Search the Site with 
General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Cruise Books About the Ship's Coat of Arms Accidents aboard USS San Jacinto In the News USS San Jacinto History About the Name "San Jacinto" Patch Gallery Image Gallery to end of page

USS San Jacinto (CG 56)

- decommissioned -

USS SAN JACINTO was the tenth ship in the TICONDEROGA - class of guided missile cruisers and the third ship in the Navy to bear the name of the historic battle. The ship held a decommissioning ceremony at her homeport of Norfolk, Va., on September 15, 2023.

General Characteristics:Keel Laid: July 24, 1985
Launched: November 14, 1986
Commissioned: January 23, 1988
Decommissioned: September 29, 2023
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, West Bank, Pascagoula, Miss.
Propulsion system: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines
Propellers: two
Blades on each Propeller: five
Length: 567 feet (173 meters)
Beam: 55 feet (16.8 meters)
Draft: 34 feet (10.2 meters)
Displacement: approx. 9,600 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots
Cost: about $1 billion
Aircraft: two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS 3)
Armament: Mk 41 VLS for Standard missiles, Tomahawk, ASROC; Mk 46 torpedoes, Harpoon missile launchers, two Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight guns, two Phalanx CIWS, two Mk 38 Mod 2 25mm machine gun systems
Crew: 33 Officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers and approx. 340 Enlisted


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page



Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS SAN JACINTO. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


back to top  go to the end of the page



Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

USS SAN JACINTO Cruise Books:


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The shield's wavy pale represents the San Jacinto River and also alludes to the wake of a ship. The representation of the Texas flag on the shield symbolizes the independence won by the Texans in defeating a Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. The eagle, a national symbol of both Mexico and the United States, reflects Texas history and victory at San Jacinto. The armed eagle symbolizes the combat readiness of the ship as a part of a strong national defense. Dark blue, the primary color of the shield, and gold, the predominant color of the main charge, are traditionally associated with the Navy.

The crest's propeller alludes to the first USS SAN JACINTO, which was one of the United States Navy's first screw-type warships. The wings suggest the second USS SAN JACINTO (CVL 30), a light aircraft carrier. The stars on the sword denote the five battle honors awarded to the second USS SAN JACINTO for World War II service. The sword connects the present USS SAN JACINTO, with its state-of-the-art technology, to previous ships of that name.

The motto's words, "Victory is Certain", is a quote from General Sam Houston's speech as he spoke to his outnumbered men before the Battle of San Jacinto.


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

Accidents aboard USS SAN JACINTO:

DateWhereEvents
October 13, 2012off Jacksonville, Fla.While rising to periscope depth, the USS MONTPELIER (SSN 765) collides with the USS SAN JACINTO while both vessels are conducting exercises off the coast of Florida. The collision occurred at approx. 3.30pm local time and appearently caused damage to SAN JACINTO's sonar dome, however, MONTPELIER's nuclear propulsion system was not damaged.


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

USS SAN JACINTO in the News:

Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

History of USS SAN JACINTO:

USS SAN JACINTO’s construction began on 5 October 1984, and her keel was laid on 24 July 1985. She was launched on 14 November 1986, and christened 24 January 1987 by her sponsor Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm, wife of Senator Phil Gramm of Texas. SAN JACINTO was commissioned on 23 January 1988 by the Vice President George Bush in Houston, Texas.

In the seven years since her commissioning, SAN JACINTO has won all major awards. These include the Battenburg Cup, recognizing her as the best ship in the Atlantic Fleet, and three Battle Efficiency Awards for the best AEGIS cruiser in the Atlantic Fleet. She has won, and been a subsequent runner-up, in the Atlantic Fleet Golden Anchor competition, recognizing her superior quality of life and retention programs. Other awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

SAN JACINTO has distinguished herself by a 1989 Mediterranean deployment, where she provided the strike warfare capability supporting the first Mediterranean aircraft carrier gap in recent history. In August 1990, SAN JACINTO deployed with only five day's notice for OPERATION DESERT SHIELD, where she served as Red Sea Battle Force Anti- Air Warfare Commander and launched the first Tomahawk Cruise missiles ever fired in combat during the opening salvos of OPERATION DESERT STORM. In 1992, SAN JACINTO circumnavigated South America during UNITAS XXXIII, a multi-national naval exercise. Many of the littoral warfare tactical initiatives developed during UNITAS were later refined during BALTOPS '93 exercises, when SAN JACINTO embarked the first-ever LAMPS SH-60B and SH-60F combined detachment.

SAN JACINTO deployed to the Mediterranean and Red Sea in 1994 as part of the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Battle Group. During her 69 days in the Adriatic Sea, she enforced the "No-Fly Zone" over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the U.N. sanctioned arms embargo. When Saddam Hussein sent his forces once again towards Kuwait in October, SAN JACINTO responded rapidly, taking Tomahawk Strike station in the Red Sea, just as she had three years earlier.

In 1996, SAN JACINTO again deployed to the Mediterranean and Red Seas as part of the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON Battle Group. While there, she participated in joint operations with the Russian Navy, and distinguished herself during rescue operations of the merchant ship SAUDI HOFFUF. She ended the deployment with her first extended shipyard overhaul period.

In 1998, SAN JACINTO deployed with the USS JOHN C. STENNIS to the Arabian Gulf. Following a 16-day transit, SAN JACINTO served as the Air Warfare Commander for the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Battle Group and Regional Air Warfare Commander for the Arabian Gulf. Additional taskings included as part of Operation Southern Watch and Maritime Interdiction Operations in support of UN Resolutions and sanctions against Iraq, defense of the JOHN C. STENNIS as "Shotgun Cruiser", and a rescue at sea of a Turkish merchant vessel.

