTs names, but those in the war were identified only by their hull numbers.

DANFS

The most authoritative and most common source of information about the Navy’s commissioned and named ships, plus the LSTs, is the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS). This series of eight books was published by the Navy and was not available through commercial book stores. The books are now out of print, but are available through the used book market. Much if not all of their content is now also available online at the Naval History and Heritage Command’s DANFS site.

Many thousands of watercraft had non-unique numbers, or semi-unique numbers, the latter including landing craft that carried the number of the transport that carried them plus a number of their own (such as PA-91-15). I have not tried to include these latter craft in this project.

The World War II Commercial Fleet

The Navy in World War II utilized many commercial vessels, even in the dangerous landing operations, the most famous being the Liberty Ships, which were mostly freighters, and their larger replacements, the Victory Ships. These and other commercial vessels from that war are included in the table. The U.S. built thousands of these ships and other commercial type ships during and shortly after World War II. Lists of the various types of commercial design ships built for the war, and separate lists of what ships were built by each shipyard, are at the Maritime Commission site.

Some of these were turned over to the Navy to operate, but most were operated by commercial shipping companies, even in battle and particularly in dangerous convoys crossing the Atlantic.

The liberty ships were named for people, and a book has been published that identifies who these people were. It is Liberty Ships, the People Behind the Names, compiled by Capt. Robert Deschamps and published in 1999. It is probably available online.

The Army’s Ships

The Army has also used thousands of ships and other watercraft over the years, especially in the Civil War and World War II. Major sources of information about these vessels are:

The Army’s Navy Series Volume I, Marine Transportation in War. The U.S. Army Experience 1775-1860, by Charles Dana Gibson and E. Kay Gibson.

The Army’s Navy Series Volume II, Assault and Logistics Union Army Coastal and River Operations 1861-1866, by Charles Dana Gibson and E. Kay Gibson.

U.S. Army Ships and Watercraft of World War II, by David H. Grover.

Smaller Vessels

Many books and web sites have been published about the tens of thousands of smaller vessels that the Navy used during World War II. I have found several of them and am sure there are many more that I’m not aware of.

Two fine examples are:

Ten Thousand Men and One Hundred Thirty “Mighty Midget” Ships–The U.S.S. LCS(L)s in World War II, by Raymond A. Baumler. This is about the Landing Ship Support (Large) vessels. This book was privately published and printed in 1991 by PIP Printing, Rockville MD.

At Close Quarters, PT Boats in the United States Navy, by Robert J. Bulkley, Jr. This book has extensive information about the history of each PT-Boat, many of the men who served on them, and their organizations. This book was first printed in 1962 for the Navy by the Government Printing Office, and has been reprinted by the Naval Institute Press.