Most historically significant naval vessel...?

[Lufbery]

Which naval vessel in American history, in your opinion, is the most significant from a historical perspective? Which one, but most importantly, why?

Now, I’m taking “naval vessel” to mean “ship,” and not “military ship.” So:

Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed – the three vessels who brought the first settlers to Jamestown, Virginia, which was to become the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

So I’m arguing that those three ships helped make American history possible. [:)]

For the record, the three ships mentioned above landed on May 14, 1607. The Mayflower landed in Plymoth, Mass. in 1620.

If it has to be a U.S. military ship, then there are just too many to choose from. I like Enterprise (CV-6), but I also like the suggestion of ballistic missile submarines. I don’t think it is too early to assess their significance. Without them, I suspect the Cold War would have been a lot hotter.

Regards,

[EdGrune]

I think the USS Oberon was pretty significant. If it hadn’t survived WWII, I might not be here.

[subfixer]

Here are some ships that haven’t been considered.

USRC (Revenue Cutter) SCAMMEL, her first Captain was Hopley Yeaton - the first Commissioned Officer of the United States. All of the Revolutionary naval officers were technically in the Continental Navy.

USRC HARRIET LANE credited with firing the first naval shot of the Civil War.

USRC NAUGATUCK, also known as E. A. STEVENS, was a gun battery that could partially submerge for protection. She took part in the battle between USS MONITOR and CSS VIRGINIA.

USRC RUSH, seal poachers would often “Come early and avoid the Rush.”

USRC HUDSON a 95’ steam tug noted for towing the disabled USS WINSLOW out of harms way in Cuba during the Spanish American War.

CGCs EASTWIND and SOUTHWIND captured the Nazi weather and supply vessel EXTERNSTEINE off the coast of Greenland after a brief fire-fight on October 14, 1944. There were no casualties. EXTERNSTEINE was the only enemy surface vessel captured at sea by U.S. naval forces during the war.

USCGCs STORIS, SPAR, & BRAMBLE worked their way up around Alaska and Canada in 1957. SPAR & BRAMBLE continued to the east coast; STORIS returned to west to Alaska. SPAR later became the first US Vessel to circumnavigate North America.

USCGC POLAR SEA became the first US surface vessel to reach the North Pole on August 22, 1994.

Oh boy, here we go! The dadburn Coasties are weaseling their way into it now. The subject doesn’t include vessels that, if sunk, the crew can wade to shore and await rescue!

(Now to hunker down and prepare for the inevitable onslaught of return fire)

[Mikeym_us]

How about the original USS Enterprise which took part in the invasion of Tripoli and which had the original US Marines aboard.

[JMart]

How about the original USS Enterprise which took part in the invasion of Tripoli and which had the original US Marines aboard.

you know, if we just concentrate on the NAME and not just “one ship”, Enterprise wins hands down…

USS Enterprise (1799) 12-gun schooner / 14-gun brig - Tripoli invasion as stated above

USS Enterprise CV-6 - most decorated vessel of WW2 accounting for 911 enemy planes, 71 ships sunk, and damaged or destroyed 192 more.

USS Enterprise CVN-65 - first nuclear CV

total of 8 US ships have been named Enterprise (2 Continental Navy) but TEN ships have been named Enterprise by… the UFP (United Federation of Planets) in the Startrek world [(-D]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise

[CG_Bob]

Oh boy, here we go! The dadburn Coasties are weaseling their way into it now. The subject doesn’t include vessels that, if sunk, the crew can wade to shore and await rescue!

(Now to hunker down and prepare for the inevitable onslaught of return fire)

The US Navy never operates more than 7 miles from land. The Mariana Trench is just under 7 miles deep.[:D]

As for wading ashore when the ship sinks, we can eliminate the Swift Boats and PBR’s along with the MONITOR and VIRGINIA. [oX)]

[Zad]

Speaking as someone across this side of the Atlantic, can I offer the SS Patrick Henry? The first Liberty Ship, without which we would probably be speaking German over here.

[ps1scw]

Whatever ship is keeping your feet dry at the moment…

[telsono]

There are two ways to look at this, by historic event or engineering technology.

Fulton’s Clermont for providing a standard for steam propulsion.

Erickson’s USS Monitor which began the change in how armament was mounted.

The Baltimore Clippers made a change in ship design that evolved from fast privateers in the War of 1812 into the great clipper ships later in the 19th century that plied their wares over the seven seas.

Holland’s USS Nautilus a practical submarine

Mike T.

[bbrowniii]

Which naval vessel in American history, in your opinion, is the most significant from a historical perspective? Which one, but most importantly, why?

So I’m arguing that those three ships helped make American history possible. [:)]

Strictly speaking, those three ships made European American history possible. Some Native Americans might consider them signficant for far greater reasons…

[Anonymous]

Which naval vessel in American history, in your opinion, is the most significant from a historical perspective? Which one, but most importantly, why?

So I’m arguing that those three ships helped make American history possible. [:)]

Strictly speaking, those three ships made European American history possible. Some Native Americans might consider them signficant for far greater reasons…

Hmmmmm…careful where this is going…the political police might be watching…Anyway, history was changed; good or for the bad depends on your perspective…I. myself, don’t wake up every day loathing myself because of something that happened hundreds of years ago…

[Lufbery]

Which naval vessel in American history, in your opinion, is the most significant from a historical perspective? Which one, but most importantly, why?

So I’m arguing that those three ships helped make American history possible. [:)]

Strictly speaking, those three ships made European American history possible. Some Native Americans might consider them signficant for far greater reasons…

[:)] True enough, and well said.