Upon its return home, and with the JOHN C. STENNIS’ move to the West Coast, USS SAN JACINTO was reassigned to the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN Battle Group. In its available inter-deployment time, USS SAN JACINTO went to New York City for Fleet Week ’99.

USS SAN JACINTO deployed in late November 2000, for six months to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. Prior to that deployment, the cruiser took part in Joint Task Force exercise 01-1 and NATO exercise Unified Spirit 2000. As the Air Warfare Commander and only AEGIS cruiser in the HARRY S. TRUMAN Battle Group, SAN JACINTO used its SPY-1 Radar and command and control communications suite to help maintain regional stability through the enforcement of the Iraqi Southern ‘No-Fly’ zone and the conduct of Maritime Interception Operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf. It returned to its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia in late May 2001.

In December 2002, SAN JACINTO deployed to the Mediterranean and Red Sea as the Air Defense Commander (ADC) for HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) and later during Operation Iraqi Freedom to include the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) Strike Group. As ADC, SAN JACINTO was responsible for defending the ships of Task Force Sixty against air or missile attack and management of air traffic within an extremely confined area as two aircraft carriers conducted flight operations around the clock. From March 15 to March 28, SAN JACINTO operated in the Red Sea, supporting the Commander, United States Fifth Fleet. It was during her Red Sea Operations that SAN JACINTO fired 29 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles against targets in Iraq - the most missiles launched by any ship in the Red Sea. The ship’s boarding teams conducted a series of inspections designed to ensure that vessels were not involved in the support of Al Quaeda or other terrorist organizations, and to deter other vessels from offering terrorists safe haven or support.

The ship returned from the extremely successful deployment May 23, 2003.


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page



Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

About the Cruiser’s Name, about the Battle of San Jacinto:

The name SAN JACINTO honors the 21 April 1836 battle by the San Jacinto River in Texas, where General Sam Houston and his greatly outnumbered Texas soldiers won independence for the Republic of Texas, decisively defeating General Santa Anna and his Mexican Army. On the morning of 21 April, General Houston slept past reveille - his first real rest in six weeks - and awoke to full daylight. Studying the clear sky, he saw an eagle circling overhead. He spent the day formulating his battle plan and, at three o'clock, formed his troops. It was Mexican siesta time; the confident Santa Anna was sleeping, as were many of his men. They would wake, if at all, to face a western sun behind the Texans. General Houston made an eloquent speech to his troops, closing with inspiring words, "Victory is certain! ... Remember the Alamo!" He had given them their battle cry.

At four o'clock, General Sam Houston, astride a big white horse, raised his sword. A drum and fife began to play as the ragtag army moved out of the mossy oak trees that concealed them. They proceeded up a slight incline toward the resting Mexicans, who did not stir. Then came the noise of battle, the rumble of hooves, as the Texas Cavalry charged, the blast of Houston's two small cannons, his infantry's first shocking volley, shouted battle cries - "Remember the Alamo!" Surprise was complete.

Despite desperate attempts to rally, the Mexicans were overwhelmed, as Texans fell upon them with Bowie knives and rifle butts. In twenty minutes, the battle was over. Santa Anna donned civilian clothes and tried to escape, but was captured. He surrendered to Houston, who lay under a tree, his foot shattered by a rifle ball. The extent of victory was impressive: 630 Mexicans killed, 208 wounded, 730 taken prisoner. The Texas army of 900 warriors lost only nine men.

The Battle of San Jacinto established "The Republic of Texas," that flourished for a decade. The victory eventually added over one million square miles of territory to the United States. From this vast area came the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma.


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page



Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page

USS SAN JACINTO Patch Gallery:

HSL-48 Det.8 - MED 1994


Back to topback to top  go to endgo to the end of the page



The photo below was taken by Karl-Heinz Ahles and shows USS SAN JACINTO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on May 11, 1999.

The photos below were taken by me on June 19, 2004, and show the SAN JACINTO in port Kiel, Germany, after her participation in BALTOPS 2004 in the Baltic Sea.

The photos below were taken by Carl Groll and show the SAN JACINTO entering Kiel on June 18 (the first two pictures); moored at Kiel on the morning of June 21 and departing Kiel later that day.



The photos below were taken by me and show the USS SAN JACINTO at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., on November 9, 2008.



The photos below were taken by me and show the USS SAN JACINTO dry-docked at the BAE Shipyard, Norfolk, Va., on October 29, 2010.



The photos below were taken by me and show the USS SAN JACINTO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on May 6, 2012.



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the USS SAN JACINTO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on May 8, 2014. She is still wearing the homecoming garland on the bow from her homecoming on April 18. The SAN JACINTO had been deployed for 9 months.



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the USS SAN JACINTO drydocked at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair at Norfolk, Va., during her Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA). The photo was taken on October 23, 2014.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USS SAN JACINTO still at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair at Norfolk, Va., on April 29, 2015.



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the USS SAN JACINTO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on October 6, 2015.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USS SAN JACINTO at New York City during Fleet Week New York on May 26, 2017.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USS SAN JACINTO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on October 4, 2017.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USS SAN JACINTO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on September 21, 2018.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the decommissioned SAN JACINTO laid up at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on October 9, 2023. She is now waiting to be towed to Philadelphia, Penn.



Back to topback to top



Back to Cruisers list. Back to ships list. Back to selection page. Back to 1st page.