Various ship nicknames that I have collected during my reading and exploration
of the Internet. This list of course is far from comprehensive. It
mostly includes American and British ships, as sources describing these ships
are more accessible.
Where possible and not otherwise self-evident, I have included 'explanation'
for a nickname, as indicated by one source or another.
A ship might bear more than one nickname over the course of its career, or
even at the same time. Different constituencies might have different names or
'shorthand' for the same ship. For example, the nickname used by a ship's crew
may not be the same as the shorthand used by the high command, which may not be
the same as the name used by the press (and public), which may not be the same
one as used by the complement of a 'rival' ship within the fleet.
Nicknames are not always polite, and I am not responsible for any
offense that any readers may take to the nature of or the mere inclusion of a
particular name. Believe it or not, sailors sometimes seem to enjoy showing a
healthy disrespect even for their own (naturally beloved) ship, and may
themselves apply what would be thought a derogatory or insulting name. This
is not to say that the crew of that ship might not take offense if an
outsider were to refer to their ship by that name. In other cases,
names are applied by the press, public, opposition, or elsewhere within a
fleet, oftentimes based on a real or perceived deficiency in either the ship
or crew, and such names may well be considered offensive by the crew of the
maligned vessel. Tread with care.
| | |
|---|
| HMS Agamemnon | Eggs and Bacon | |
| HMS Agincourt (1914) | Giant, The | Popular nickname in Newcastle, where and while she was building. |
| | Gin Palace, The | |
| | HMS Rust | During 4 month hiatus during building, while sale of ship from Brazil to Turkey was negotiated, ship took on a red patina. |
| HMS Ajax - F114 (1963) | White Tornado, The | |
| HMS Albion | Grey Ghost of The Borneo Coast, The | |
| | Old Grey Ghost | |
| HMS Anson - 79 (1942) | Annie | |
| | Mighty Annie | |
| HMS Antelope - H43 (1975) | Antelope | "Antelope" pronounced with the same stress as "Penelope'" i.e. (An-TELL-o-pee). |
| | Aunty Loapee | |
| HMS Argus - I49 (1919) | Ditty Box, The | Exchange between Beatty and signalman upon first seeing Argus: "Ship entering sir." "Damn it all man, what ship is it? What sort of ship?" "Well it looks like a floating ditty box Sir." |
| | Flat Iron | First flush-deck carrier, true 'flat-top'. |
| HMS Ark Royal - 91 (1937) | Ark | |
| HMS Ark Royal - R07 (1985) | Ark Shark | |
| HMS Bacchante - F69 (1968) | Big Shanty | |
| HMS Beaver - F93 (1986) | Her Majesty's Beaver | Allegedly, at one time the ship's store was selling womens' panties with this nickname stenciled on the front. HMS Invincible supposedly had the same practice. |
| HMS Bellerephon (1786) | Billy Ruffian | |
| HMS Bellerephon (1909) | Belly Ruffin | |
| HMS Birmingham - D86 (1976) | Brum, The | |
| HMS Blake - C99 (1961) | Snakey Blake | |
| HMS Bulwark - R08 (1954) | Rusty B, The | Motto: "Under Thy Wings I Will Trust." Crew's version: "Under Thy Wings I Will Rust." |
| HMS Cardiff - D108 (1979) | Welsh Warship, The | |
| HMS Cavalier (1944) | Laughing Cavalier, The | |
| HMS Charybdis - F75 (1969) | Cherry B | |
| HMS Charybdis (1941) | Cherry B | |
| HMS Cornwall - F99 (1988) | Fighting Ice Cream, The | An ice cream company advertised 99 flavors. |
| HMS Cossack - F03 (1938) | Horseman, The | |
| | Russky, The | |
| HMS Courageous - 50 (1917) | Outrageous | Odd design of extremely doubtful military utility. This name would apply to her original, as-designed configuration as a 'battlecruiser' armed with four 15" guns. |
| HMS Courageous - SSN-06 (1971) | Mean Machine, The | |
| HMS Courageous-class (1917) | Weird Sisters, The | Odd design of doubtful military utlity. All were converted to aircraft carriers after complete failure in original design role of 'large light cruisers'/battlecruisers. |
| HMS Diomede - F16 (1971) | Dim Weed | |
| HMS Duke of York (1941) | DOY | |
| HMS Eagle (1951) | Big E, The | |
| HMS Edinburgh - D93 (1985) | Fortress of The Sea, The | |
| HMS Edinburgh (1939) | Rabbit Hole, The | As in warren, as in burrow, as in 'Ed in Burra' |
| | Scotty | |
| HMS Endurance - A171 (1991) | Red Plum | Red-painted hull. |
| HMS Endurance (195?) | Red Plum, The | Red hull. |
| HMS Erin (1914) | Erring | Herring with a silent 'H'. |
| HMS Eskimo - F119 (1963) | Mo, The | |
| HMS Excalibur - S40 (1952) | Excruciator | Experimental, accident-prone hydrogen peroxide drive |
| HMS Explorer (1951) | Exploder | Experimental submarine with hydrogen-peroxide powered engines. HO is extremely volatile under certain conditions. |
| HMS Fearless - L10 (1965) | Fighting Fearless, The | |
| HMS Furious - 47 (1917) | Curious | Reportedly earned this nickname after first conversion to 'half carrier'... Formerly was known as 'Spurious'. 'Curious' also reportedly applied to semi-sister HMS Glorious. |
| | Flat Iron | Refers to shape of bow/forward flight deck, which was shaped like a clothes iron. This nickname was also applied to HMS Argus. |
