USS Kearsarge (BB-5), the lead ship of her class of battleships, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named, by act of Congress, in honor of the famous American Civil War sloop-of-war Kearsarge. Her keel was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News, Virginia on 30 June 1896. She was launched on 24 March 1898, sponsored by Mrs.
USS Kearsarge, a Mohican-class sloop-of-war, is best known for her defeat of the Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama during the American Civil War. The Kearsarge was the only ship of the United States Navy named for Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire. Subsequent ships were named Kearsarge in honor of this ship, not of the mountain.
USS Kearsarge has been the name of four commissioned ships of the United States Navy (and another ship that was renamed during construction). The first was named for Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire; the later ones were named in honor of the first. Ship 11 at Recruit Training Command is also named Kearsarge in honor of the first ship.
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), the third Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named (the fourth actually commissioned) in honor of the sloop Kearsarge, of American Civil War fame. She was, in turn, named for Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire.
The third USS Kearsarge (CV-33) (also CVA-33 and CVS-33) was a United States Navy Essex class aircraft carrier. Named for New Hampshire's Mount Kearsarge, she was launched 5 May 1945 by the New York Naval Shipyard, New York, sponsored by Mrs. Aubrey W.