Most decorated US Naval vessels of World War II

Last updated

This list catalogs the most honored US Naval vessels of the Second World War. It is placed in descending order of earned Battle Stars; descending accorded unit recognitions; descending ship size by type; and ascending hull number. It contains only vessels that earned fifteen or more Battle Stars for World War II service.

Honors awarded that are not listed may include:

VesselWorld War II Service Awards
USS Enterprise (CV-6) in Puget Sound, September 1945.jpg

USS Enterprise (CV-6)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 20 Battle Stars

United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation [1]

USS San Diego (CL-53) underway on 8 March 1944 (NH 97825).jpg

USS San Diego (CL-53)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 18 Battle Stars [2] [3] though the Naval Historical center only lists 15 battle stars. [4]
USS San Francisco (CA-38) enters San Francisco Bay, December 1942.jpg

USS San Francisco (CA-38)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 17 Battle Stars

United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation [5]

USS O'Bannon (DDE-450) off the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1951.jpg

USS O'Bannon (DD-450)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 17 Battle Stars

United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation [6]

USS New Orleans (CA-32) underway in Puget Sound on 30 July 1943 (NH 94847).jpg

USS New Orleans (CA-32)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 17 Battle Stars, [7] though the Naval Historical center lists 16 battle stars. [8]
USS Minneapolis (CA-36) underway on 9 November 1943 (80-G-276720).jpg

USS Minneapolis (CA-36)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 17 Battle Stars [9]
USS Maury (DD-401) as completed, in mid-1938 (NH 42150).jpg

USS Maury (DD-401)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 16 Battle Stars

United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation [10]

USS Nicholas (DD-449) running trials in May 1942 (NH 49969).jpg

USS Nicholas (DD-449)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 16 Battle Stars

United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation [11]

USS Buchanan 0548401.jpg

USS Buchanan (DD-484)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 16 Battle Stars

United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation [12]

USS Portland (CA-33) at Pearl Harbor 1942.jpg

USS Portland (CA-33)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 16 Battle Stars

Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation [13]

USSRussellDD414.jpg

USS Russell (DD-414)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 16 Battle Stars [14]
USS Saufley (DDE-465) underway, circa in the 1950s.jpg

USS Saufley (DD-465)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 16 Battle Stars [15]
Usstaylor dd468 dht.jpg

USS Taylor (DD-468)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 15 Battle Stars (Naval History and Heritage Command only lists 14 Battle stars for USS Taylor. [16] )

Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation [17]

USS Thresher (SS-200).jpg

USS Thresher (SS-200)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 15 Battle Stars

Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation [18]

USS North Carolina (BB-55) underway at sea on 3 June 1946 (NH 97267).jpg

USS North Carolina (BB-55)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 15 Battle Stars [19]
USS Morris (DD-417) underway at sea on 6 December 1943 (NH 107277).jpg

USS Morris (DD-417)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 15 Battle Stars [20]
USS Fletcher (DD-445) underway at sea, circa the 1960s (NH 68912).jpg

USS Fletcher (DD-445)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 15 Battle Stars [21]
USSNarwhalSS167.jpg

USS Narwhal (SS-167)

Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 15 Battle Stars [22]

References

  1. Yarnall, Paul. "USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6)" . Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  2. "San Diego LPD-22". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. The eighteen (18) gold stars pay tribute to the battle stars awarded to light cruiser San Diego (CL-53) for her service during World War II
  3. "USS San Diego (CL-53) Memorial". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  4. "San Diego II". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  5. Wiper, Steve (2000). New Orleans Class Cruisers: Warship Pictorial #7. Tucson, Az: Classic Warships Publishing. p. 58. ISBN   0-9654829-6-0.
  6. "USS O'Bannon DD-540". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  7. Brown, Herbert C. (2001). Hell at Tassafaronga . Kearney, NE: Morris Publishing. pp.  191. ISBN   0-9700721-4-7.
  8. "New Orleans II". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  9. "Minneapolis II". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  10. "USS Maury DD-401". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  11. "USS Nicholas DD-449". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  12. "USS Buchanan DD-484". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  13. Stables, Joe. "The Portland's History". Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  14. "USS Russell DD-414". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  15. "Fletcher class". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  16. "Taylor I". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 28 June 2019.
  17. "USS Taylor DD-468". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  18. "USS Thresher SS200 History" . Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  19. "History". North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  20. "USS Morris DD-417". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  21. "USS Fletcher DD-445". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  22. "USS Narwhal SS-167 Kill Record" . Retrieved 4 May 2012.