The name of a ship has nothing to do with its armament, its crew complement, the number of aircraft or Marines it can carry, its speed, or any other tangible, number-based operational factor. In some parts of our history we produced so many warships that names were little more than hull designators. So why do we care?
It may seem obvious to us, but we care because it gives the ship an identity, a soul behind the steel that belies more than just armament and maneuverability. It gives the ship a role model, an ideal, and a hometown. It gives her Sailors a sense of purpose and unity, and it gives the everyday Americans who read about her or maybe even visit her a sense of pride that this is their Navy, something they can relate to and something that represents them and their values around the world.
We have ship classes with proud naming traditions. Aircraft carriers, the embodiment of American naval power, continue to be named after presidents with the USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN-78) recent commissioning and the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) in construction now. Amphibious assault ships continue to be named after legendary Marine battles. New destroyers, for the most part, continue what is arguably the most patriotic naming convention—using naval heroes, including Medal of Honor recipients, as the basis for names. We will soon have another Enterprise, and some ships always will be named for those national political leaders who have supported the Navy in their careers.
These are excellent traditions, but as we continue to build more innovative platforms, we have the opportunity to start new ones that inspire as well as honor. So, where can we start? The Virginia-class submarines generally are named after states, as are the current Trident boats. The Navy has not announced a submarine in 20 years that was not named after a state, politician, or Hyman Rickover. And for the 20 years before that, the Navy named almost every submarine after a city—or Hyman Rickover. The naming of the new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN-826), the first ship named after the District of Columbia, suggests that we are in for another class of submarines named after cities and/or states (and that the current USS Columbia is in for either an identity crisis or an early decommissioning). But it could also present an opportunity to start something new, something…cool.
You need political support for a ship. That is an important and undeniable aspect of civilian control of the military. The name of the ship is an important part of gaining that political support. So, we could continue naming the new SSBNs after states, and with those plus 30-odd Virginias steaming around, you’d get most states represented. But what if we could find a naming convention that simultaneously honored specific parts of the country and evoked the American spirit of adventure and exploration?
What about national parks?
It’s never been done before for an entire class (the USS Mesa Verde [LPD-19] is the lone ship named for a park today). It’s not quite as romantic as the Royal Navy’s HMS Ocean or Victorious, but it’s quintessentially American and still identifiable with specific parts of our country. Think of just how cool it would be to walk down the pier and see the USS Yellowstone moored next to the USS Acadia, knowing that USS Shenandoah was out doing God’s work and USS Denali was almost home. Those names evoke an unconquerable spirit of adventure on par with what we should want our Navy to have. The USS Death Valley might not be the best choice for a ship with more firepower than most countries, but you get the point. The National Park Service’s motto is “Experience Your America.” Every American knows the most famous national parks. They should also be able to think of the Navy as part of “their” America, and having ship names that resonate with them is a great way to do it. And with 59 parks in 29 states and territories, we should be able to gain the political support to continue building those ships from the national leaders with vested interest in those parks. The possibilities aren’t endless, but they’re certainly enough for a class of 14 ships.
And there are other possibilities, too, for other ships to honor parts of the country and at the same time garner the appropriate political support. We could use state trees (White Oak, Elm, Dogwood, Maple), state birds (Robin, Cardinal, Oriole), or even state mammals (Black Bear, Panther, Grizzly, Bison). All of these evoke a trend with more spirit and adventure than continuing to name submarines after states.
Badlands. Everglades. Glacier. Grand Canyon. Haleakala. Sequoia. Yosemite. For many Americans, these names evoke feelings deeper than any state name. The National Park Service counted almost 331 million visitors to the parks in 2016—more people than live in the United States. National parks have been a part of our culture and our fabric as a society for well over a hundred years. For Americans, our parks represent the wild, untamed Earth that needs a sense of adventure and daring to pursue. For Sailors, the ocean depths represent the same thing. Naming new submarines after national parks won’t make them any quieter or allow their reactors to operate any longer, but it could inspire a new generation of Sailors to take pride in their ship, and connect a new generation of Americans to their Navy. It’s the little things that count, so why not give it a shot?