| | Spurious | Odd design of extremely doubtful military utility. Reportedly this refers to her original, as-designed configuration as a 'battlecruiser' armed with two 18" guns. Some sources report moniker was changed to 'Curious' after first conversion to carrier. |
| HMS Galatea - F18 (1964) | Black Pig, The | First captain's name was same as captain of "Black Pig" in popular children's TV series. |
| HMS Glamorgan - D19 (1966) | Glamorous Organ, The | |
| | Glorious Organ, The | |
| | Organ, The | |
| HMS Glorious - 77 (1917) | Curious | Odd design of extremely doubtful military utility. This name would apply to her original, as-designed configuration as a 'battlecruiser' armed with four 15" guns. Reportedly also applied to semi-sister Furious at times during her career. |
| | Uproarious | Odd design of extremely doubtful military utility. This name would apply to her original, as-designed configuration as a 'battlecruiser' armed with four 15" guns. |
| HMS Gloucester - 62 (1939) | Fighting G, The | |
| HMS Gloucester - D96 (1985) | Fighting G, The | |
| HMS Hermes - R12 (1959) | Happy Hermes | |
| | Happy Herpes | |
| HMS Hermione - F58 (1983) | Hermi-One | |
| HMS Hermione (1782) | Black Hermione | Site of nasty mutinies in 1797. |
| HMS Hood (1892) | Old Hole in The Wall | Current nickname for the wreck (sunk as a block ship at Portsmouth) among divers. |
| HMS Hood (1922) | Mighty Hood | |
| HMS Howe (1942) | Indian, The | |
| | Why | |
| HMS Hunt-class mine counter-measure vessel (1980) | Tupperware Fleet, The | Constructed of GRP (glass reinforced plastic). This also includes ships of other classes built from the same material. |
| HMS Illustrious - 87/R2/R87 (1940) | Lulu | |
| | Lusty | |
| HMS Illustrious - R06 (1981) | Lusty | |
| HMS Indefatigable - R10 (1944) | Indefat | |
| | Indie | |
| HMS Indomitable - R92 (1941) | Indom | |
| HMS Invincible - R05 (1980) | Vince | |
| HMS Iron Duke (191?) | Tin Duck | |
| HMS Jamaica - C44 (1942) | Fighting J, The | |
| | Galloping Ghost of the Korean Coast, The | Claimed as sunk by the N. Koreans on at least 3 occasions. |
| HMS Juno - F52 (1966) | Raving J, The | |
| HMS King Edward VII-class (1905) | Wobbly Eight, The | Eight ships in class, "Through a design quirk, they could make minor adjustments when sailing straight ahead, port to starboard and starboard to port, giving them a wobbling appearance." |
| HMS King George V - 41 (1940) | KGV | |
| | Old King, The | Convention was for the first capital ship of a king's reign to be named for that king. George VI insisted it be named for his father, George V, instead. |
| HMS Lion (1912) | Cat, The | |
| HMS Lion-class Battlecruiser (1912) | Splendid Cats, The | |
| HMS Liverpool - D92 (1982) | Crazy Red Chicken, The | Liver Bird (symbol of city of Liverpool) part of ship's crest |
| HMS Llandaff - F61 (1958) | Taffy | |
| HMS Manchester - D95 (1982) | Busy Bee | Bees depicted in badge. |
| HMS Minerva - F45 (1966) | Fighting 45, The | Twinned with an army regiment of that name. |
| HMS Monmouth - F235 (1993) | Black Duke, The | Inspired by Duke of Monmouth's rebellion against the crown. Only ship in RN authorized to fly a black flag. |
| HMS Nelson (1927) | Nellie | |
| | Nelsol | Appearance reminded people of that of a class of fleet oiler, who’s names all ended in ‘ol’. |
| HMS Northumberland - F238 (1995) | Nookie | First mixed gender ship in RN. |
| HMS Nottingham - D91 (1983) | Notty, The | |
| HMS Ocean - R68 (1945) | Unlucky | A lot of accidents. |
| HMS Olympus - S12 (1962) | Olimpalot | Collision damage was repaired with components of HMS Catchalot. |
| HMS Onyx - S21 (1966) | Sardine's Revenge, The | During Falkland's carried an additional complement of commandos, creating very crowded conditions. |
| HMS Penelope - F127 (1963) | Penny Lope | "Penelope" pronounced with the same stress as "Antelope." |
| HMS Penelope (1936) | Pepperpot | Hull pockmarked (peppered) by shell and bomb fragments during Malta actions. |
| | Shadow, The | Applied by the Germans. |
| HMS Plymouth - F126 (1961) | Gob, The | English slang for 'mouth'. |
| HMS Polyphemus | One Eye | Polyphemus is the name of a cyclops in Greek mythology |
| HMS Porcupine (1942) | Porky and Pine | Ship broke in half by torpedo but both halves stayed afloat, salvaged and used for in port duties. |
| HMS Prince of Wales (1941) | POW | |
| HMS Queen Elizabeth (1915) | Big Lizzie | |
| | QE | |
| HMS Ramillies | Ram Piles | Many collisions |
| HMS Renown (1916) | Largest Destroyer in the Fleet, The | Last surviving battlecruiser in the Royal Navy, fastest capitol ship with reputation for smart handling |
| | Refit | In dock and yard often during early commission having design deficiencies remediated. |
| HMS Renown-class (1916) | Gallopers, The | So-called by Admiral Beatty, due to their high speed. |
| | Tinclads, The | Joined fleet after battle of Jutland with armor that was by then considered to be disastrously inadequate |
| HMS Repulse (1916) | Repair | In dock and yard often during early commission having design deficiencies remediated. |
| HMS Resistance (1861) | Old Rammo | First British ironclad with a ram. |
| HMS Rhyl - F129 (1960) | Vile Rhyl | |
| HMS Rodney (1927) | Rodnol | Appearance reminded people of that of a class of fleet oiler, who’s names all ended in ‘ol’. |
| | Ronnie | |
