5 of the oldest military ships still in active service

When a naval ship has served its purpose or becomes technologically obsolete, it is usually decommissioned or ‘decommissioned’. A demolition operation usually follows, although occasionally a unique warship is converted into a museum. In most cases, Navy ships do not retain their commission when it is time to end their service. Still, every now and then a navy will continue to use a ship well beyond its intended retirement.

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There are a few Navy ships that were first built more than 50 years ago. While there are still older sailing ships used for training personnel among the world’s navies, the focus of this article is on active military ships that are still technically capable of deploying and fighting. Of course, some of the older examples are not suitable for modern combat, despite their ability to remain afloat, but they remain active mission ships nonetheless.

The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) was commissioned on May 3, 1975. It is named for World War II Pacific Fleet Commander Chester W. Nimitz, and she is the first of her class. When she was built, the Nimitz was one of the largest warships ever builtand she remains on active duty. The Nimitz is a massive ship that displaces 100,000 tons of seawater, and her entire crew consists of 3,200 sailors and another 2,480 in her air wing.

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While Nimitz was built more than half a century ago, she completed a Refueling and Complex Overhaul (ROH) in 2001, bringing her systems up to 21st century standards. Throughout her service history, the Nimitz has participated in several operations, including Operation Eagle Claw, the failed rescue of embassy personnel in Tehran, Iran. In addition, the Nimitz participated in the Gulf of Sidra incident, Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.

The Nimitz is not only the oldest aircraft carrier still in service with the US Navy, she is also the oldest aircraft carrier in the world. Despite her age, she remains a highly capable ship with a deadly air force that can be deployed anywhere in the world. Despite this, aircraft carriers have a service life of about 50 years, and in September 2024 the Navy introduced a plan to decommission the ship in 2026.

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The USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) is the first in its class of amphibious command ships and the flagship of the Seventh Fleet. The Navy commissioned her on November 14, 1970 and named her after the Blue Ridge Mountains. Several Blue Ridge class ships followed and continue to sail, but the Blue Ridge was the first and has been in active service for over 50 years. The role of the Blue Ridge is to provide command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) in support of the fleet commander. As of October 2024, the USS Blue Ridge is the Navy’s oldest deployable warship.

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The Blue Ridge displaces almost 20,000 tons of seawater and is 200 meters long. Her crew consists of 52 officers and 790 enlisted personnel. When it houses the command staff, these numbers rise to 268 officers and 1,173 enlisted men. The Blue Ridge is well armed for defense, with two Phalanx CIWS guns, two 25mm Bushmaster guns and eight .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns. She also carries up to two helicopters.

The Blue Ridge served during the Vietnam War and sailed in the Gulf of Tonkin during operations against the North Vietnamese Army. During the evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel in Saigon, the Blue Ridge was present to assist and return personnel to the United States. After this, she took part in Operation Boat People, helping to rescue Vietnamese refugees. In the years that followed, the Blue Ridge was mainly used for goodwill port visits and diplomatic contacts.

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The USCGC Reliance (WMEC-615) is a medium endurance cutter operated by the United States Coast Guard since she was first commissioned in 1964. Numerous Coast Guard vessels followed in the same class, but the Reliance is the oldest and has been around for more than 60 years. Although a Coast Guard Cutter is not a traditional warship, they participate in numerous military operations initiated by the U.S. Coast Guard, including counternarcotics, pollution patrols, and search and rescue.

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The Reliance is just over 65 meters long and displaces 759 tons of seawater. She is crewed by 12 officers and 63 enlisted men and is armed with one Mk. 38 25mm autocannon and two M2HB .50 caliber machine guns. She also carries a single HH-65 Dolphin, a type of helicopter used by the Coast Guard for various missions. Interestingly, the Reliance is not the first naval ship to bear the name, which dates back to the 19th century.

The Reliance is the fourth to bear the name, and there are no plans to retire her despite her age. You can also follow the Reliance, which you can’t do with most military ships. Today she primarily supports law enforcement operations. This could change as the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Defense. It only supports the Ministry of Defense in full military operations during wartime.

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(Featured image by USCG via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public domain)

The USS Constitution is the oldest ship serving in the United States Navy by an epic margin. First launched in 1797, she was initially deployed to protect American merchant ships during the quasi-war between the American and French First Republics from 1798 to 1800. The Constitution served admirably and was nicknamed ” Old Ironsides” for shaking herself off. cannonballs in a battle with the HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812. Throughout the conflict, the Constitution defeated several British warships, earning it a place of honor and distinction in American history.

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Although the Constitution was removed from active service, it was never decommissioned. This makes her the oldest maritime warship still afloat. She remained the flagship for much of the 19th century and was converted into a training ship during the American Civil War. She was classified as a museum ship in 1907, but remained active in the US Navy. She sailed under her own power to celebrate her 200th birthday in 1997 and did it again in 2012 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her battle with de Guerriere.

Today, the Constitution remains dedicated to historical demonstrations and the preservation of maritime history. Although she is a museum you can visit in Boston, Massachusetts, “Old Ironsides” remains in service and has a crew of 75 active duty officers and enlisted personnel. She won’t be joining the battle anytime soon, but the fact remains: she is the oldest warship still in service in the US Navy.

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The HMS Victory is a first class ship in the line of the Royal Navy and was first launched in 1765, making the Victory the oldest naval ship still in use. Furthermore, the Victory is one of the most historically important warships in military history, having participated in several important conflicts of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was famously commanded by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, who used her as his flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, her most important campaign.

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The Victory also took part in the First and Second Battles of Ushant, the Siege of Gibraltar, the Battle of the Hyères Islands and the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in the years before Vice Admiral Nelson took command. Eventually the Victory’s age caught up with her and she was in dire need of repairs. She was made a second class ship and even served as a prison ship for several years. In 1831 the decision was made to reap victory for her means, but a public outcry saved her.

Before the name existed, she was already a kind of museum ship. This resulted in more damage and in the early 20th century she underwent repairs and restorations. In the 21st century, the Victory had undergone significant periods of restoration, returning her to her glory days. She is now a real museum ship that is permanently moored so that visitors can see the famous ship with their own eyes. While she can no longer sail, the Victory retains her commission in the Royal Navy as flagship to the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.

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