USS Florida - Definition and Overview

At least seven United States Navy ships have borne the name Florida, in honor of the 27th state:

• The first Florida was a sloop that served on survey duty between 1824 and 1831. Her final cruise, between 1 June 1830 and 31 May 1831, was under the command of Lieutenant T. R. Gedney.

• The second Florida was a side-wheel steamer purchased in 1861 and sold after 1867.

• The third Florida was originally the screw frigate Wampanoag renamed in 1869, and sold in 1885.

• A fourth USS Florida was present at the Battle of Tayacoba during the Spanish-American War in 1898.

• The fifth Florida (BM-9) was a monitor commissioned in 1903, renamed to Tallahassee in 1908, and sold in 1922.

• The sixth Florida (BB-30) was a battleship commissioned 1911 and scrapped in 1932.

• The seventh Florida (SSBN-728) is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, commissioned in 1983.

See also CSS Florida.