| HMS Royal Oak (1916) | Woody, The | |
| HMS Royal Sovereign (1916) | Coin, The | |
| HMS Royal Sovereign-class (1892) | Rolling Ressies, The | Class had a reputation (somewhat inflated) for rolling. Resolution in particular received a lot of press. |
| HMS Scyla (1942) | Toothless Terror, The | Armed with lighter guns than other ships in class due to supply limitations. |
| HMS Sheffield - D-80 (1975) | Shiny Sheff | Inherited steel fittings and name from earlier Sheffield. |
| HMS Sheffield - F-96 (1988) | Shiny Sheff | Inherited steel fittings and name from earlier Sheffield. |
| HMS Sheffield (1936) | Shiny Sheff | Fitted with many stainless steel fittings rather than brass. |
| HMS Southampton - D90 (1981) | Mighty Ninety, The | |
| HMS Superb - S109 (1976) | Super B | |
| HMS Surveyors-class Third Rate (1810) | Forty Thieves, The | Class of 40 ships, notorious reputation for poor workmanship and corruption in their acquisition. |
| HMS Tartar - F43 (1939) | Goodbye | "Ta ta" |
| | Lucky | |
| | Ratrat | Tartar spelled backwards. |
| HMS Temeraire (1876) | Great Brig, The | Transitional sail/steam design, largest ship ever carry a two-masted brig-rig |
| HMS Theseus - R64 (1946) | Tea-Issues | |
| HMS Torquay - F43 (1956) | Torquack | |
| HMS Undaunted - F53 (1944) | Fighting 53, The | |
| HMS Undaunted - R53 (1944) | Unwanted | |
| HMS Vanguard - 23 (1946) | battleship with her great aunt's teeth | Re-used gun mounts and turrets removed from Courageous-class during 1920s |
| HMS Vengeance - R71 (1945) | Lord's Own, The | Biblical: "The Lord will take vengeance upon his enemies." |
| HMS Victorious - 38/R23/R38 (1941) | Make 'im | Line in national anthem: "Make him victorious" |
| | Notorious, The | |
| | USS Robin | Call sign while operating with the US Pacific fleet in 1943. 'Robin' derived from 'Robin Hood'. The actual USS Robin at the time was a mine sweeper serving in the Atlantic. |
| | Vic, The | |
| HMS Victory (1737) | Balchen's Victory | Entire crew, including Admiral Balchen, killed when ship foundered in 1744. |
| HMS Warspite (1915) | Grand Old Lady, The | |
| | Old Lady, The | |
| HMS Weston Super Mare (1940) | Aggie on Horseback | Dame Agnes "Agge" Weston founded a series of seaman's rests/mission in the 19th century. |
| HMS Wild Goose (1943) | Mad Duck | |
| HMS Wilton - M1116 (1973) | HMS Indestructible | World's first GRP (glass reinforced plastic) warship. |
| | HMS Tupperware | World's first GRP (glass reinforced plastic) warship. |
| | Plastic Bag | World's first GRP (glass reinforced plastic) warship. |
| | Plastic Duck, The | World's first GRP (glass reinforced plastic) warship. |
| HMS Yarmouth - F101 (1960) | Crazy Y, The | |
| HMY Britannia (1954) | Brit, The | |
| RFA Tidepool - A76 (1963) | Tiddlypoo | |
| RMS Aquitania (1914) | Ship Beautiful, The | |
| RMS Caronia (1947) | Green Goddess, The | Wore a distinctive green livery |
| RMS Celtic-class passenger ships (1901) | Big Four, The | |
| RMS Lusitania (1907) | Lusi | |
| | The Scottish Ship | Cunard nickname during building, to distinguish Lusitania, which was being built in a Scottish yard from sister Mauretania, which was building in England. |
| RMS Mauretania (1907) | Maury | |
| | Rostron Express | Ship was so reliable that Cpt. Rostron was said never to miss his train to London. |
| RMS Olympic (1910) | Old Reliable | |
| RMS Queen Elizabeth (1940) | Queen, The | |
| RMS Queen Mary (1936) | Gray Ghost, The | As troop transport during WW2. |
| Sovereign of the Seas (1637) | Golden Devil, The | Dutch nickname, referring to her copious gold-painted ornamentation. |
| SS Canberra (1961) | Great White Whale, The | Ship painted overall white. |
| SS Great Eastern (1860) | Great Babe | Or “Great Baby”. Designer/builder Brunel's own nickname for his creation. |
| SS Himalaya (1949) | Poofter Chook, The | In Australian slang a 'poofter' is a gay man and a 'chook' is a hen (an 'egg-layer'). |
| SS Queen Elizabeth 2 (196?) | QE2 | |
| | |
|---|
| SS Catalina (1924) | Great White Steamer, The | |
| SS Christopher Columbus (1893) | Queen Of The Lakes | |
| SS Eastland (1902) | Speed Queen of The Lakes | Fastest excursion ship operating on Lake Michigan. |
| SS Edmund Fitzgerald (1958) | Fitz | |
| SS United States (1952) | Big U | |
| SS William J. DeLancey | Fancy DeLancey | |
| USA Chasseur (1812) | Pride of Baltimore | Baltimore-built, served with distinction in War of 1812 |
| USCG Bear (1873) | Old Iron Sides | |
| USCG Munro - WHEC-724 (1971) | We Have to Eat Chicken 7-24 | Play on WHEC designation. |
| USCGC Polar Star - WAGB-10 (1976) | Polar Roller, The | Ice breaker hull shape rolls excessively in beam seas. |
| USF Constellation (1797) | Yankee Racehorse | Earned due to her high speed during 'quasi-war'. According to some sources this name was applied rather (or also) to the 1854 sloop Constellation for that ship's record of chasing down blockade runners during the Civil War. |
| USF Constitution (1797) | Old Ironsides | Purported ability to resist cannonshot. |
| USF United States (1797) | Old Wagon | Heaviest and slowest of the large frigates ordered in 1796. |
| USS Abraham Lincoln - CVN-72 (1989) | Abe | |
| | Baberaham | After shipping Co-ed crew. |
| | Satan's Flagship | |
