USS Pennsylvania - Definition and Overview

Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Pennsylvania in honor of the second state.

• The first Pennsylvania, 136, was one of nine ships of the line authorized by Congress in 1816 and launched in 1837
• A screw steamer, laid down as Keywaden in 1863 but never launched, was renamed Pennsylvania while she lay in the ways before being broken up in 1884.
• The second Pennsylvania (ACR-4), the lead ship of her class of armored cruiser, was renamed Pittsburgh before serving during World War I.
• The third Pennsylvania (BB-38), the lead ship of her class of battleship, saw action during World War II.
• The fourth Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) is an Ohio-class submarine.
• USS Keystone State, a steamer of the U.S. Civil War, was also named in honor of the state of Pennsylvania.