Regards,

[JMart]

[quote user=“Manstein’s revenge”]
Hmmmmm…careful where this is going…the political police might be watching…Anyway, history was changed; good or for the bad depends on your perspective…I. myself, don’t wake up every day loathing myself because of something that happened hundreds of years ago…

I do loath (almost) every day the fact that I did not buy $2,000 worth of Microsoft shares in College, when a geek-friend told me about this “great new unknown company”. Would be worth 2-4 million dollars now (if left untouched and allowed to split/roll-over).

Imagine the size of the stash I could have. Heck, I could be my own Model Maniac [8-]

[Anonymous]

[quote user=“JMart”]

Hmmmmm…careful where this is going…the political police might be watching…Anyway, history was changed; good or for the bad depends on your perspective…I. myself, don’t wake up every day loathing myself because of something that happened hundreds of years ago…

I do loath (almost) every day the fact that I did not buy $2,000 worth of Microsoft shares in College, when a geek-friend told me about this “great new unknown company”. Would be worth 2-4 million dollars now (if left untouched and allowed to split/roll-over).

Imagine the size of the stash I could have. Heck, I could be my own Model Maniac [8-]

Oh, wow…is that a true story? In that case, I WOULD loathe myself—lol…

[lewbud]

How about SSN571 Nautilus? First operational nuclear attack sub and first to navigate under the polar ice cap.

[subfixer]

Oh boy, here we go! The dadburn Coasties are weaseling their way into it now. The subject doesn’t include vessels that, if sunk, the crew can wade to shore and await rescue!

(Now to hunker down and prepare for the inevitable onslaught of return fire)

The US Navy never operates more than 7 miles from land. The Mariana Trench is just under 7 miles deep.[:D]

As for wading ashore when the ship sinks, we can eliminate the Swift Boats and PBR’s along with the MONITOR and VIRGINIA. [oX)]

Ahhh! But the common word for both of these vessels is “boat” (PBR/Swift Boat) is it not? And be careful, those boats were armed.

[jrb53]

USS Reprisal - 16 guns (later 18), great account at DANFS Index of naval ships

This is the ship that carried Ben Franklin to France in '76. Ben Franklin was the guy who finally convinced the French to save the Colonists. People have a tencency to forget that Washington’s army fought with French muskets (Charleville Mod. 69), fired French gunpowder (or Dutch gunpowder bought with French gold at St. Eustatia) with French infantry beside them at Yorktown while the French fleet drove off the Brit rescue ships. The French addition also turned the conflict into a "World War " with the Brits having to cover the Carribean plus sending fleet and troops to India. Face facts fellows, Montreal would be the capital if Franklin hadn’t sweet-talked the French.

BTW, after the Reprisal dropped off Ben (this also being the first vessel of the Continental Navy in European waters), Captain Lambert Wickes refitted and cruised Bay of Biscay capturing several prizes, and in April of '77 led group of 3 ships (Reprisal, Lexington, Dolphin) around Ireland and through the Irsh Sea. There he captured 18 prizes (3 within sight of port) and returned to France. This all occured while the RANGER was still in New Hampshire being outfitted!

Sadly, few know of this ship. The media, then as now, has ultimate control over the construction of heroes.

Jack

[Anonymous]

USS Reprisal - 16 guns (later 18), great account at DANFS Index of naval ships

This is the ship that carried Ben Franklin to France in '76. Ben Franklin was the guy who finally convinced the French to save the Colonists. People have a tencency to forget that Washington’s army fought with French muskets (Charleville Mod. 69), fired French gunpowder (or Dutch gunpowder bought with French gold at St. Eustatia) with French infantry beside them at Yorktown while the French fleet drove off the Brit rescue ships. The French addition also turned the conflict into a "World War " with the Brits having to cover the Carribean plus sending fleet and troops to India. Face facts fellows, Montreal would be the capital if Franklin hadn’t sweet-talked the French.

BTW, after the Reprisal dropped off Ben (this also being the first vessel of the Continental Navy in European waters), Captain Lambert Wickes refitted and cruised Bay of Biscay capturing several prizes, and in April of '77 led group of 3 ships (Reprisal, Lexington, Dolphin) around Ireland and through the Irsh Sea. There he captured 18 prizes (3 within sight of port) and returned to France. This all occured while the RANGER was still in New Hampshire being outfitted!

Sadly, few know of this ship. The media, then as now, has ultimate control over the construction of heroes.

Jack

Wow…great nomination and convincing argument…I guess it goes w/o saying that there are no models of this ship…?

[Lufbery]

BTW, after the Reprisal dropped off Ben (this also being the first vessel of the Continental Navy in European waters), Captain Lambert Wickes refitted and cruised Bay of Biscay capturing several prizes, and in April of '77 led group of 3 ships (Reprisal, Lexington, Dolphin) around Ireland and through the Irsh Sea. There he captured 18 prizes (3 within sight of port) and returned to France. This all occured while the RANGER was still in New Hampshire being outfitted!

Sadly, few know of this ship. The media, then as now, has ultimate control over the construction of heroes.

Jack

Jack and others who are interested, check out the book, Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution by Robert Patton. There’s a lot of good information in there about privateers, the Continental Navy, Ben Franklin, Silas Deane, Nathaniel Greene, and a whole lot more.

Also, a good account of John Paul Jones and Ranger is on this web site: Ranger Barely Captures HMS Drake. [:)]

Regards,

[CG_Bob]

Ahhh! But the common word for both of these vessels is “boat” (PBR/Swift Boat) is it not? And be careful, those boats were armed.

Going back to the original posting: “Which naval vessel in American history” . A boat qualifies as a naval vessel - as in gunboat diplomacy. For the common population (and even some who serve in the maritime industries/services) the terms boat and ship are the same thing. You can’t use size of the vessel as a guide, the PAUL R. TREGURTHA is a 1013 foot ore boat and is larger than most ships in the USN.