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US Warship Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Warships are christened with a name but their crews (or the crews of other ships) often give them a nickname for various reasons. See if you can identify the US warship based on its nickname (not its official name). These are primarily WWII warships

A multiple-choice quiz by Yankeesix. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Yankeesix

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
298,197

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
901

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This battleship was nicknamed Wee Vee. Hint

USS Maryland (BB-46)

USS West Virginia (BB-48)

USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

USS New York (BB-34)

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. This battleship was known as the Prune Barge. Hint

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)

USS Texas (BB-35)

USS California (BB-44)

USS Iowa (BB-61)

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Known as Battleship X, she took a beating in one of the night battles at Guadalcanal. Hint

USS Washington (BB-56)

USS Colorado (BB-45)

USS North Carolina (BB-55)

USS South Dakota (BB-57)

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Question 4 of 10

4. Nicknamed the Showboat, one of the few surviving US battleships from WWII still around. Hint

USS Alabama (BB-60)

USS North Carolina (BB-55)

USS Missouri (BB-63)

USS Arizona (BB-39)

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The "Big E" was one of three US aircraft carriers to start and finish the war. Sadly, she wasn't preserved and went to the breakers in 1958. Hint

USS Essex (CV-9)

USS Hornet (CV-12)

USS Boxer (CV-21)

USS Enterprise (CV-6)

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Known as Big Spud, her first combat action was providing gunfire support to Army troops at Attu. Hint

USS Iowa (BB-61)

USS Idaho (BB-42)

USS Indiana (BB-58)

USS Intrepid (CV-11)

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Known as the Big Stick, she was one of the last battleships to see active duty. Hint

USS Indiana (BB-58)

USS Intrepid (CV-11)

USS Iowa (BB-61)

USS Idaho (BB-42)

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Known as Big Mamie, she fired the first US 16" shells at the European Axis Powers and also fired the last 16" shells in combat in WWII. Hint

USS Missouri (BB-63)

USS Mississippi (BB-41)

USS Massachusetts (BB-59)

USS Maryland (BB-46)

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Called the Evil I, she served as the recovery ship for Aurora 7 (Carpenter) and Gemini 3 (Grissom/Young). Hint

USS Iowa (BB-61)

USS Indiana (BB-58)

USS Idaho (BB-42)

USS Intrepid (CV-11)

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Known as The Rebel Ship, she was one of three battleships at Pearl Harbor that received minor damage. Hint

USS Tennessee (BB-43)

USS Alabama (BB-60)

USS Mississippi (BB-41)

USS Texas (BB-35)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This battleship was nicknamed Wee Vee.

Answer: USS West Virginia (BB-48)

USS West Virginia was one of the last wagons to cross the T of an opposing battle line.

2. This battleship was known as the Prune Barge.

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.

3. Known as Battleship X, she took a beating in one of the night battles at Guadalcanal.

Answer: USS South Dakota (BB-57)

Her nickname came about from the tight media security regarding operations after Pearl Harbor, the media referred to her as "Battleship X".

4. Nicknamed the Showboat, one of the few surviving US battleships from WWII still around.

Answer: USS North Carolina (BB-55)

North Carolina suffered from vibration aft and was in and out of the yard frequently to try and fix that, her nickname was given to her by other crews due to her showboat trips in and out of the harbor.

5. The "Big E" was one of three US aircraft carriers to start and finish the war. Sadly, she wasn't preserved and went to the breakers in 1958.

Answer: USS Enterprise (CV-6)

Her successor, the next USS Enterprise (CVN-65), carried the same nickname. Her call-sign was "Starship". She was decommissioned in turn, in 2012.

The other ships to both predate and survive the war were Saratoga (CV-3) and Ranger (CV-4).

6. Known as Big Spud, her first combat action was providing gunfire support to Army troops at Attu.

Answer: USS Idaho (BB-42)

Idaho was one of 4 wagons not at Pearl Harbor, she and her sisters were attached to LANTFLT on 7 DEC 1941.

7. Known as the Big Stick, she was one of the last battleships to see active duty.

Answer: USS Iowa (BB-61)

Iowa is currently moored in Suisun Bay, near San Francisco, CA. You can take a water tour of the Ghost Fleet there, the boats take you within 50 ft. of this proud lady.

8. Known as Big Mamie, she fired the first US 16" shells at the European Axis Powers and also fired the last 16" shells in combat in WWII.

Answer: USS Massachusetts (BB-59)

Big Mamie sank Jean Bart at Casablanca. You can visit her at Battleship Cove, MA. Several former members of her crew are docents there.

9. Called the Evil I, she served as the recovery ship for Aurora 7 (Carpenter) and Gemini 3 (Grissom/Young).

Answer: USS Intrepid (CV-11)

Her nickname came from her often ill luck and time spent in dry dock for repairs. She still serves as an emergency command center for state and federal authorities, the FBI used her as an operations center after the 11 Sep 2001 terrorist attacks.

10. Known as The Rebel Ship, she was one of three battleships at Pearl Harbor that received minor damage.

Answer: USS Tennessee (BB-43)

Another Pearl Harbor veteran. She was with West Virginia at Surigao.

Source: Author Yankeesix

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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