Most decorated US Naval vessels of World War II explained

This list catalogs the most honored US Naval vessels of the Second World War. It is placed in descending order of earned Battle Stars; descending accorded unit recognitions; descending ship size by type; and ascending hull number. It contains only vessels that earned fifteen or more Battle Stars for World War II service.

Honors awarded that are not listed may include:

• Honors awarded by countries other than the United States (e.g., Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, British Admiralty Pennant)
• Honors awarded to all units for serving active duty during World War II; including active duty before US entry in the war (e.g., American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal)
• Honors awarded to vessels for campaigns other than World War II service (e.g. Korean War service, Vietnam War service).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Yarnall. Paul. USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6). 4 May 2012.
2. San Diego LPD-22 . The eighteen (18) gold stars pay tribute to the battle stars awarded to light cruiser San Diego (CL-53) for her service during World War II.
3. Web site: USS San Diego (CL-53) Memorial . 4 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120912034957/http://www.tourofhonor.com/pages/2012ca_sandiego.html . September 12, 2012 .
4. San Diego II.
5. Book: Wiper, Steve. New Orleans Class Cruisers: Warship Pictorial #7. 2000. Classic Warships Publishing. Tucson, Az. 0-9654829-6-0. 58.
6. Web site: USS O'Bannon DD-540. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
7. Book: Brown, Herbert C.. Hell at Tassafaronga. 2001. Morris Publishing. Kearney, NE. 0-9700721-4-7. 191. registration.
8. New Orleans II.
9. Minneapolis II .
10. Web site: USS Maury DD-401. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
11. Web site: USS Nicholas DD-449. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
12. Web site: USS Buchanan DD-484. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
13. Web site: Stables. Joe. The Portland's History. 4 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140914213009/http://www.ussportland.org/. 14 September 2014. dead.
14. Web site: USS Russell DD-414. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
15. Web site: Fletcher class. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
16. Taylor I . 28 June 2019.
17. Web site: USS Taylor DD-468. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
18. Web site: USS Thresher SS200 History. 4 May 2012.
19. Web site: History. North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. 4 May 2012.
20. Web site: USS Morris DD-417. Destroyer History Foundation.. 4 May 2012.
21. Web site: USS Fletcher DD-445. Destroyer History Foundation. 4 May 2012.
22. Web site: USS Narwhal SS-167 Kill Record. 4 May 2012.