U.S. Navy Trivia Questions & Answers

Answer: CSS H. L. Hunley

CSS Hunley was built in Mobile, Alabama at a cost of $30,000. She was named after one of her designers, Horace Lawson Hunley. The boat was about 40 feet long and had a crew of one officer and seven men. She sank several times during testing, killing 13 men, including Hunley. On the night of February 17, 1864, Hunley, under the command of Lt. George E. Dixon, attacked the sloop USS Housatonic, one of the Union ships blockading the port of Charleston, South Carolina. Hunley planted a "spar torpedo," (a 90 pound charge of gunpowder) in Housatonic's hull, backed away, and detonated it. Housatonic sank very quickly; five of her crew were killed in the attack.

The Hunley never made it back to port, although it is known that she survived the attack, because her signals were seen by those on shore. Her wreckage was located in 1995, and was raised in 2000; it is now undergoing restoration. It is now thought that Hunley sank because her crew ran out of air while returning to port, and died of asphyxiation. The remains of the crew were recovered and identified through military records and DNA testing. They were buried with full military honors in Charleston's Magnolia Cemetary on April 17, 2004.

Answer: USS California (BB-44)

USS California is the only battleship constructed on the west coast. Her bell is located in Capitol Park in Sacramento.

Answer: 13

Interestingly enough the United States Navy is older than the United States. The Navy was established October 13th, 1775, while the United States wasn't formed until July 4, 1776.

Answer: By your leave, sir (or ma'am).

If covered - wearing a hat to you lubbers - you should render a hand salute as well. The senior should respond "very well."

Answer: USS Washington; USS Washington

Literally launched within days of one another, the USS Washington was the other ship in the two ship class and was launched first. The USS Washington had the distinction of fighting and sinking the Japanese battleship Kirishima in one of the last pure battleship duels in history. She was sold for scrap metal in 1961.

Answer: Steam Turbines

USS Utah and her sister were the first U.S. battleship class designed and built with steam turbines throughout the class (All two of them). Both were powered by Parsons Steam turbines that developed horsepower enough to drive them at over 20 knots. One ship of the previous Delaware Class had steam turbines and one had reciprocating engines. The other items listed were all on older or later class ships.

Answer: The United States Fleet

In January of 1931, after a major refit in New York, the USS TEXAS was transferred to the Pacific for a six year tour and became the flagship of the entire U.S. Navy for a time, before later becoming the flagship of the First Battleship Division of the U.S. Fleet (BatDivI). For that period of time the "ocean designations" (Pacific Fleet and Atlantic Fleet, etc.) were dropped in the US Navy. Even though newer and more modern battleships had been commissioned, the USS TEXAS still packed a powerful punch with her ten 14" guns.

Answer: 2/New York Class

The USS New York (BB-34) and USS TEXAS (BB-35) were the last US battleships built with intermediate side armor, and coal fired boilers. The New York is considered the lead ship in the class even though the Texas was completed first. The USS New York (BB-34) was sunk in July 1948 after surviving two atomic bomb blasts at Bikini Atoll.

Answer: E-9

In 1968, the pay for a recruit was $94.50 per month. I'm glad to know it has increased!

Answer: Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville hosts both Naval Station Mayport and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Cecil Field Naval Air Station has been closed for several years. Jacksonville is arguably the most desirable Navy retirement destination.

Answer: Captain John Paul Jones

Talk about devotion to your country.

Answer: USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Rear Admiral Kidd was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions aboard his flagship, the USS Arizona, on December 7, 1941. Rear Admiral Kidd died on the bridge of the Arizona and, like the rest of the men who died onboard, his remains were not recovered. His son, Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Jr., is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis.

Answer: Strike/Flight Device

The device is simply an arabic number(1,2,3, etc.) The medal is awarded to servicemembers who show expert knowledge and ability while flying. Awards can recognize a single act or a length of service.

Answer: He/she is advanced to Chief Petty Officer

The most significant advancement for a career sailor is to be advanced to Chief Petty Officer. Not only is there more responsibility and more money, but an actual change in uniform. Sailors in pay grades lower than Chief Petty Officer normally wear the traditional "white hat" or "Dixie Cup". Chief Petty Officers wear the combination cap, very similar to that of a commissioned officer. Ergo, "putting on the hat" means becoming a Chief.

Answer: "Hummer"

The sound of the turboprops make a distinctly loud humming noise, which is quite apparent when below the flightdeck or near the Hawkeye. The nickname of "Hummer" is used within and outside the Hawkeye community with affection.

Answer: David Farragut

Answer: Radioman

Although they are IT's now, we were and always will be RMs. RMs/ITs are responsible for communications going off the ship.

Answer: A destroyer

Destroyers and other small combat ships are known as tin cans, presumably because their armor was as thin as the metal on a tin can. I served on one, and believe me, it is not the duty you want if you get seasick! In many ways, life on a tin can is exemplary of the very worst the Navy has to offer.

Answer: Jupiter

Built at Mare Island Navy Yard.

Answer: Mast

A "Captain's Mast" is a non-judicial disciplinary procedure, usually meted out by unit commanders and not the same as a court martial. Historically, it would have been held at the base of the "Main Mast" of a sailing vessel.

Answer: Cmdr Roy 'Butch' Voris

Butch Voris served on the team in 1946-1947 and again in 1952.

Answer: USS Los Angeles

USS Saratoga was the second of two aircraft carriers built for the US Navy through the conversion of a pair of incomplete battlecruiser hulls cancelled as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922. Laid down as a battlecruiser in September 1920, Saratoga was launched in April 1925 and eventually commissioned in November 1927. Following initial trials, the ship sailed from Philadelphia on 6 January 1928 to begin a shakedown, with the first fixed-wing aircraft landing on board five days later.

During the 1920s, the US Navy instituted an experimental programme to use rigid airships (airships with the envelope supported by a rigid metal framework rather than just gas pressure) as a way of extending the reach of a reconnaissance force at sea. Two such aircraft, USS Shenandoah and USS Los Angeles, were built and commissioned into the US Navy in 1923 and 1924. In 1927, Los Angeles was stationed on the east coast, and a decision was made to test the feasibility of mooring an airship to an aircraft carrier. Making use of the fact that Saratoga was at sea, Los Angeles rendezvoused with the aircraft carrier and, despite conditions being less than ideal, successfully moored on Saratoga's flight deck, the first time such a manoeuvre had taken place, allowing the airship to be refuelled and resupplied. However, despite initial success in operating with airships, the advent of radar, combined with the loss of most of the US Navy's examples, saw the use of rigid airships end before the Second World War.

Answer: USS Ticonderoga

Seriously wounded early in the battle, the USS Ticonderoga's commanding officer LCDR James J. Madison remained on the bridge controlling the ship's fight until she was abandoned. The loss included 112 sailors and 101 soldiers.

Answer: The Peacemaker

The USS Princeton was a steam-powered warship, the first of its kind in the U.S. Navy. The "Peacemaker" was a long smooth-bored gun along with sister gun "Oregon" and 12 42-pound carronades made up the gunnery aboard.

Ex-first lady, 76 year old Dolley Madison was among the celebrities on board. Among those killed were the Secretary of State Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Gilmer.

Answer: Six ships were authorized in September 1940

A total of six ships (Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Samoa) were authorized in September 1940. The ships were named for U.S. territories, while U.S. cruisers were named for cities.