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General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Cruise Books About the Ship's Coat of Arms Accidents aboard the Ship History Patch Gallery Image Gallery to end of page |  |  |
USS COWPENS is the 17th TICONDEROGA class guided missile cruiser and the fifth ship in that class built by Bath Iron Works in Maine. In January 2013, the COWPENS was relieved as a forward deployed naval unit by her sistership ANTIETAM (CG 54). During the hull swap, the crew of the COWPENS took over the ANTIETAM and the ANTIETAM crew sailed the COWPENS back to San Diego, Calif.
| General Characteristics: | Keel Laid: 1987 |
| Launched: March 11, 1989 | |
| Commissioned: March 9, 1991 | |
| Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine | |
| 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: two 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 | |
| Homeport: San Diego, Calif. | |
| Crew: 33 Officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers and approx. 340 Enlisted |
back to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS COWPENS. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageUSS COWPENS Cruise Books:
back to top go to the end of the pageAbout the Ship's Coat of Arms:
The Shield:
The shield's dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy. Red denotes valor and sacrifice, while white represents high ideals. The three wavy bars refer to the sea, the USS COWPENS area of operations; and allude to the three lines of attack used by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan at Cowpens, South Carolina, in 1781. The previous USS COWPENS (CVL 25) service in World War II is honored by the circle of twelve battle stars. The Navy sword symbolizes a heritage of service and the vertical launch capabilities of CG 63. The wedge, or pile, symbolizes the spearhead of Morgan's attack and the vertical launch capabilities of the Aegis Cruiser; the jagged edge denotes the terrain of felled trees and rough fences making up the battle field at Cowpens.
The Crest:
The crest's muskets with attached bayonets emphasize the victory at Cowpens was won by the close combat of sustained fire and bayonet attack, and the drum suggests the Revolutionary War call to arms. The first eagle & stripes flag and the Maryland Regimental flag were flown at the Battle of Cowpens. The skyward spikes characterize the combat air support and strike capabilities of CVL 25 and the Aegis Weapons System of CG 63. CVL 25 earned the Navy Unit Commendation for World War II service, represented by the spike colors of blue, gold, red, & green.
The Motto:
The ship's motto is "Victoria Libertatis Vindex", Latin for "Victory Vindicates Liberty". The phrase was originally inscribed on a medal awarded to General Morgan by the French government for his brilliant tactics and leadership at the Battle of Cowpens.
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Accidents aboard USS COWPENS:
| Date | Where | Events |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2010 | Yokosuka, Japan | QM3 Christopher J. Perino dies after falling from the ship's bridge wing while the COWPENS is dry-docked at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Officials suspect possible suicide. |
back to top go to the end of the pageUSS COWPENS History:
USS COWPENS deployed in 1996 for a six-month period to the Arabian Gulf as part of the KITTY HAWK Task Group.
USS COWPENS, took part, along with the USS VALLEY FORGE (CG 50) and USS JARRETT (FFG 33), in a live standard-missile firing exercise in the Southern California operating areas in the fall of 1997. The exercise was a "Proof Of Concept" demonstration to see if the Navy could safely conduct live surface-to-air missile firings off the coast of San Diego, and possibly reduce the costs of conducting training.
USS COWPENS deloyed in 1998 for six months to the Western Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.
USS COWPENS underwent a regular overhaul that was completed in December 1999. Southwest Marine, Inc., San Diego, CA, was awarded an $8,719,494 firm-fixed-price with performance fee contract for the overhaul; work for which was performed in San Diego, CA.
USS COWPENS joined the Forward Deployed Naval Forces of Seventh Fleet, replacing the USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53), in July 2000.
The ship completed internationally successful diplomatic visits to Vladivostok, Russia. The COWPENS, after a deployment to the Indian Ocean, and visiting along the way Guam, Singapore, Thailand and India, paid a visit to Mumbai, India as the US Navy representative to the 2001 International Fleet Review. She was one of 97 ships representing more than 30 countries. USS COWPENS played an active role in the relief effort following January earthquakes in northwestern India, delivering medical and humanitarian supplies.
COWPENS also participated in several bi-lateral and multilateral exercises with the navies of Japan and Korea. This included Annual Exercise 2001 - a bilateral training drill between the Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, in November, in which the Aegis-Guided missile cruiser was the Navy’s centerpiece for the exercise while the USS KITTY HAWK deployed to the Indian Ocean for Operation Enduring Freedom. Operationally, COWPENS also supported highly sensitive escort missions and Operation NOBLE EAGLE. USS COWPENS also operated in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM conducting Strait of Malacca escort operations.
back to top go to the end of the pageUSS COWPENS Patch Gallery:
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back to top go to the end of the pageUSS COWPENS Image Gallery:
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The photos below were taken by Ian Johnson and show the COWPENS at Fremantle, Australia. The photos were taken on August 7, 2006 (the first photo) and August 11, 2006. At the time, COWPENS was assigned to the KITTY HAWK (CV 63) Strike Group.
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The photos below were taken by Ian Johnson and show the COWPENS arriving at Fremantle, Australia, on July 2, 2009, as part of the GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Strike Group. The last photo shows COWPENS one day later in the harbor. This was COWPENS' third visit to Western Australia.
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