USS Kentucky

The USS Kentucky refers to two notable ships in United States Navy history. The first, USS Kentucky (BB-6), was an Illinois-class battleship commissioned in 1900, serving as the flagship during the Great White Fleet's world cruise and participating in early 20th-century exercises before decommissioning in 1920. The second, USS Kentucky (BB-66), was planned as an Iowa-class battleship, but construction was halted during World War II and she was never completed, ultimately being scrapped in 1958. Both ships reflect significant periods in U.S. naval development, from pre-World War I power projection to the rapid technological changes of World War II. The name USS Kentucky honors the 15th state and symbolizes the Navy's enduring tradition of state-named capital ships.