| USS Abraham Lincoln - SSBN-602 (1961) | Sinkin' Lincoln | |
| USS Acadia - AD-42 (1981) | Love Boat, The | High proportion of female crew, high # of pregnancies following Gulf War I deployment |
| USS Alabama - BB-60 (1942) | Big A | |
| | Big Bama | |
| | Mighty A, The | |
| USS Alexander Hamilton - SSBN-617 (1963) | A. Frog | Story is that black hull paint not allowed to dry, washed off in spots during deployment, suggesting frog appearance. |
| | Frog, The | Story is that black hull paint not allowed to dry, washed off in spots during deployment, suggesting frog appearance. |
| USS America - CV-66 (1965) | America | Stress on the third syllable I.e. "A-meh-REE-ka" |
| | Big A, The | |
| | Hostile Surface Contact | |
| USS Antietam - CG-54 (1987) | Auntie Em | |
| USS Archerfish | A Fish | Not known which USS Archerfish this refers to. |
| USS Arizona - BB-39 (1916) | Up and At 'Em | |
| USS Arkansas - BB-33 (1912) | Arkie | |
| USS Arleigh Burke - DDG-51 (1991) | Always Broke | |
| USS Aspro - SSN-648 (1969) | Spro | |
| | Sprofish | |
| USS Astoria - CA-34 (1934) | Nasty Asty | |
| USS Augusta - SSN-710 (1984) | Bumperfish | |
| | Disgusta | |
| | Oh, Shitfish | |
| USS Austin - LPD-4 (1965) | Duck, The | LPD=Large Plastic Duck. Comment on ship's expected survivability in combat. |
| USS B-Class submarine - SS-163-5 (1924-26) | Barking Fish | 3 boats, Barracuda, Bass & Bonita. Name inspired by peculiar hull shape. |
| USS Bainbridge - CGN-25 (1962) | Billy B | |
| | Brain Damage | |
| | Grey Ghost, The | Reputation as fastest ship in Pacific fleet during 60s. |
| USS Barb - SS-220 (1942) | Boob, The | |
| USS Batfish - SSN-681 (1972) | Batboat, The | |
| USS Belleau Wood - LHA-3 (1978) | Big Dog | |
| | Devil Dog | |
| USS Benjamin Stoddert - DDG-22 (1964) | Benny Sweat | |
| | Pocket Cruiser | Adopted in late 80s apparently. Ship's patch bears legend "World's Finest Pocket Cruiser." |
| USS Bennington - CV-20 (1944) | Benn | |
| | Benny | |
| | Big Benn | |
| | Cripple Ship | First ship equipped with heavy duty arrester gear, crippled aircraft were frequently routed to be recovered aboard her. |
| USS Billfish - SSN-676 (1971) | Spirit of '76 | |
| USS Bon Homme Richard - CV-31 (1944) | Bonnie Dick | |
| USS BonHomme Richard - LHD-6 (1998) | Revolutionary Gator | 'Gator' seems to be a common theme among ships of this type or class |
| USS Boston | Lost One | |
| USS Bowen - FF-1079 (1971) | Goin' Bowen | |
| USS Bowfin - SS-287 (1943) | Pearl Harbor Avenger, The | Launched 12/7/42 |
| USS Boxer - CV-21 (1945) | Busy Bee | According to a former crewmember during the 60s. |
| | Showboat, The | Labeled thus on a postcard printed in ship's printing plant in 1945. |
| USS Brinkley Bass - DD-887 (1945) | Rinkly Ass | |
| USS Bunker Hill - CG-52 (1986) | Vertical Swordsman, The | First ship armed with vertical launching system. |
| USS Bunker Hill - CV-17 (1943) | Holiday Express | Was very active during Xmas/New Year's holiday period in 1944. |
| USS Bush - DD-529 (1943) | Fighting '29, The | |
| USS Bushnell - AS-15 (1943) | Burning Bush | Serious electrical fire in 1965 |
| USS Cabot - CVL-28 (1943) | Iron Lady, The | Ernie Pyle reported from aboard during war. Prohibited from revealing the name of the ship this was the term he used. |
| USS California - BB-44 (1921) | Prune Barge, The | |
| USS Canopus | Can of Shit | |
| USS Carl Vinson - CVN-70 (1982) | Battlestar, The | Most advanced electronic suite at the time. |
| | Chuckie V | |
| | Starship Vinson | |
| | Uncle Carl | |
| | Vinnie | |
| USS Casablanca-class aircraft carrier - CVE-n (1942) | Kaiser Koffins | Very lightly constructed, top-heavy ships that were built by Kaiser shipyards. |
| USS Casimir Pulaski - SSBN-633 (1964) | Crazy Polock | |
| USS Chevalier - DD-451 (1942) | Chevy | |
| USS Chosin - CG-65 (1991) | Chosen One, The | |
| | War Dragon, The | Dragon figure in ship's seal. |
| USS Cimarron - AO-22 (1939) | Find Them, Fuel Them, Forget Them | More of a slogan I think. |
| USS City of Corpus Christi - SSN-705 (1983) | City Of | |
| | Corpus Delecti | |
| USS Cole - DDG-67 (1996) | Determined Warrior, The | |
| USS Columbus - CG-12 (1962) | Clumsy Bus | |
| | Tall Lady, The | Tallest of 3 Albany-class vessels. According to some sources, the entire class was sometimes referred to as 'Tall Ladies.' |
| | Ugly Dozen, The | Apparently not everyone thought the design attractive. |
| USS Constellation - CV-64 (1961) | America's Flagship | |
| | Connie | |
| USS Constellation - IX-20 (1854) | Cradle of Admirals | Long serving training ship |
| USS Copeland - FFG-25 (1982) | Cope-less | |
| USS Coral Sea - CV-43 (1947) | Ageless Warrior | |
| | Best In The West | |
| | Big 'C', The | |
| | Big Sea, The | |
| | CarlC | |
| | Coral Crunch | |
| | Coral Maroon | |
| | Coral Maru | |
| | Coral Shit | |
| | Cruel Maru | |
| | Cruel Sea | |
| | Hotel 43 | |
| | Natural, The | |
| | Olongapo's Own | |
| | Operational Queen of the Seventh Fleet, The | |
| | Oral Sea | |
| | Oral Sex | |
| | San Francisco's Own | Home port for many years. City adopted her under this title by 'resolution & proclamation 7/24/67.' |
| | Three Screw Maru | Coral Sea reportedly had a bent or otherwise damaged shaft that would cause severe vibrations at high speed. Is that the inspiration behind this name? |
