SITE NAVIGATION

SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER (CG)
CLASS	TICONDEROGA
OFFICIAL NAME	USS VINCENNES
PENNANT NUMBER	49
NICKNAME	N/A
MOTTO	FREEDOM'S FORTRESS
BUILDER	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	08/28/1981
KEEL LAYING DATE	10/19/1982
LAUNCH DATE	01/14/1984
DELIVERY DATE	06/03/1985
COMMISSION DATE	07/06/1985
PLANNING YARD	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING, PASCAGOULA, MS
NAVSEA PMS	400
CUSTODIAN	US NAVY
STATUS	STRICKEN 06/29/2005, TO BE DISMANTLED
HOMEPORT	BREMERTON, WA
MAILING ADDRESS	FPO, AP, 96682-1169
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	21295
TYPE COMMANDER	N/A
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	N/A
SQUADRON COMMAND	N/A

Aegis Guided Missile Cruisers, TICONDEROGA Class

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CG 49 | USS VINCENNES

Namesake:

VINCENNES is the fourth capital warship to bear this name and a city in Indiana, 55 miles south of Terre Haute. The city is the site of the old Fort Vincennes, captured during the American Revolution in 1779 by George Rogers Clark.

The first VINCENNES was one of ten Sloops-of-War to be authorized by Congress in 1825. For 41 years, she compiled an outstanding record of unprecedented achievements in polar exploration, global circumnavigation and distinguished service in the War Between the States. The second VINCENNES, designated (CA 44), was a heavy cruiser commissioned in 1937. She fought valiantly during General Jimmy Doolittle's raid on Tokyo, the Battle Midway, the landing at Guadalcanal, and finally, at the Battle of Savo Island. The third VINCENNES (CL 64) was commissioned in January 1944 and fought brilliantly throughout the Pacific in Battles of Guam, the Philippines, Okinawa, and Formosa. During the closing months of World War II, VINCENNES became legendary for her successes against Japanese aircraft.

Historical Notes:

USS VINCENNES (CG 49) was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Its christening was 14 April 1984, and it was commissioned on 6 July 1985 by Mrs. Marilyn Quayle, wife of former Vice President of the United States, Dan Quayle.

The VINCENNES was the first of the United States Navy's AEGIS Cruisers of the Ticonderoga Class to enter the Pacific Fleet. Upon commissioning in 1985, VINCENNES entered the Pacific Fleet via the Panama Canal and participated in the testing and development of the SM-2 Block II surface-to-air missile. In May 1986, VINCENNES participated in the multinational exercise RIMPAC 86, coordinating the AAW efforts of two aircraft carriers and over forty ships from five nations.

VINCENNES deployed in August 1986 to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the "first ever" Pacific Deployment of an Aegis cruiser, VINCENNES served as Anti-Air Warfare Commander with both USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and USS NEW JERSEY (BB 62) Battle Groups. She also operated jointly with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Royal Australian Navy. VINCENNES steamed over 46,000 miles in waters from the Bering Sea to the Indian Ocean.

On 20 April 1988, during Fleet Exercise 88-1, VINCENNES was given unexpected orders to proceed back to San Diego and make preparations to leave on a six month deployment. One month later, the ship entered the Persian Gulf, to become part of the Joint Task Force in the Persian Gulf. During the course of this assignment it made fourteen transits of the Straits of Hormuz in support of Operation Earnest Will.

In February of 1990, VINCENNES deployed on her third six month tour of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, In addition to covering the fleet with the "Aegis Shield" and coordination all Battle Group air events, VINCENNES served as the Command and Control Flagship during Harpoon-Ex-90. VINCENNES spent more time at sea during deployment than any other ship in the Battle Group. In July 1990. VINCENNES returned home after steaming nearly 100,000 miles. She deployed with SH-60S LAMPS MK III Anti-Submarine helicopters from HSL-45 Det 13. The embarked LAMPS detachment was a tremendous asset and performed superbly in its Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Submarine Underwater Warfare roles.

In August 1991, VINCENNES departed for her fourth Western Pacific Deployment. Transiting with the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62), VINCENNES performed duties as the Anti-Air Warfare Commander for Battle Group Delta until detaching to participate as the United States representative in MERCUBEX 91, a joint United States and Singaporean exercise. Over the next three months, VINCENNES participated in the bilateral exercise VALIANT BLITZ with the South Korean Navy, the bilateral exercise ANNUALEX 03G with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, and ASWEX 92-1K with the South Korean Navy before reaching Hong Kong to act as the U.S. representative for the Navy Days ceremonies. VINCENNES returned from deployment on the 21st of December 1991.

In June 1994, VINCENNES departed on her fifth Western Pacific deployment Transiting with the USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) Battle Group, VINCENNES performed duties as Anti-Air Warfare Commander for the Battle Group. During deployment, VINCENNES conducted an Anti-Submarine exercise, PASSEX 94-2, with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, the bilateral exercise MERCUB 94-2, a joint U.S. and Singaporean Navy exercise of the Malaysian peninsula, he bilateral exercise KEEN EDGE, with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, and TANDEM THRUST, a larger scale joint exercise which VINCENNES participated as the Area Air Defense Coordinator for the entire joint operating area. VINCENNES returned from deployment on the 22nd of December 1994.

The present VINCENNES (CG 49) has established a reputation for excellence over her nine years of distinguished service, and has remained on the "cutting edge" of operational, tactical, and experimental naval developments since commissioning. VINCENNES has successfully fired more than 57 surface to air missiles, 26 anti-submarine weapons, 5,000 five inch gun projectiles and two harpoon anti-ship missiles.

In addition to performing duties as the Battle Group Anti-Air Warfare Commander during her five Western Pacific Deployments, VINCENNES has been awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Citation, the Battle "E" three times, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four stars.

Ship's Crest:

The Shield: The three divisions of the shield represent the three circumnavigations of the earth made by the first vessel to bear the name VINCENNES, and contain allusions to activities of these expeditions. The intended fess line represents the ice of the Antarctic continent which was discovered and named by LT Charles Wilkes of VINCENNES in 1840. The Antarctic wastes and icebergs are alluded to by the white area in center base which bears a lead line weight of the early 19th Century period, referring to the new data in charts and cartography gathered by the surveys made during expeditions with VINCENNES as flagship. The silver fleur-de-lis in chief refers to the French origin of the name VINCENNES and the fort in Indiana after which the ships were named.

The eight gold stars on a light blue border represent the Battle Stars awarded to CA-44 and CL-64 during World War II and refer again to the State of Indiana, whose flag bears gold stars on a blue field. Then Navy is represented on the shield by dark blue and gold, colors usually associated with the Navy.

The Crest: The embattled wall recalls the Fort Vincennes in Indiana. Its color, red, refers to battle, and the three battlements to the three earlier vessels named VINCENNES. The compass rose represents global navigation and exploration. The clover is a reference to the new ship's distinction as third of its class, and recalls the botanical surveys of the first VINCENNES. The guided missile and rifle represent new and old weaponry carried by the latest and the first VINCENNES. The blue disc is a reference to the Antarctic skies and the first VINCENNES' explorations.