USS Massachusetts - Definition and Overview

Seven ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Massachusetts in honor of the sixth state.

• The first Massachusetts, a topsail schooner, was the first Revenue Marine cutter of the United States.
• The second Massachusetts was a wooden steamer that saw action during the Mexican-American War.
• The third Massachusetts was an iron screw steamer that saw action during the American Civil War.
• The never-launched Kalamazoo-class monitor Passaconaway was renamed first to Thunderer then to Massachusetts before being broken up in the ways.
• The fourth Massachusetts was a battleship that saw action in the Spanish American War.
• The fifth Massachusetts was a transport that served contemporaneously with BB-2 and also saw action in the Spanish-American War.
• The sixth Massachusetts was a battleship already under construction when she was canceled by the Washington Naval Treaty.
• The seventh Massachusetts was a battleship that saw action in World War II.