The USS Leyte Gulf embarked on its final deployment in early 2024. Commissioned in 1987, this Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser is one of the oldest active ships in the U.S. Navy with almost four decades of service. Named after the critical battle of World War II, the USS Leyte Gulf is armed with a variety of weapons, including two Seahawk helicopters and an arsenal of guided missiles.
Throughout its long career, the USS Leyte Gulf has played a vital role in protecting shipping lanes and even participated in the Desert Storm operation. Most recently, its crew captured a semi-submersible drug-trafficking vessel. (These are the 19 ships and submarines of the U.S. Navy.)
This impressive ship ends its career with a well-deserved retirement later this year, leaving behind a proud legacy. Ships like the USS Leyte Gulf are why the U.S. Navy is one of the largest and most powerful maritime forces in the world, with a fleet of over 240 ships and submarines supported by more than 335,000 active personnel. (This country has the most military submarines.)
While the U.S. Navy continuously adds to and strengthens its fleet with new vessels, much of its power comes from older ships like the USS Leyte Gulf. In fact, the average hull age of U.S. ships is 24 years, with some that are much older.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Naval Vessel Register directory of commissioned vessels in the U.S. to identify America’s oldest ships and submarines and cross-referenced this with data from the World Directory of Modern Military Warships regarding the class or type of each warship. We focused on commissioned ships and submarines that have served for at least 35 years, identified the U.S. Navy’s oldest vessels, and ranked them by age.
Why We’re Covering This
Source: navalsurfaceforces / Flickr
The ships and submarines of the U.S. Navy represent a significant investment by the American government as well as the Navy’s commitment to maintaining a strong and capable fleet. Older active vessels demonstrate the quality and operational effectiveness of American ships. Their enduring presence in the fleet proves that age is not a weakness. Instead, it signifies a well-maintained and reliable ship.
Here is a look at the U.S. Navy’s oldest ships and submarines:
23. USS Tennessee
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Tennessee was commissioned on December 17, 1988. It is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
22. USS San Juan
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS San Jane was commissioned on August 6, 1988. It is a Los Angeles-class attack submarine.
21. USS Leyte Gulf
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The USS Leyte Gulf was commissioned on September 26, 1987. It is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser.
20. USS Key West
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Key West was commissioned on September 12, 1987. It is a Los Angeles-class attack submarine.
19. USS Helena
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Helena was commissioned on July 11, 1987. It is a Los Angeles-class attack submarine.
18. USS Antietam
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
The USS Antietam was commissioned on June 6, 1987. It is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser.
17. USS Theodore Roosevelt
Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
The USS Theodore Roosevelt was commissioned on October 25, 1986. It is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
16. USS Nevada
Source: Public Domain via the United States Navy / Wikimedia Commons
The USS Nevada was commissioned on August 16, 1986. It is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
15. USS Germantown
Source: Public Domain via the United States Navy / Wikimedia Commons
The USS Germantown was commissioned on February 8, 1986. It is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship.
14. USS Alaska
Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Public Domain / Flickr
The USS Alaska was commissioned on January 25, 1986. It is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
13. USS Alabama
Source: Public Domain via the United States Navy / Wikimedia Commons
The USS Alabama was commissioned on May 25, 1985. It is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
12. USS Henry M. Jackson
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Henry M. Jackson was commissioned on October 6, 1984. It is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
11. USS Georgia
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
The USS Georgia was commissioned on February 11, 1984. It is an Ohio-class guided missile submarine.
10. USS Florida
The USS Florida was commissioned on June 18, 1983. It is an Ohio-class guided missile submarine.
9. USS Michigan
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Michigan was commissioned on September 11, 1982. It is an Ohio-class guided missile submarine.
8. USS Carl Vinson
Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The USS Carl Vinson was commissioned on March 13, 1982. It is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
7. USS Ohio
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Ohio was commissioned on November 11, 1981. It is an Ohio-class guided missile submarine.
6. USS Frank Cable
Source: mscsealift / Flickr
The USS Frank Cable was commissioned on October 29, 1979. It is an Emory S. Land-class submarine tender.
5. USS Emory S. Land
Source: Public Domain via US Navy / Wikimedia Commons
The USS Emory S. Land was commissioned on July 7, 1979. It is an Emory S. Land-class submarine tender.
4. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
Source: usnavy / Flickr
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was commissioned on October 18, 1977. It is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
3. USS Nimitz
Source: clemensv / Flickr
The USS Nimitz was commissioned on May 3, 1975. It is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
2. USS Mount Whitney
Source: Public Domain via the United States Navy / Wikimedia Commons
The USS Mount Whitney was commissioned on January 16, 1971. It is a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship.
1. USS Blue Ridge
Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The USS Blue Ridge was commissioned on November 14, 1970. It is a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship.
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)
Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.
Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.
Click here now to get started.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