| USS Cowpens - CG-63 (1991) | Mighty Moo, The | Crew known as "The Thundering Herd." |
| USS Cowpens - CVL-25 (1943) | Mighty Moo, The | |
| USS Croatan - CVE-25 (1943) | Old Crow | |
| USS Dace | Dunce | |
| USS Dallas - SSN-700 (1981) | Ballastfish | |
| USS David R. Ray - DD-971 (1977) | Death-Ray | |
| USS Des Moines - CA-134 (1948) | Crusader | Radio call sign. |
| | Daisy Mae | |
| | Dizzy D | |
| USS Deuel - APA-160 (1944) | Dirty D, The | |
| USS Drayton - DD-366 (1936) | Blue Beetle, The | Dark blue camouflage in early WWII |
| USS Duncan - FFG-10 (1980) | Dunkin' Donuts | |
| USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - CVN-69 (1977) | Ike | |
| USS Elrod - FFG-55 (1985) | Hammerin' Hank | After namesake, Major Henry Elrod. |
| USS Enterprise - CV-6 (1938) | Big E | |
| | Fighting Gray Lady, The | |
| | Galloping Ghost of The Oahu Coast, The | |
| | Lucky E, The | |
| USS Enterprise - CVN-65 (1961) | 'Prise, The | |
| | Big E | |
| | Building 65 | During protracted refit in early 1980s |
| | Ghetto Ship, The | |
| | Pig, The | |
| | Starship | After Star Trek. |
| USS Essex - CV-9 (1942) | Fightingest Ship in The Fleet, The | |
| | Galloping Ghost of Any Coast, The | In 1958 Essex steamed over 75,000 miles in ten months in deployments in the Mediterranean and Pacific. |
| | Oldest and The Boldest, The | |
| USS Essex - LHD-2 (1992) | Iron Gator, The | 'Gator' seems to be a common theme among ships of this type or class |
| USS Essex (1992) | Iron Gator | |
| USS Fletcher - DD-445 (1942) | Lucky 13 | Only US ship to survive undamaged from Naval Battle Of Guadalcanal on the morning of 11/13/1942. |
| USS Flying Fish - SSN-673 (1970) | Drug Fish, The | Used in unit (SubRon 6 - Norfolk) after a large drug bust involving some of her crew in early 80s. |
| USS Forrestal - CV-59 (1955) | FID | "First In Defense"... Referring to J. Forrestal's role as Sec. Defense. This was also ship's motto. |
| | Forest Fire | Severe deck fire in 1967. |
| | FuckUsAll | |
| | Zippo | Besides the disastrous deck fire, ship supposedly constantly experienced small ship-board fires. |
| USS Francis Hammond - FF-1067 (1970) | Franic Hammond | |
| | Frannie Maru | |
| USS Francis Scott Key - SSBN-657 (1966) | Francis Scotki | Crew of USS Casimir Pulaski would "joke that she was the second sub named for a Polish person." |
| USS Franklin - CV-13 (1944) | Big Ben | |
| USS Franklin D. Roosevelt - CV-42 (1945) | Dirty | |
| | FDR | |
| | Filthy | |
| | Foody Roo | |
| | Happy Wanderer, The | Record # of miles steamed, and Mediterranean deployments. |
| | Rosie | |
| | Rusty | |
| USS Gary - FFG-51 (1984) | Two-Guns | Mascot was Yosemite Sam |
| USS George Washington - SSBN-598 (1959) | Georgefish | |
| USS Glover - AGDE-1 (1965) | Aged-1 | A play on the AGDE designation. |
| | Another God-Damned Experiment | A play on the AGDE designation |
| | Awfully God-Damned Expensive | A play on the AGDE designation |
| | Egad-1 | A play on the AGDE designation |
| | General, The | |
| | Glove Boat, The | |
| | Glover Lover, The | |
| | Grey Ghost of The Gitmo Coast, The | |
| | Lover | |
| | Mother Glover | |
| | Shovel, The | |
| USS Grayling - SSN-646 (1968) | Gray Thing | |
| USS Greenling | Green Pig | |
| | Greenthing | |
| USS Guadalcanal - LPH-7 (1963) | Anal Canal | |
| | Golden Wad, The | |
| USS Gwin - DD-433 (1941) | Win with the Gwin | More of a slogan I think. |
| USS Haleakala - AE-25 (1959) | Hockey-Puck Maru | |
| USS Halsey | Bull | |
| USS Hancock - CV-19 (1944) | Handjob | Applied in late 60s. |
| | Hannah | |
| | Mighty Hannah, The | |
| USS Harry E. Yarnell - CG-17 (1963) | Hairy Urinal | |
| USS Harry S. Truman - CVN-75 (1998) | Hairy Ass | |
| USS Harry W. Hill - DD-986 (1979) | Horrible Harry | |
| USS Hassayampa - AO-145 | Humpin' Hass | |
| USS Helena - CA-75 (1945) | Illustrate | Radio call sign. |
| USS Henry Clay - SSBN-625 (1964) | Henry Lemon | |
| USS Hepburn - FF-1055 (1969) | Hashburn | |
| USS Honolulu | Blue Goose, The | After state bird |
| USS Hornet - CV-12 (1943) | Best In The West, The | |
| | Fighting Lady | |
| | Grey Ghost, The | Never used during ship's operational career, applied later as a PR tactic by museum promoters. |
| | Hornet Hotel | During time as troop transport. |
| | Horney Maru | |
| USS Hornet - CV-8 (1941) | Fighting Lady | |
| | Happy Hornet | |
| | Horny Maru | |
| USS Houston - CA-30 (1930) | Galloping Ghost of The Java Coast, The | |
| | Rambler, The | |
| USS Hyman G. Rickover - SSN-709 (1984) | Cell Block 709 | |
| | Dicked Over | |
| | Hymie G. | |
| USS Idaho - BB-42 (1919) | Big I | |
| USS Inchon - LPH-12 (1970) | Grey Taxi, The | |
| | Grunt Hilton | |
| | Inchworm | |
| USS Independence - CV-62 (1959) | Indigestion | |
| | Indy | |
| | Lindy | |
| USS Indiana - BB-58 (1942) | Hoosier Houseboat | |
| | Indian Country | |
| | Sophisticated Lady | |
| USS Indianapolis - CA-35 (1932) | Indy | |
| | Swayback Maru | Profile of interwar US cruisers suggested curvature of the spine. |
| USS Ingersoll - DD-990 (1980) | IngerHell | |
| USS Intrepid - CV-11 (1943) | Decrepid | |
| | Dry I | |
| | Evil Eye | |
| | Evil I | Took frequent damage during WW2. |
| USS Iowa - BB-61 (1943) | Big Stick | |
