About this Unit
USS Kearsarge is the name given to several notable ships in United States Navy history, most famously the sloop-of-war commissioned in 1862. During the American Civil War, USS Kearsarge gained renown by defeating the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off the coast of France in 1864, a pivotal naval engagement that bolstered Union morale. Later, the name was carried by a series of aircraft carriers, beginning with USS Kearsarge (CV-33), an Essex-class carrier commissioned in 1946 that served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. The legacy continues today with USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1993, supporting a wide range of military operations and humanitarian missions around the globe.
Historical Facts
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Multiple Ships Named USS Kearsarge: There have been several ships named USS Kearsarge in the U.S. Navy, honoring Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire. The most famous is the Civil War-era sloop-of-war.
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Civil War Fame: The first USS Kearsarge (1861) became famous for defeating the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France, in 1864.
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The Battle with Alabama: The 1864 battle between Kearsarge and Alabama was watched by thousands from the French coast and became an international news sensation.
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Armor Plating: The original Kearsarge was secretly fitted with chain cable armor along her hull, which helped protect her during the battle with Alabama.
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Namesake Aircraft Carrier: USS Kearsarge (CV-33) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1946 and served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
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Space Capsule Recovery: The aircraft carrier Kearsarge (CVS-33) recovered two Mercury space capsules: Sigma 7 in 1962 and Faith 7 in 1963, making her a part of space exploration history.
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Modern Amphibious Assault Ship: The current USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), commissioned in 1993, is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship capable of deploying Marines, helicopters, and landing craft.
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Humanitarian Missions: LHD-3 has participated in numerous humanitarian missions, including Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005 and Operation Continuing Promise in the Americas.
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Presidential Connection: President Abraham Lincoln personally wrote a letter of thanks to the crew of the original Kearsarge after their victory against Alabama.
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Art and Legacy: Models and paintings of USS Kearsarge are displayed in museums worldwide, and her legacy has inspired poems, artworks, and even a Civil War-era folk song.
