Why Does This US Warship Fly a Jolly Roger?

Strange naval traditions

Grant Piper

The Medium 1 December 2023

Ifyou ever see the destroyer USS Kidd coming into port after a long deployment, you might be treated to an odd sight — a modern warship flying a massive Jolly Roger from the back. The Jolly Roger has long been associated with piracy and death. During World War I and World War II, the Jolly Roger often adorned submarines due to their piratical nature. If you saw a destroyer flying a Jolly Roger in the 17th or 18th centuries, you would unfurl your sails and turn hard in the opposite direction.

Generally, there are strict rules about what flags and adornment ships can sport, and the Jolly Roger is not on the approved list of flags for United States warships. So why is the USS Kidd an exception? Is it simply because it shares a name with an infamous pirate? Not quite. The reason that the Kidd is allowed to fly the Jolly Roger is tragic, and it has its roots in World War II lore.

The Original USS Kidd

On December 7th, 1941, Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd was the commander of Battleship Division One — the division stationed at Pearl Harbor. When the Japanese Zeroes came screaming out of the sky on that fateful day, Rear Admiral Kidd remained at his station on the bridge of the battleship Arizona. He remained at his post coordinating the battle until the ship was vaporized by a bomb that detonated its powder stores. The ship went down with over 1,000 people on board, including the admiral.

In honor of Kidd’s service and his tragic death, the United States commissioned a new destroyer, DD-661, to bear his name. The new destroyer was commissioned in 1943 with the name the USS Kidd. The first USS Kidd. While the crew was being put together, they were well aware of the ship’s namesake, but they also linked it with the infamous pirate Captain Kidd. As a result, a swashbuckling swagger infected the crew. The skull and crossbones were painted on the front smokestack, and the crew petitioned to be able to fly the Jolly Roger. The Navy agreed to their request due to the odd circumstances of the ship’s namesake.

From that point forward, any US ship bearing the name USS Kidd is given the right to fly the infamous flag as it chooses. It is a tradition rooted in loss and war dating back to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The USS Kidd Today

The original USS Kidd was eventually decommissioned and stricken from the roles after a long service that spanned World War II and the Korean War. In 2007, a new ship was commissioned with the name USS Kidd. The new destroyer was a modern Arleigh-Burke class destroyer (DDG-100), and due to its special namesake, it was also given the right to fly the Jolly Roger.

The new ship inherited the old name and, therefore the old tradition. Just like the World War II destroyer, the new USS Kidd was given a detailed history of the ship’s name, including the connection to Rear Admiral Kidd and Captain Kidd. As a result, they now fly the Jolly Roger when entering port on special occasions.

Interestingly enough, the modern USS Kidd had a run in with modern pirates in 2012. The Kidd was deployed to the Arabian Sea to rescue a crew of 13 Iranian nationals who had been held captive by pirates after they hijacked their ship.

The Al Molai was a fishing vessel that was captured by pirates and held for over 40 days. The pirates forced the crew of the boat to pilot it and use it for further piracy operations. It was an interesting ploy.

The USS Kidd was deployed to resolve the situation. The destroyer came alongside the hijacked ship and boarded it, capturing all 15 pirates in the process and freeing the crew.

Not many US ships have been involved in busting an actual pirate ship. It is one of those weird quirks of fate that the only US warship allowed to fly the Jolly Roger was one of them.

Conclusion

The USS Kidd is a confluence of history and tradition. Its namesake is attributed to the brave actions of Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd at the Battle of Pear Harbor. Rear Admiral Kidd lost his life when the USS Arizona went down. Today, his legacy lives on. It is intertwined with naval tradition, piracy, and honor. The result is that, if you are lucky, you might one day catch a glimpse of the USS Kidd flying its massive Jolly Roger. The only US ship allowed to fly the fearsome pirate flag in the 21st century.