# What are the different classes of US warships? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434 "2007-01-10T18:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/1 "2007-01-10T18:07:48Z")
Reading today’s paper regarding the airstrikes in Somalia, I noticed the USS Eisenhower is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. That got me to thinking about what are the active classes of ships, what differentiates them, and how/why were the classes named as such? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/2 "2007-01-10T18:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=duffer] Reading today’s paper regarding the airstrikes in Somalia, I noticed the USS Eisenhower is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. That got me to thinking about what are the active classes of ships, what differentiates them, and how/why were the classes named as such? [/QUOTE] [“Nimitz class”](http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/nimitz/) means a series of ships all following the same general design with the USS Nimitz being the first of that design to be built. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/3 "2007-01-10T18:43:08Z")
By the same general design I’m referring the the hull size and shape. Details of the superstructure on the island and the equipment can vary as improvements are developed over the years. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/4 "2007-01-10T19:06:43Z")
[U.S. Navy ship classes](http://www.navy.mil/navydata/our_ships.asp) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/5 "2007-01-10T20:38:47Z")
What **silenus’** post showed are ships of the various types. Within each type are several classes each class having a different design from the other classes. For example, here is a[list of cruisers of WWII.](http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/ships-ca.html) Note that within a class, all ships have the same displacement, length, beam, power plant, armament, etc. The class is named after the first ship whose keel is laid down. In the _Portland_ class, for example, although the _Portland_ was begun first, the _Indianapolis_ was completed first but it’s still the _Portland_ class. Here is a [discussion of _Essex_ class aircraft carriers.](http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usnshtp/cv/cv9cl.htm) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/6 "2007-01-10T20:44:24Z")
Click through the types. Later pages break them down by class. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-different-classes-of-us-warships/387434/7 "2007-01-10T20:56:12Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Click through the types. Later pages break them down by class. [/QUOTE] OK. But you must realize that some of us, like me, don’t have the capacity to do that. 🙂