| | First Lady of the Third Fleet, The | Some reports indicate that this was actually Missouri |
| | Gray Ghost, The | |
| | Mighty I, The | |
| USS Jack - SSN-605 (1967) | Jack-maru | |
| USS Jack Williams - FFG-24 (1981) | Arky, The | |
| | Happy Jack | |
| | Jack Daniels | |
| USS Jacksonville - SSN-699 (1981) | Bumper Boat | Due to her various collisions -- the crew was referred to as: Crash Crew 82, Back For More in 84 and Deep Six in 86 |
| | Jackassville | |
| USS James Madison - SSBN-627 (1964) | Black Magic | |
| | Dolly Madison | |
| | Jimmy "Mad Dog" Madison | |
| | Jolly Dolly | |
| USS James Monroe - SSBN-622 (1963) | Jimmy the Pig | |
| USS Jenkins - DD-447 (1942) | Jerky Jenkins | |
| | Mighty J | |
| USS John C. Stennis - CVN-74 (1995) | JCS | |
| | Johnnie Reb | |
| USS John F. Kennedy - CV-67 (1968) | Big John | |
| | Building 67 | |
| | JFK | |
| | John F. Collision | Supposedly applied by crew of USS Belknap following a collision. |
| | Kan-Opener | Involved in a collision with USS Belknap |
| | Slack Jack | |
| USS Johnston | GQ Johnny | |
| USS Jupiter - AVS-8 (1942) | Baka-Hatchi Maru | |
| USS Kamehameha - SSBN-642 (1965) | Kammy-Ha-Ha | |
| USS Kearsarge - CV-33 (1946) | Corsage, The | |
| | Gay Kay | |
| | Kay | |
| | Mighty Kay-RUNCH, The | Three collisions in less than a year |
| | Mighty Kay, The | |
| | Queerbarge | |
| | Rammin Rankin's Krashbarge | Three collisions in less than a year |
| USS Kidd - DD-661 (1943) | Pirate of The Pacific, The | Though named after Admiral Kidd (killed at Pearl Harbor) ship's mascot was Captain Kidd, the pirate. She had an emblem painted on a funnel, flew the Skull & Crossbones and would ransom rescued airmen back to their ships. |
| USS Kidd-class (1981) | Ayatollah-class | Originally built for Iran, taken over instead by the USN after the fall of the Shah. |
| | Dead-admiral-class | All named after deceased admirals |
| USS Kinkaid - DD-965 (1976) | Crush-Kaid | Was rammed by a large merchant ship. |
| USS Kittyhawk - CV-63 (1961) | Battle Kitty | |
| | Chicken Hawk | |
| | Hawk, The | Reportedly most common. |
| | Shitty Bird | |
| | Shitty Kitty | |
| | Shittyhawk | |
| USS La Jolla - SSN-701 (1981) | La Jolla de Muerte | "Jewel of Death" in Spanish. |
| USS Lake Champlain - CV-39 (1945) | Champ | |
| | Lake Complain | |
| USS Lake Erie - CG-70 (1993) | Ear-ache | |
| USS Langley - CV-1 (1922) | Covered Wagon, The | based on ship's appearance. |
| | Old Covered Wagon | Ship's patch depicted ship's hull topped by Conestoga cover. |
| USS LaVallette - DD-448 (1942) | Dilly | |
| | LaVadilly | |
| USS Leftwich - DD-984 (1979) | Left Bitch | |
| | Left Tit | |
| USS Leviathan - ID-1326 (1917) | Levi Nathan | |
| USS Lewis and Clark - SSBN-644 (1965) | Leaks and Cracks | |
| | Lost and Confused | |
| USS Lewis B. Puller - FFG-23 (1982) | Chesty Puller | Namesake's nickname |
| USS Lexington - CV-16 (1943) | Blue Ghost, The | Blue camouflage scheme. |
| | Lady Lex | |
| USS Lexington - CV-2 (1927) | Lady Lex | |
| USS Long Beach - CG-9 (1961) | Long Bitch | |
| USS LPH-class - 1961 (1961) | Lame Ponderous Hulk | |
| USS LST-575 - LST-575 (1944) | Mammy Yokum | |
| USS Mahan - DDG-42 (1960) | Mickey, The | 'Passing the word for Mickey Mahan called out the security team.' |
| USS Mariano G. Vallejo - SSBN-658 (1966) | Valley Joe | |
| USS Maryland - BB-46 (1921) | Fighting Mary | |
| | Mary | |
| | Old Mary | |
| USS Massachusetts - BB-59 (1942) | Big Mamie | |
| USS McCawley - APA-4 (1940) | Wacky Mac | |
| USS McClusky - FFG-41 (1983) | McCluster-Fuck | |
| USS McGowan - DD-678 | Pugnose | Bent stem in collision with pier, never repaired. |
| USS Miantonomoh | My Aunt Don't Know Me | |
| USS Midway - CV-41 (1945) | Magic | |
| | Never Dock | |
| | Skiddway | |
| USS Mindoro - CVE-120 (1945) | Mighty Minnie | Had 99 year license from Disney to use Minnie Mouse logo in patch design. |
| USS Minneapolis - CA-36 (1934) | Minnie | |
| USS Minneapolis-St. Paul - SSN-708 (1984) | Menopause | |
| USS Mississippi | Mudpuppy | |
| | Mudsucker | |
| USS Mississippi - BB-41 (1917) | Ole Miss | |
| USS Missouri - BB-63 (1944) | Mighty Mo | |
| | Mo | |
| | War Pig, The | |
| USS Moinester - FF-1097 (1974) | Mickey Mo | |
| USS Monitor (1862) | Cheesebox on a Raft, The | Appearance. |
| | Tin Can on A Shingle | |
| USS Morrison - DD-560 (1943) | Moe | |
| USS Nathaniel Greene - SSBN-636 (1964) | Nasty Nat | |
| USS Nevada - BB-36 (1916) | Cheer-up Ship | Nevada's getting under way during the attack at Pearl Harbor was inspirational to many. Other accounts say that 'Cheer up' was the slogan of her first captain. |
| USS New Jersey - BB-62 (1943) | Big J | |
| | Big Jay, The | |
| | Black Dragon | Dark, all blue camouflage in WW2. |
| | NJ | |
| USS New Mexico - BB-40 (1918) | Queen, The | |
| USS New Mexico-class battleship (1918) | Big Five, The | Applied to the 3 ships of this class, along with the 2 ships of the subsequent and very similar Tennessee class. In some sources, 'The Big Five' refers to the two ships of the Tennessee class and the three ships of the subsequent Maryland class. |
| USS New Orleans | NO Boat | |
| USS Newport News - CA-148 (1949) | Gray Ghost, The | |
| | Never No | |
| | News, The | |
| | Thunder | Call sign, used during 1967 while on Viet Nam deployment |
