USS Essex

Five ships of the United States Navy have been named USS "Essex", after Essex County, Massachusetts.

* The first USS|Essex|1799|2 was a 32-gun sailing frigate launched in 1799, one of the heroes of the War of 1812.

* The second USS|Essex|1856|2 was an ironclad steamer in the American Civil War.

* The third USS|Essex|1876|2 was a wooden screw steamer launched in 1876, one of the last ships of the "Old Navy".

* The fourth USS|Essex|CV-9 was an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1942 (as the first of the Essex class) and active in World War II, the Korean War, and Project Apollo, finally decommissioning in 1969.

* The fifth USS|Essex|LHD-2 is an amphibious assault ship commissioned 1992 and on active service as of |2008|lc=on.

:* For the "civilian" whaling ship destroyed by a Sperm Whale, see Whaleship Essex.