Image: By U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Ace Rheaume , via Wikimedia Commons
About This Quiz
Can you tell a ship in the Nimitz class from one classified as a Ticonderoga class? Think you know the difference between America and Avenger ships, or vessels belonging to the Wasp, Freedom or Cyclone classes? If you consider yourself an expert at all things military, take our quiz to prove your Naval vessel IQ!
The U.S. military is all about order, and the ships used in battle are no exception. These ships are categorized by type -- aircraft carrier, destroyer or battleship, for example -- but also by class. Class focuses on the design of the ship, rather than its function, and vessels within the same class are often referred to as sister ships.ÂÂ
Interestingly enough, the names of the ship classes typically come from the first ship commissioned based on that design. That means Nimitz-class ships take their designation from the USS Nimitz, which was commissioned in 1975. In more recent years, Navy policy requires that the name for a class of ships actually comes from the first ship authorized by Congress within that class, not necessarily the first to be built or commissioned.
Think you can choose the correct class for each of these military vessels? Take out quiz to find out!
By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher Stoltz, via Wikimedia Commons
Do you know which class this ship belongs to?
Blue Ridge
Nimitz
Commissioned in 1977, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that belongs to the Nimitz class of ships. The 1,092-foot long vessel first saw action off the coast of Israel, and also served in the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Wasp
Ticonderoga
By USN, via Wikimedia Commons
Pick the class that this ship belongs to.
Blue Ridge
Wasp
Nicknamed the Iron Gator, the USS Essex belongs to the Wasp class of vessels. Named for Essex County, Massachusetts, the USS Essex can transport a full Marine Expeditionary Unit into or out of combat. During an early voyage, the vessel served as support as the United Nations withdrew its operations from Somalia.
Zumwalt
Arleigh Burke
Public Domain Via Wiki Commons
Which class does this military ship belong to?
Avenger
Nimitz
Blue Ridge
The namesake of the Blue Ridge class of command ships, the USS Blue Ridge was launched in 1969 and named for the iconic Blue Ridge Mountain range. Designed for command and intelligence operations, this vessel is the oldest Navy warship still being deployed as of 2018.
Ticonderoga
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Naval History & Heritage Command, via Wikimedia Commons
Can you identify the correct class for this ship?
Gerald P. Ford
America
Zumwalt
San Antonio
The USS New Orleans belongs to the San Antonio class -- a designation used to describe amphibious transport docks, or landing platforms. Launched in 2004, the New Orleans can carry 700 Marines, as well as a pair of Osprey aircraft.
By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of AmericaMC2(SW/AW) Andrew B. Church/U.S. Navy (USS Germantown at sunset.), via Wikimedia Commons
Can you match this ship to the correct class?
Amercia
Whidbey Island
Named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania, the USS Germantown was the second ship launched as part of the Whidbey Island class. Launched in 1984, the vessel is designed primarily to transport and launch assault vehicles at sea.
Ticonderoga
Freedom
By Official U.S. Photograph, via Wikimedia Commons
Choose the right class for the ship you see here.
Arleigh Burke
Avenger
Nimitz
The USS Carl Vinson is part of the Nimitz class of aircraft carriers, also known as supercarriers. Launched in 1980, the vessel is named for Georgia U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson. You may have heard of this ship because of its biggest claim to fame -- Osama bin Laden's remains were buried at sea from aboard its decks in 2011.
Zumwalt
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By U.S. Navy, via Wikimedia Commons
Do you know which class this ship falls within?
America
The USS America is the first ship in the American class. Launched in 2012, this amphibious assault ship measures 844 feet long, and is designed to carry Marines into battle at land or sea.
Zumwalt
Ticonderoga
Freedom
By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson (http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=81041) , via Wikimedia Commons
Match this ship to its class.
Freedom
Arleigh Burke
Independence
Harpers Ferry
The USS Carter Hall belongs to the Harper's Ferry class of ships. It's named for an estate in Virginia that served as a military headquarters during the Civil War. Commissioned in 1995, the vessel serves as a dock for amphibious assault vehicles, and can also be used for repair and maintenance at sea.