| USS Nicholas - DD-449 (1942) | Nick | |
| USS Nimitz - CVN-68 (1975) | Chet | |
| | Numb-nuts | |
| USS North Carolina - BB-55 (1941) | Showboat, The | Long work up time, highly visible during this period leaving and entering port, putting on a 'show' for press and public. |
| | USO North Carolina | Applied by crew USS Washington BB-56 because NC spent more time in the states for repairs and refits and therefor was much more frequently mentioned in the press than other ships. |
| USS Northampton - CA-26 (1939) | Nora | |
| | Number One Ship In the Number One Navy, The | |
| USS O'Bannon - DD-450 (1942) | Lucky 'O' | |
| | Potato Barge | |
| USS Ogden - LPD-5 (1965) | Oggie Doggie | |
| USS Okinawa - LPH-3 (1962) | Brokinawa | |
| USS Oklahoma - BB-37 (1916) | Mighty Okie | |
| USS Oklahoma City - CL-91 (1944) | OK City | |
| | Okie Boat | |
| | Okie City | |
| USS Oklahoma City - SSN-723 (1988) | Brokelahoma City | |
| USS Oldendorf - DD-972 (1978) | Dork, The | |
| | Woodendork, The | |
| USS Oliver Perry-class | FIGS | |
| USS Oliver Perry-class (1977) | Helen Keller-class | |
| USS Olympia | Only Lovely Young Maidens Presently Invited Aboard | |
| USS Omaha | Oh! My Ass Hurts Again! | |
| USS Oregon - BB-3 (1896) | Bulldog of The Navy, The | or "The Bulldog of The Fleet." |
| | McKinley's Bulldog | "She was called a "bulldog" at the battle of Santiago (Cuba), where the name stuck. She appeared as a tough dog, speeding into a fight, and the white wake off her bow was said to appear as a "bone" clenched in her teeth." - Battleships.org |
| | Yankee Devil, The | Spanish nickname. |
| USS Oriskany - CV-34 (1950) | Big O, The | |
| | Big Risk, The | |
| | Flaming O | |
| | Mighty O, The | |
| | O Boat | |
| | Toasted O | Severe deck/hangar fire during a Vietnam deployment in 60s. |
| | USS Zippo | "Fire every day during 71/72 cruise" |
| USS Orleck - DD-886 (1945) | Oil Slick | |
| | Sunkist | Had notable success during war game one year as member of orange fleet. |
| USS Pegasus - PHM-1 (1977) | Pegasorous | Supposedly originally to be named Delphinus but changed in anticipation that the nickname of Delphinus would be 'Dull Penis.' |
| USS Pennsylvania - BB-38 (1916) | Grand Old Lady, The | |
| | Keystone Battlewagon, The | |
| | Mighty Penn | |
| | Old Falling Apart | During WW2: “She turns out such a volume of gun fire you'd think she was falling to pieces”. |
| | Pennsy | |
| | Penny | |
| USS Philadelphia | Filthydelphia | |
| USS Philippine Sea - CV-47 (1946) | PhilSea | |
| | Showboat, The | Used on one veterans' website. |
| USS Phoenix - SSN-702 (1981) | Flaming Chicken | |
| USS Pittsburgh | Shitsburgh | |
| USS Portland - CA-33 (1933) | Sweet Pea | |
| USS Potomac - AG-25 (1936) | Floating White House, The | Presidential yacht |
| USS Prince William - CVE-31 (1943) | Pee Willie | |
| USS Princeton - CV-37 (1945) | SweetPea | |
| USS Providence (1775) | Lucky Sloop, The | |
| USS Puget Sound | Love Boat, The | |
| | Pubic Mound | |
| USS Queenfish - SS-?? | Queerfish | |
| USS Ranger - CV-4 (1934) | Ghost Ship, The | Incorrectly reported sunk by u-boat. |
| USS Ranger - CV-61 (1957) | Building 61 | |
| | Danger Ranger | |
| | Gray Lady, The | |
| | R-Boat | |
| | Top Gun | |
| USS Reuben James - FFG-57 (1986) | Rubber Jimmy | |
| USS Richard B. Anderson | Roast Beef Again | |
| USS Robert E. Lee - SSBN-601 (1960) | Bitchin' Bobby | |
| USS Robinson - DD-562 (1944) | Robbie | |
| USS Rochester - CA-124 | Gray Ghost of The Korean Coast, The | Reportedly fired more shells during Korea than any other ship. |
| USS Rodney M. Davis - FFG-60 (1987) | Ruin My Day | |
| USS Ronald Reagan - CVN-76 (2004) | Gipper, The | |
| USS Sailfish - S-199 | Squailfish | Former USS Squalus |
| USS Saint Paul - C?-?? | Miss Pauline | |
| USS Saint Paul - CA-73 (1945) | African Queen, The | |
| USS Saipan | Shitcan | |
| USS Salem | Sea Witch | |
| USS Salt Lake City | Slave Labor Camp | Play on initials. |
| USS Salt Lake City - CA-25 (1930) | Old Swayback | Oldest heavy cruiser in fleet. |
| | One Ship Fleet | Reputed to have fought more actions and sunk more enemy ships than any other surface unit in US Navy during WW2. |
| | Queen Of The Seas | |
| | Sails Like Crazy | Another WAG interpretation of what SLC stood for. Ship had poor handling characteristics. |
| | SLC | |
| | Slick City | Popular with crew, 'Swayback' was favored in fleet. |
| | Swayback Maru | Profile of interwar US cruisers suggested curvature of the spine. |
| | Tinclad | Generally applied to ships in class. Very lightly armored compared to subsequent designs. |
| | Wallowing Ghost | Ship had poor handling and rolled excessively. |
| USS Sam Houston - SSBN-609 (1962) | Sammy Suck Butt | |
| USS Samuel B. Roberts | Sammy B | |
| USS San Francisco - CA-38 | Frisco Maru | |
| USS San Francisco - CA-38 (1934) | Frisco | |
| USS San Jacinto - CG-56 (1988) | San Jac | |
| USS Sand Lance - SSN-660 (1971) | Sandbar Maru | After accidentally submerging at pier side & flooding the engine room. |
| USS Saratoga - CV-3 (1927) | Old Sara | |
| | Sara | |
| | Ship of Happy Landings, The | |
| | Torpedo Junction | play on popular song "Tuxedo Junction". CV-3 was torpedoed several times during WW2. |
| USS Saratoga - CV-60 (1956) | Sara | |
