The USS California refers to two different ships in the history of the United States Navy. The first, a battleship, was commissioned in 1919 and served during World War II. It was notable for its participation in the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, where it was damaged but later repaired and returned to service. The second USS California is a nuclear-powered submarine, commissioned in 1984. This submarine is part of the Virginia-class and is designed for a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering. Both ships reflect the evolution of naval technology and strategy over the decades.