USS New Orleans

Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name New Orleans, after the historic city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

What might have been the first New Orleans was never launched. During the War of 1812 there was a ship building race on Lake Ontario (at that time isolated from the sea), and Henry Eckford laid down a 130-gun ship of the line. Peace brought a end to the construction, and the partial hull was sold on the stocks in 1883.

• The first New Orleans (CL-22) was a protected cruiser, purchased in 1898, that was active in the Spanish-American War and World War I.

• The second New Orleans (CA-32) was a cruiser commissioned in 1934 and seeing much service in World War II.

• The third New Orleans (LPH-11) was an amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1968. She was a recovery ship for the Apollo program and was used in the filming of the movie Apollo 13.

• The fourth New Orleans (LPD-18) is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock that was launched in 2003.

The Confederate States of America also had a floating gun battery on the Mississippi River named CSS New Orleans.