| | Sinkin' Sarah | |
| | Sorry Sara | It has been suggested that CV-60 was a maintenance problem compared to her sisters. |
| | Sparrowtoga | Accidentally fired a live Sea Sparrow missile at a Turkish ship during a joint exercise in 1992. |
| | Sucking Sara | |
| | Sucking Sixty From Dixie | When based in southern US. |
| USS Sarsfield - DD-837 (1945) | Sorry Fucker | |
| USS Scorpion - SSN-589 (1960) | Scrap Iron | "because of her poor material condition." |
| USS Seadragon - SSN-584 (1959) | Shore Dragon | Spent so much time in port she had a skirt of algae & seaweed around her waterline. |
| USS Seawolf - SSN-21 (1997) | Building 21 | Spent so much time in port she became a 'permanent' fixture. |
| | Pierwolf | Spent so much time in port she became a 'permanent' fixture. |
| USS Shangri-La - CV-38 (1944) | Shang | |
| | Shitty Shang | |
| USS Simon Lake | Slimy Lake | |
| USS South Dakota - BB-57 (1942) | Battleship X | When reporting her activities in 1942 Navy department would not reveal her name, so she was labeled "Battleship 'X'" in newspapers. |
| | Big Bastard | |
| | Black Prince, The | |
| | Dirty Dick | Applied by crew of USS Washington BB-56, who did not think SD was a very tight ship. |
| | Old Nameless | Inspired by the 'Battleship X' appellation. |
| | Shitty Dick | Again, reportedly from crew of Washington, who felt that South Dakota was given (or had taken) unfair credit for the victory in the 2nd Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, at Washington's expense. |
| | SoDak | |
| USS Springfield - CL-66 (1944) | Spring a Leak | |
| USS Spruance - DD-963 (1975) | Sprucan | Also used generically to refer to any ship of this class. |
| USS St. Louis - CL-49 | Lucky Lou | Was able to get under way and clear Pearl Harbor during attack. |
| USS Talladega - APA-208 (1944) | Tremblin' T, The | Damaged shaft/propeller caused ship to shake. |
| USS Tarawa - LHA-1 (1976) | Eagle of The Sea, The | |
| USS Tautog - SSN-639 (1968) | Tag Out | Anagram. |
| USS Taylor - DD-468 (1942) | Terrible T | |
| USS Tecumseh - SSBN-628 (1964) | T-Cup | |
| USS Tennessee - BB-43 (1920) | Big T | |
| | Big Tenn | |
| | Rebel Ship | |
| | Ridge Runner, The | |
| | Tenny | |
| | Tenny Maru | |
| | Volunteer State Battlewagon, The | |
| USS Texas - ACR-2 (1895) | Old Hoodoo | Hoodoo generally means bad luck. Ship reportedly had poor handling and low rate of fire. 'Hoodoo' also appears to be a term that appears quite frequently in Texas culture and history. Reputation for accidents, including groundings and once actually sinking at pier-side. |
| USS Texas - BB-35 | Big T | |
| USS Thach - FFG-43 (1984) | Snatch | |
| USS Theodore Roosevelt - CVN-71 (1986) | Big Stick | |
| USS Theodore Roosevelt - SSBN-600 (1961) | Building 600 | Spent 2 years in yard, became 'permanent fixture.' |
| USS Thomas S. Gates - CG-51 | Tommy the Tugboat | |
| USS Ticonderoga - CG-47 (1983) | Tico | |
| USS Ticonderoga - CV-14 (1944) | Big T | |
| | T, The | |
| | Tico | |
| | Tiger | |
| USS Tripoli - LPH-10 (1966) | Cripoli | |
| USS Truxtun | Goddam Ugly Ship | |
| USS Tullibee - SSN-597 (1960) | Building 597 | |
| | Tulibeast, The | |
| USS Tunny - SSN-682 (1974) | Funny Tunny | |
| | Tuna Boat | |
| USS Valley Forge - CV-45 (1946) | Death Valley | Devastating fire during Korea war. |
| | Happy Valley | |
| USS Vincennes - CG-49 (1985) | Robocruiser | Reference to highly automated Aegis missile system and, reportedly, to the 'aggressive tendencies of its captain' (Vincennes shot down a civilian airliner in 1986.) |
| | Vinnie | |
| USS Virginia | War Pig, The | |
| USS Von Stueben - SSBN-632 (1964) | Von Stupid | |
| | Voo Doo | |
| USS Wabash | Ball Rash | |
| USS Wainwright - CG-28 (1966) | Wain Pig | |
| USS Washington - BB-56 (1941) | Mighty W, The | |
| | Rusty W | "wasn't in port long enough to get new paint and got very rusty" |
| USS Wasp - CV-18 (1943) | Mighty Stinger, The | |
| | Stinger | |
| USS West Virginia - BB-48 (1923) | Mountaineer Battlewagon, The | |
| | Old Task Force 58 | |
| | WeeVee | |
| USS West Virginia - SSN-736 (1990) | By God | West "By God" Virginia |
| | Silent Mountaineer, The | |
| USS White Plains - AFS-4 (1968) | Orient Express, The | |
| USS Willamette - AO-180 (1982) | We'll Ram It | Was involved in 2 collisions in a single year. |
| USS William D. Porter - DD-579 (1943) | Willie Dee | |
| USS William H. Standley - DLG-32 (1966) | Standley Steamer | |
| | Steamer, The | |
| | Steamin' Standley | |
| | WHS | |
| USS Wisconsin - BB-64 (1944) | Whiskey | |
| | Whiskeypunch | |
| | WisKy | Wisconsin's bow badly damaged in collision in mid-50s. Damaged section replaced with equivalent section of bow of unfinished sister-ship USS Kentucky BB-66. |
| USS Witek - DD-848 (1946) | Galloping Ghost of the Long Island Coast, The | |
| USS Yellowstone - AD-41 (1980) | Jellystone | |
| | Love Boat, The | |
| | Old Faithful | |
| USS Yorktown - CV-10 (1943) | Battling Bitch, The | |
| | Fighting Lady, The | |
| | Lucky Lady | |
| USS Yorktown - CV-5 (1937) | Fighting Lady, The | |
| | Old York | |
| | Old Yorky | |
| | Waltzing Matilda | Australian nickname, inspired by ship's frequent presence in near Australian waters during 1942. |
| USS YP-class gunboats | Yippies | |