USS United States

Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS "United States" in honor of that nation, but only one of them was launched, and it became part of the Confederate Navy.

*The first USS|United States|1797|2 was a sailing frigate that saw action during the War of 1812 and was later decommissioned by the U.S. Navy at Norfolk and in ordinary when commissioned by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, thus becoming the "Confederate States' Ship "United States", yet keeping her undefeated status intact.
*The second USS|United States|CC-6, a "Lexington"-class battle cruiser, was canceled and scrapped when the vessel was only 12.1 percent complete.
*The third USS|United States|CVA-58 was to be an aircraft carrier of radically new design, but was canceled five days after her keel was laid down, by then President Harry S. Truman.
*CVN-75 was laid down as the fourth "United States", but was renamed USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75|2 during construction. Following this turn of event, an unofficial joke in the US Navy ranks has it that President Truman has twice killed the aircraft carrier USS United States.

See also the ocean liner SS "United States".