Admitted to the Union as the 39
th state, North Dakota has made its fair share of contributions to naval history. At least 13 ships have been named after the state, its cities, places, and people. Two ships have been named after "The Peace Garden" state itself: USS North Dakota I (BB 29), a battleship commissioned in 1910, and USS North Dakota II (SSN 784), a Virginia-class submarine commissioned in 2014. The submarine North Dakota was the first to carry two Tomahawk payload tubes in its arsenal! Famous North Dakotans to serve in the U.S. Navy include
Lt. Willis Winter Bradley Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient who served during World War I. Bradley rescued his shipmates from a burning casemate on board
USS Pittsburgh II (Armored Cruiser No. 4).
Despite North Dakota's landlocked geographical location, it is home to several important naval facilities, including the Naval Radio Transmitter Facility in LaMoure, N.D., a supporting detachment for Naval Network Warfare Command. Check out our infographic for more information on the Sailors, ships, and places in North Dakota with ties to naval history and heritage!