Previous ships called Independence
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Independence is a name which has been bestowed upon a number of ships, ranging from a cruise liner and a frieghter to two aircraft carriers. It has twice been the name given to the lead ship of its class and is a name which recurs throughout the history of Earth's US Navy. The name's meaning of freedom and liberty has ensured that the name has passed to Starfleet vessels that have followed over half a millenium after the first naval vessel.
Independence
The first Independence was a brigantine in service with the Massachusetts State Navy. Built in Kingston, MA in 1776, she was named on 20th April of that year. The Independence cruised along the coast of New England from July 1776 until her capture by the British Royal Navy vessels HMS Hope and HMS Nancy off the coast of Nova Scotia just four months later.
USS Independence
The second Independence was a 10 gun sloop which served in the American War of Independence. Built in Baltimore, MD, she entered service in late 1776 and attempted to protect American merchant trade in the Carribean from the Royal Navy. In mid 1777, she sailed across the Atlantic to L'Orient, France. En route, she captured two vessels. She was present in Quiberon Bay in February 1778, when the Ranger received the first official recognition of the United States of America by a foreign power. The Independence itself exchanged salutes with the French Navy the following day. Shortly after, she sailed back for North America, but was wrecked on a sandbar on 24th April 1778 attempting to enter Okracoke Inlet, NC.
USS Independence
The third ship to bear the name, this Independence was the first ship of the line commissioned by the US Navy. Launched on 22nd June 1814, during the War of 1812, she immediately saw action alongside the frigate USS Constitution defending the approaches to Boston Harbor. Upon the conclusion of the conflict, Independence sailed to the Mediterranean as part of a task force of 10 ships in the Second Barbary War. The flagship of Commodore Bainbridge, conflict had ceased before Independence reached the region. Modifications in 1836 reduced the ship size as Independence became a Frigate. She was one of the largest and fastest frigates in the US Navy, setting a record for fastest trans-Atlantic crossing in May/June 1837. In following decades, she twice served as flagship of the Pacific Squadron, including during the Mexican-American War. Indy was present for both the capture of Guaymas in October 1947 and the occupation of Mazatlán a month later. By the end of the 1850's, she was serving as a receiving ship at Mare Island Navy Yard; a role she continued in until she was finally decommissioned in 1912. Independence was sold in 1914 and scrapped the following year. Over the course of the 98 years that she was in commission, she served as flagship for no fewer than 7 Commodores.
USS Independence - SP-3676
Built as a steamer with three masts in 1918, this USS Independence was commissioned just eight days after the end of Earths World War I. Built in Alameda for the United States Shipping Board, she was used as a Navy ship carrying food for the months following the end of the War, before being decommissioned and returned to the USSB in March 1919. She then served as part of the US Merchant Navy. She was rebuilt and renamed in 1930, becoming first the City of Norfolk and then in 1941, after another rebuild, the Neville. In this guise, she served as an attack transport in World War II. She was decommissioned after the Second World War, and scrapped in 1957.
USS Independence - CVL-22
- "The difficult we do immediately; ....the impossible takes a little longer"
The lead ship of the US Navys' Independence Class Aircraft Carrier, the fifth Independence was launched on 22nd August 1942 and commissioned on 14th January the following year, in the midst of World War II. Laid down as the light cruiser USS Amsterdam, it was converted to a light aircraft carrier in mid-construction. After shakedown in the Caribbean Sea, the carrier crossed into the Pacific Ocean to join the Pacific Fleet of the US Navy. It was involved in attacks on Marcus I., Wake I. and the Gilbert Is. before repairs in 1944 required due to a torpedo attack from Japanese aircraft. Upon return to action, the Independence was involved in attacks on the Philippines, including involvement in the key Battle of Leyte Gulf. Independence provided air support for the Battle of Okinawa as the war in the Pacific came to a conclusion. The carrier then transported troops back to the USA before being used as a target for Atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. Indy survived two atomic blasts before decommissioning in August 1946; she was scuttled off the coast of California five years later.
SS Independence
The SS Independence was an ocean liner built in 1951. Her design accomodated 1000 passengers, or 5000 soldiers in war time. Constructed in Massachusetts, she was rebuilt as a cruise ship in 1959, a refit which saw capacity reduced to just 395 passengers. She was retired from service due to low passenger numbers in 1968, but a new buyer in 1974 enabled the ship to serve again. She was renamed, becoming the SS Oceanic Independence, and again refitted to carry 950 passengers. She began cruises of Hawaii in 1979, but ran aground sustaining heavy damage in 1981. She reverted back to SS Independence in 1982 before being renamed again in 2006; this time to SS Oceanic. The sister ship to the SS Constitution, SS Independence was the last ocean liner built in the United States of America to sail under the American flag. Her fate is unknown.
USS Independence - CV-62
- "Freedom's Flagship"
The second aircraft carrier of Earth's US Navy to bear the name. A Forrestal Class ship, she was launched at the New York Navy Yard on 6th June 1958 and commissioned on the 10th January the following year. Independence played a highly visible part of the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 before being decorated for service in the Vietnam War in 1965. The carrier spent the majority of its service in the Mediterranean Sea and was awarded in 1970 for actions against the Palestine Liberation Organization during "Black September". In 1974, Independence helped search in vain for survivors of the TWA Flight 841 bombing. In 1982, Independence was involved in peacekeeping in the Middle East due to the War in Lebanon. She then provided air support in the Invasion of Grenada in 1983 before winning the Atlantic Fleet Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award the following year. Independence underwent a major refit in the mid 1980's and then served most of the early 90's in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War and its aftermath. After over 39 years of service, this Independence was decommissioned on 30th September 1998, having been the oldest ship in the active fleets of the US Navy for its final three years of service.
USS Independence - LCS-2
- NOTE: In RL, this ship is not yet commissioned.
The second Littoral Combat Ship in Earth's US Navy, this Independence was one of two prototypes of a newly conceived type of vessel. This Independence had a Trimaran hull to provide stability in rough seas and was equipped for service in proximity to the coast. She was built in Mobile, Alabama.
USS Independence - NCC-01776
- "A little revolution is good every now and then."
A New Orleans class Starfleet vessel, this Independence was commissioned in 2366 and saw service in the Dominion War. Having survived the war, it underwent a scheduled refit in 2379. The vessel then saw action in the Ithassa Region under the command of Captain Jessa Anassasi. The ship served with distinction in the region, recognised in part by Starfleet by the fact that Captain Anassasi was a Rear Admiral within 4 years of taking command. The vessel was destroyed in an attempted Gorn invasion of the region, being rammed into the Gorn vessel Emperor's Fang by Commander Mar in the climactic Battle of Deep Space 17 on 26th September 2383.