These Battle-Tested Naval Ships Refuse to Retire

When it comes to naval vessels, these ships are a large financial investment for the military. In fiscal year 2025, the United States Department of the Navy plans to develop an amphibious warship known as the medium landing ship (LSM). Current estimates place each ship at about $340-430 million. Given that these ships cost such a whopping dollar amount, and are intended for serious use in multiple naval situations, they must live up to expectations. The stability of these ships is paramount and naval engineers must think in generational terms, ensuring that these vessels will remain effective through multiple modernizations. When you really think about it, the durability of naval vessels shows that a ship’s biggest strength is not necessarily its firepower (although that is arguably incredibly important) but its longevity. (That being said, these brand new ships and submarines are taking over the U.S. Navy.)

The U.S. Navy continues to innovate, adding to and strengthening its fleet with new vessels. Yet an examination of the ships and submarines within the Navy’s fleet highlights how much of its power comes from older ships. The average hull age of U.S. ships is 24 years, but some are much older, outlasting what many people thought they could achieve. To learn more about the oldest ships and vessels in the U.S. Navy, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Naval Vessel Register directory of commissioned vessels in the U.S. and cross-referenced this with data from the World Directory of Modern Military Warships regarding the class or type of each warship. We focused on commissioned ships and submarines that have served for at least 35 years, identified the U.S. Navy’s oldest vessels, and ranked them by age. (Does our fleet keep our Navy strong? Here are the 20 strongest navies on Earth, compared.)