USS Kentucky

• Two Ships Named USS Kentucky: The name "USS Kentucky" has been assigned to two different U.S. Navy ships: BB-6, a pre-dreadnought battleship, and SSBN-737, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. • USS Kentucky (BB-6) Commissioned in 1900: The first USS Kentucky (BB-6) was commissioned on 15 May 1900 and served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet and later in the Asiatic Fleet. • Great White Fleet Participant: USS Kentucky (BB-6) participated in the historic voyage of the "Great White Fleet," a global demonstration of American naval power between 1907 and 1909. • World War I Service: During World War I, USS Kentucky (BB-6) served as a training ship for gunnery and engineering personnel, and later helped transport American troops back from Europe after the war. • USS Kentucky (BB-66) Never Completed: A second battleship, USS Kentucky (BB-66), a planned Iowa-class ship, was laid down during World War II but never completed due to changing naval priorities and the war's end. • BB-66's Unique Fate: Although never completed, parts of BB-66 were used to repair other Iowa-class battleships, including the bow for the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) after a collision. • USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) Commissioned in 1991: The second active USS Kentucky is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, commissioned on 13 July 1991. • Strategic Deterrence Mission: SSBN-737 plays a critical role in America's strategic nuclear deterrence, carrying Trident II D5 ballistic missiles. • Blue and Gold Crews: Like other Ohio-class submarines, USS Kentucky operates with two alternating crews ("Blue" and "Gold") to maximize deployment time. • 2011 Collision Incident: In October 2011, USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) was involved in a minor underwater collision with a support vessel off the coast of Washington state, but suffered only minor damage.