By Proctorg76 at English Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons
Match the ship in this image to the right class.
Cyclone
Blue Ridge
Ticonderoga
Named for the Battle of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War, the USS Yorktown belongs to the Ticonderoga class of ships. It was commissioned in 1984, and named in commemoration of another USS Yorktown, which sank at the Battle of Midway in 1942.
America
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By March 22, 2015 (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1829195), via Wikimedia Commons
Which of these classes does the ship in the image belong to?
Cyclone
Nimitz
Part of the Nimitz class of aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt is nicknamed the Big Stick. It was commissioned in 1986, and became the first aircraft carrier built using the modular design common in modern shipbuilding.
Ticonderoga
Blue Ridge
By U.S. Navy, via Wikimedia Commons
Pick the class that the ship you see here belongs to.
Harpers Ferry
Avenger
America
Wasp
The USS Boxer is part of the Wasp class of amphibious assault vessels. Commissioned in 1995, the ship is named for the HMS Boxer -- a ship U.S. forces captured from the British during the War of 1812.
Wiki commons
Think you know the class this ship belongs to?
Harpers Ferry
Ticonderoga
San Antonio
Commissioned in 2009, the USS New York is part of the San Antonio class of transport dock vessels. It was built using a small amount of steel salvaged from the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in memory of the event.
Zumwalt
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Public Domain via Wiki Commons
Do you know the correct class for this ship?
Harpers Ferry
Named for the infamous WWII site, the USS Pearl Harbor belongs to the Harper's Ferry class of dock landing ships. Nicknamed the Black Pearl, the vessel is based on a modified Whidbey Island design, but has greater cargo space.
Nimitz
Arleigh Burke
Cyclone
By Official Navy Page from United States of AmericaMCC Michael Lewis/U.S. Navy (USS Fort McHenry arrives in Dublin, Ireland.), via Wikimedia Commons
Can you choose the right class based on the image you see?
Ticonderoga
Whidbey Island
The USS Fort McHenry is named for the battle that inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner" during the War of 1812. This Whidbey Island class ship was commissioned in 1987, and was assigned to assist during the Exxon Valdez oil disaster in 1989.
America
Independence
By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Patrick M. Bonafede, via Wikimedia Commons
Pick the proper class for this ship.
Nimitz
The USS Abraham Lincoln is part of the Nimitz class of aircraft carriers. It was commissioned in 1989, and ended up playing a major role in saving lives after the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines on its maiden voyage.
Blue Ridge
Avenger
Ticonderoga
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By USN, via Wikimedia Commons
Which class does this military ship belong to?
Wasp
The USS Wasp is the namesake of the Wasp class, and became the 10th U.S. military ship with this same name when it was commissioned in 1989. It is equipped with two massive aircraft elevators as well as an extensive medical facility that can accommodate up to 600 patients.
America
Arleigh Burke
Independence
By Petty Officer 1st Class Collin Turner (Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System), via Wikimedia Commons
Know the right class for the ship shown here?
Ticonderoga
Wasp
Freedom
Blue Ridge
The USS Mount Whitney belongs to the Blue Ridge class of command ships. It was commissioned in 1971 and named for the tallest peak in the continental U.S., which is located in the Sierra Nevada range in California.
By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Zalasky, via Wikimedia Commons
Match the ship in the image to its class.
Ticonderoga
Zumwalt
San Antonio
The USS Mesa Verde became the third ship in the Blue Ridge class when it was commissioned in 2007. Named for a natioanl park in Colorado, the Mesa Verde can carry 800 Marines.
America
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By U.S. Navy photo illustration/Released, via Wikimedia Commons
Can you guess the class this ship belongs to?
Cyclone
America
The USS Tripoli is named for the 1805 Battle of Derne, which took place during the Barbary War. Launched in 2017, this America class vessel is designed as an amphibious assault ship, and measures 884 feet long.
