Godzilla: 17 Easter Eggs, References & Fan Nods You Need To See

8. The USS Saratoga

The name of Admiral Stenz's warship, which acts as the flagship for Godzilla's fleet entourage/task force is no accident: the USS Saratoga has a rich history linked to atomic testing in the Pacific. Having been active from 1920 until 1945, including playing a part in the Battle of Iwo Jima and as a lead in the attempt to retake Wake Island after Pearl Harbour, the ship was wrecked in 1946, and was used in atomic testing to see how nuclear damage impacted vessels. The testing - called Operation Crossroads - took place at Bikini Atoll, a setting for the film's prologue, and the name is clearly a reference to them, as they are explained in the film to have been attempts to kill Godzilla with more and more powerful bombs.