Talk:Samuel B. Roberts/@comment-32181426-20180424142239/@comment-35292770-20180425061835

The idea of USN naming convention actually tied closely with their doctrine prior to Pearl Harbour:

The Wildlife (Submarine), supporting the life of individuals (Destroyer) to serve thei cities (Cruiser) which is under their states (Battleship)

Now the Carriers are a bit odd. I don't know if it's true, but there's a story that at the height of Brown Shoes vs Black Shoes, the Brown Shoes (Carrier Admirals) argued that Carrier would become the main strength of the fleet, and thus, should be named after something higher than the states itself, an idea or identity of which the states was founded or strive to achieve. Hence, name such as Ranger and Enterprise. But the Black Shoes (Battleship Admirals) thought that the carriers can only be used to scout and distract their enemy, it acts like nothing more than a pest. Hence, name such as Wasp and Hornet. In between them were the "reconcilement" zone, which is named after battle such as Lexington, Saratoga, and Yorktown.