Arleigh Burke
Freedom
Public Domain via Wiki Commons
Think you can match this ship to its class?
Nimitz
The USS Ronald Reagan is a nuclear-powered supercarrier belonging to the Nimitz family of ships. It became the first vessel named for a still-living former U.S. president when it was commissioned in 2003.
Zumwalt
Blue Ridge
San Antonio
By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Jane West (RELEASED) (http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=16335) , via Wikimedia Commons
Guess the class this ship belongs to.
Avenger
Cyclone
Harpers Ferry
Whidbey Island
Named for the famous national memorial in South Dakota, the USS Rushmore belongs to the Whidbey Island class of dock landing ships. Commissioned in 1991, it's used to transport and load vehicles and crew, and to perform dock-based repairs.
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By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of America (USS Arlington is commissioned.), via Wikimedia Commons
Match this ship to its class.
Blue Ridge
Zumwalt
San Antonio
Named for the city of Arlington, VA -- home of the Pentagon, the USS Arlington belongs to the San Antonio class of amphibious transport docking ships. It was built using a small amount of steel salvaged from the 2001 attack on the Pentagon.
Gerald P. Ford
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pick the class that this ship belongs to.
Harpers Ferry
Arleigh Burke
Nimitz
Wasp
The USS Makin Island belongs to the Wasp class of assault vessels. Named for the site of a 1942 raid on Japanese forces, the ship was commissioned in 2009. It was the first Naval ship built with a gas-powered propulsion system rather than one powered by steam.
By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James Vazquez , via Wikimedia Commons
What is the correct class for this military ship?
Blue Ridge
Wasp
Zumwalt
Arleigh Burke
The USS John S. McCain belongs to the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers. Commissioned in 1994, it made headlines for a 2017 collision near Singapore in which 10 crew members were killed.
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By US Navy, via Wikimedia Commons
Do you know which class this ship falls within?
Gerald P. Ford
Ticonderoga
Named for a 1775 Revolutionary War battle, the USS Bunker Hill is part of the Ticonderoga class of guided missile cruisers. It was commissioned in 1986, and became the first ship in its class equipped to fire Tomahawk missiles.
Arleigh Burke
Zumwalt
By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class John L. Beeman. via Wikimedia Commons
Think you know the class this ship belongs to?
Arleigh Burke
Harpers Ferry
Nimitz
The USS Harry S. Truman belongs to the Nimitz class of aircraft carriers. Commissioned in 1998, it's as tall as a 24-story building and contains four elevators large enough to transport aircraft between decks.
Zumwalt
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Can you match this ship to the correct class?
Harpers Ferry
The USS Oak Hill was named for the home of former President James Monroe. Part of the Harper's Ferry class of dock landing ships, it was commissioned in 1996.
Avenger
Gerald P. Ford
Freedom
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By Official Navy Page from United States of AmericaMC2 Rosalie Garcia/U.S. Navy (USS Fort Worth arrives in San Diego.), via Wikimedia Commons
Do you know which class this ship belongs to?
America
Arleigh Burke
Freedom
The USS Fort Worth is part as the Freedom class of ships -- a designation given to smaller combat ships designed for use near the coast. It was commissioned in 2012, and measures 387 feet long.
Ticonderoga
By Official Navy Page from United States of AmericaMC2 Ecklund/U.S. Navy (USS Iwo Jima underway in the Mediterranean.), via Wikimedia Commons
Can you identify the correct class for this ship?
Blue Ridge
Zumwalt
Cyclone
Wasp
Named for the infamous WWII battle, the USS Iwo Jima belongs to the Wasp class of assault vessels. It was commissioned in 2001 and carried around 2000 veterans -- many survivors of WWII -- on its maiden voyage.
By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of AmericaPetty Officer 1st Class Charles White/U.S. Navy, via Wikimedia Commons
Can you choose the right class based on the image you see?
Ticonderoga
Independence
The USS Gabrielle Giffords is part of the Independence class of ships -- littoral combat ships designed for use close to the shore. It became the 16th naval ship named for a woman when it was commissioned in 2017.
