USS KEARSARGE

• Multiple Ships Named USS Kearsarge: There have been several ships named USS Kearsarge in the U.S. Navy, honoring Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire. The most famous is the Civil War-era sloop-of-war. • Civil War Fame: The first USS Kearsarge (1861) became famous for defeating the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France, in 1864. • The Battle with Alabama: The 1864 battle between Kearsarge and Alabama was watched by thousands from the French coast and became an international news sensation. • Armor Plating: The original Kearsarge was secretly fitted with chain cable armor along her hull, which helped protect her during the battle with Alabama. • Namesake Aircraft Carrier: USS Kearsarge (CV-33) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1946 and served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. • Space Capsule Recovery: The aircraft carrier Kearsarge (CVS-33) recovered two Mercury space capsules: Sigma 7 in 1962 and Faith 7 in 1963, making her a part of space exploration history. • Modern Amphibious Assault Ship: The current USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), commissioned in 1993, is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship capable of deploying Marines, helicopters, and landing craft. • Humanitarian Missions: LHD-3 has participated in numerous humanitarian missions, including Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005 and Operation Continuing Promise in the Americas. • Presidential Connection: President Abraham Lincoln personally wrote a letter of thanks to the crew of the original Kearsarge after their victory against Alabama. • Art and Legacy: Models and paintings of USS Kearsarge are displayed in museums worldwide, and her legacy has inspired poems, artworks, and even a Civil War-era folk song.