From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Seven United States Navy ships have been named USS Columbia, after the personification of the United States, also after the city of Columbia, South Carolina.
- A 44-gun frigate Columbia was under construction at the Washington Navy Yard, but was burned in 1814 to prevent capture by the British.
- The first Columbia was a 50-gun sailing frigate launched in 1836 and in occasional service until 1861, when she was burned to avoid capture by the Confederates.
- The second Columbia was a captured Confederate screw steamer that ran aground in 1863.
- The third Columbia was an ironclad, also captured from the Confederates in 1865 and in use until June of that year(?).
- The fourth Columbia (C-12), later CA-16, was a cruiser in service from 1894 to 1921.
- The fifth Columbia (AG-9) was originally the Great Northern, a troop transport, renamed in 1921 and used until 1922.
- The sixth Columbia (CL-56) was a light cruiser launched 17 December 1941 and active throughout World War II.
- The seventh Columbia (SSN-771) is a Los Angeles-class attack submarine commissioned in 1995 and on active service as of 2003.