Arleigh Burke
America
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By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of America (USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002)) , via Wikimedia Commons
Which of these classes does the ship in the image belong to?
Freedom
Wasp
Zumwalt
The USS Lyndon B. Johnson is the third and final member of the Zumwalt class of destroyers. Named for the 36th president, it measures 600 feet long and has an 80-foot beam.
Cyclone
By United States Navy, photographer not specified , via Wikimedia Commons
Choose the right class for the ship you see here.
Avenger
The USS Devastator is part of the Avenger class of ships. Commissioned in 1990, this 224-foot vessel is designed to disable mines along waterways.
Cyclone
Gerald P. Ford
Arleigh Burke
By U.S. Navy, via Wikimedia Commons
Pick the proper class for this ship.
Harpers Ferry
Zumwalt
Nimitz
Ticonderoga
Named for a site made famous during the Revolutionary War, the USS Valley Forge is classified as a member of the Ticonderoga class. Commissioned in 1986, it sank in 2006 during a practice exercise near Hawaii.
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By Official Navy Page from United States of AmericaMC1 Todd Stafford/U.S. Navy (USS Hurricane arrives at Renaissance Pier.) , via Wikimedia Commons
Know the right class for the ship shown here?
Avenger
Wasp
Cyclone
The USS Hurricane was the third member of the Cyclone class of coastal patrol boats to be authorized. The other members of this class have similar stormy names, including Monsoon, Typhoon, Squall and Tornado.
Freedom
By United States Navy, Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Patterson II, via Wikimedia Commons
Match the ship in this image to the right class.
Freedom
Avenger
The USS Gladiator is part of the Avenger class of ships. Commissioned in 1993, it is designed to locate and disable mines planted along critical waterways.
Blue Ridge
Cyclone
By U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt, via Wikimedia Commons
Do you know the correct class for this ship?
Gerald P. Ford
The USS Gerald P. Ford is the namesake of the Gerald P. Ford class of aircraft carriers. Commissioned in 2017, this class is designed to replace the Nimitz class over time, and offers greater efficiency and more advanced technology than Nimitz vessels.
Zumwalt
Arleigh Burke
Freedom
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By User:Crassic , from Wikimedia Commons
What is the correct class for this military ship?
Gerald P. Ford
America
Wasp
The USS Bonhomme Richard is part of the Wasp class of amphibious assault vessels. It is named for Ben Franklin -- writer of "Poor RIchard's Almanac," which is where the Richard part comes in -- and was commissioned in 1998.
Ticonderoga
By Official Navy Page from United States of AmericaMC3 Shawnte Bryan/U.S. Navy (USS Green Bay transits through the Pacific Ocean.), via Wikimedia Commons
Pick the class that the ship you see here belongs to.
Harpers Ferry
Wasp
San Antonio
The USS Green Bay belongs to the San Antonio class of amphibious transport docking vessels. Commissioned in 2009, it's named for Green Bay, Wisconsin. The flight deck of the ship is called Lambeau Field, which comes from the stadium where the iconic Green Bay Packers play.
Blue Ridge
By Official Navy Page from United States of AmericaMass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Aaron Chase/U.S. Navy (A VBSS team departs USS Winston S. Churchill.), via Wikimedia Commons
Think you can match this ship to its class?
San Antonio
Wasp
Gerald P. Ford
Arleigh Burke
The USS Winston S. Churchill belongs to the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers. Named for the popular British Prime Minister during WWII, this vessel was commissioned in 2001, and designed to carry both torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles.
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By U.S. Navy, via Wikimedia Commons
Match the ship in the image to its class.
Nimitz
Freedom
Named for the city of St. Louis, Missouri, the USS St. Louis belongs to the Freedom class of littoral combat ships. It measures 378 feet long with a 58-foot beam, and is intended for use near the shore or coastline.
Avenger
Zumwalt
You Got:
/40
By U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Ace Rheaume , via Wikimedia Commons