USN

USS Calhoun County (LST-519) was a tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down in September 1943 and launched in January 1944, she participated in pivotal operations in the European Theater, including the Normandy invasion. After the war, she was redesignated and served in various logistical and support roles, including the disposal of radioactive waste during the early Cold War. The ship was eventually decommissioned in 1963 and subsequently sunk as a target.

USS **California** (BB-44) was a Tennessee-class battleship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1921. Serving as the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, she was moored at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, where she was heavily damaged and sank in shallow water. After extensive salvage and modernization, California returned to service in 1944, participating in major Pacific campaigns including Saipan, Guam, Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa, providing vital naval gunfire support. She earned seven battle stars during World War II before being decommissioned in 1947 and ultimately scrapped in 1959.

The USS Canopus Mardet (Marine Detachment) was the contingent of United States Marine Corps personnel assigned to the USS Canopus, a submarine tender that served the U.S. Navy during the Cold War era. The Marine Detachment was responsible for providing shipboard security, ceremonial duties, and assisting in the protection of nuclear weapons and sensitive materials aboard the vessel. Marines aboard the Canopus participated in various deployments, supporting submarine operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The detachment was an integral part of the ship’s complement until the gradual phase-out of Marine Detachments from naval vessels in the late 20th century.

USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier commissioned by the United States Navy in 1944. She played a vital support role in World War II, providing air cover and transporting aircraft and personnel in the Pacific Theater. The carrier participated in major operations such as the Battle of Okinawa, where her aircraft conducted anti-submarine patrols and ground support missions. After the war, Cape Esperance assisted in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating American servicemen, before being decommissioned in 1946.

USS Capodanno (DE-1093) was a Knox-class frigate of the United States Navy, named in honor of Lieutenant Vincent R. Capodanno, a Navy chaplain and Medal of Honor recipient during the Vietnam War. Commissioned on 17 November 1973, Capodanno served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, conducting anti-submarine warfare operations, NATO exercises, and Mediterranean deployments. The ship participated in various Cold War missions, supporting U.S. interests and alliances across the globe. In 1993, after two decades of service, USS Capodanno was decommissioned and later transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Muavenet (F-250).

USS Carbonero (SS-337) was a Balao-class submarine commissioned by the United States Navy in February 1945, near the end of World War II. Although she arrived too late to see combat in the war, Carbonero participated in postwar operations, including the notable Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946. Throughout the Cold War, she served primarily as a training and research submarine, supporting the development of submarine tactics and new weaponry. After decades of distinguished service, USS Carbonero was decommissioned in 1970 and later sunk as a target in 1975.

USS CARDINAL (MHC-60) was an Osprey-class coastal mine hunter of the United States Navy, commissioned on October 18, 1997. Designed for locating, classifying, and neutralizing moored and bottom mines in littoral waters, CARDINAL was equipped with advanced sonar and remotely operated vehicles. The vessel served primarily in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, contributing to mine countermeasure operations and joint exercises with allied navies. CARDINAL was decommissioned on January 7, 2007, and subsequently transferred to the Egyptian Navy as part of military assistance programs.

The USS *Catskill* (MCS-1) was originally laid down as a tank landing ship (LSV-1) during World War II and later converted to a minelayer. Commissioned in 1944, she served in the Pacific Theater, supporting amphibious operations and post-war occupation duties. After World War II, the ship was reclassified multiple times, eventually becoming the Navy's first modern minelayer (MCS-1) in the 1960s. The *Catskill* provided critical mine warfare support during the Vietnam War before being decommissioned in 1970.

USS Champion (MCM-4) is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1991. Designed for the detection, classification, and neutralization of moored and bottom naval mines, she has played a vital role in ensuring safe passage for allied vessels in potentially mined waters. Throughout her service, Champion participated in numerous multinational exercises and operations, including deployments in the Persian Gulf during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Known for her advanced mine-hunting capabilities and wooden hull construction, USS Champion exemplified the U.S. Navy’s commitment to maritime security and mine warfare until her decommissioning in 2020.