LHA-6 Will be USS America

This crossed the DoD wires, but the link was taken down. We will update link when it is available again.

The Navy's newest class of large-deck amphibious assault ship, LHA 6, will bear the name USS America, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced while speaking at the USS America Carrier Veterans Association reunion in Jacksonville, Fla.

This ship will inherit a proud tradition, explained Winter. From the American Revolution through the first Gulf War, three warships have sailed with the name America...

LHA 6 will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name America. The first America, a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, was the first built for use by the Continental Navy. However, before having a chance to serve the fledgling U.S. Navy, the ship was presented as a gift to the king of France to show appreciation for his country's service to the new nation. The second USS America (ID-3006) was later the name given to a troop transport used during World War I. The third was a Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier (CV 66) in commission from 1965 to 1996. Among other notable accomplishments, the carrier America made three deployments to Vietnam and launched air strikes on Iraq during the opening days of Operation Desert Storm.

When it comes to names of Aircraft carriers, which is what the LHA-6 class essentially is, the Navy record since 1975 has been less than impressive. In this case, we like it.

If the US Navy was to maintain 12 aircraft carriers in the 21st century, we would prefer the following 12 names.

Enterprise
Hornet
Yorktown
Saratoga
Midway
Constellation
Ranger
Intrepid
Kitty Hawk
Essex
Wasp
Oriskany

Name frigates after Presidents, assuming we ever build any again.