Wednesday, April 06, 2016

So, When Did We Begin Naming Ships After Live Politicians?

Not too sure when we began that trend, but lately we've had quite the run of live Democrat politicians of uncertain and dubious achievement getting the nod. We've had the USS Gabrielle Giffords, a littoral combat ship named after the still living politician. Given the name it should be the first of its class to go to sea without any guns.

Now we have the:

USS Carl M. Lenin.

The Detroit News: Navy plans to name destroyer after ex-Sen. Carl Levin

Sorry, that's USS Carl M. Levin, but you can understand the confusion based on his lifetime of political leanings.

It's not reported if this Arleigh Burke class destroyer named after Levin will be modified to set sail without any guns given Senator Levin's continual and noted anti-gun stance.

Personally being a traditionalist I'd rather ships of these classes went back to being named after places in the case of the littoral combat ships, or preferably military heroes or even past leaders that actually achieved things rather than some still-living politicians whose honest biographies have yet to be written.

6 comments:

Murphy's Law said...

It will sail in a squadron with the USS Gabby Giffords and the USS John Mutha (ABSCAM Class).

This is just Barack Obama, a non-veteran who hates the military, poking our service members past and present in the eye just because he can.

OldAFSarge said...

Naming a destroyer after anyone who hasn't won (at least) the Navy Cross is anathema to me.

Comrade Misfit said...

USS Carl Vinson was the first.

As for the USS Giffords, is somebody going to put a 20mm shell through its CPU?

(Too soon?)

Comrade Misfit said...

Sarge, the LCS is nowhere near close to being a destroyer. It's more of a fast-moving target. CDR Slamander's blog has a lot to say about the Little Crappy Ships.

Murphy's Law said...

LOL at Misfit...not too soon at all.

JayNola said...

Funny you should ask. They just put out this paper on just how often it happens. It was a thing pre War of 1812.
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22478.pdf