SITE NAVIGATION

SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER (CG)
CLASS	TICONDEROGA
OFFICIAL NAME	USS ANTIETAM
PENNANT NUMBER	54
NICKNAME	N/A
MOTTO	POWER TO PREVAIL
BUILDER	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	06/20/1983
KEEL LAYING DATE	11/15/1984
LAUNCH DATE	02/14/1986
DELIVERY DATE	04/01/1987
COMMISSION DATE	06/06/1987
PLANNING YARD	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING, PASCAGOULA, MS
NAVSEA PMS	400
CUSTODIAN	US NAVY
STATUS	ACTIVE DUTY
HOMEPORT	SAN DIEGO, CA
MAILING ADDRESS	FPO, AP, 96660-1174
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	21387
TYPE COMMANDER	SURFPAC
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	CARGRU 3
SQUADRON COMMAND	N/A

Aegis Guided Missile Cruisers, TICONDEROGA Class

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CG 54 | USS ANTIETAM

Namesake:

The Battle of Antietam

In naming this cruiser ANTIETAM, the U. S. Navy commemorates a site along Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, at which a major Civil War battle was fought. ANTIETAM is the third American warship named in remembrance of this battle.

The Battle of Antietam, on 17 September 1862, climaxed the first of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's two attempts to carry the war from the South into the North. Some 41,000 Southerners were pitted against the 87,000-man Federal Army of the Potomac under General George B. McClellan.

After his great victory at Manassas in August, Lee had marched his Army of Northern Virginia into western Maryland, hoping to find vitally needed men and supplies. McClellan moved his army westward to cut off Lee and protect Washington and Baltimore from being separated. McClellan followed Lee, first to Frederick, where through rare good fortune, a copy of Lee's battle plan fell into his hands, then westward twelve miles to the passes of South Mountain. There, on 14 September, Lee tried to block the Union troops. McClellan forced his way through the out-manned Southern ranks. Over the next two days, new battle lines were drawn west and east of Antietam Creek. The battle opened at dawn on the 17th and moved to three different locations throughout the day.

More Americans were killed or wounded in the Battle of Antietam than on any other single day in American history. Federal losses were 12,410 and Confederate losses were 10,700. Although neither side gained a decisive victory, Lee's failure to carry the war effort effectively into the North caused Great Britain to postpone recognition of the Confederate government. The battle also gave President Abraham Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Historical Notes:

USS ANTIETAM is the third ship named after the Civil War battle fought along Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The first ANTIETAM was a sailing sloop constructed in 1864 that served as a sailing stores ship. The second ANTIETAM (CV-36) was the first aircraft carrier to be fitted with an angled deck, and was re-classified CVS 36 for anti-submarine duty.

Today's USS ANTIETAM (CG-54) was commissioned in Baltimore, Maryland on 6 June 1987. ANTIETAM then steamed through the Panama Canal to her first homeport in Long Beach, California. ANTIETAM's initial deployment, beginning in September 1988, took her to the Arabian Gulf where she escorted Kuwaiti tankers as part of Operation EARNEST WILL. Following the ship's first full competitive cycle, she was awarded the Battle "E" and the LAMPS MK III Safety Award. ANTIETAM departed on her second deployment in June 1990. A full schedule of Pacific operations was cut short by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August. ANTIETAM entered the Arabian Gulf on 6 August, and assumed duties as Anti-Air Warfare Commander for Middle East Force, serving during the early turbulent days of Operation DESERT SHIELD.

For her second deployment, ANTIETAM was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Southwest Asia Defense Medal. ANTIETAM received another Battle "E" and the Spokane Trophy for Combat Systems Excellence.

In January of 1992, ANTIETAM again deployed to the Western Pacific, this time for a series of bilateral exercises with regional allies. She conducted joint operations with the Japanese, Singapore and Brunei Navies, and visited ten cities in eight countries. After winning the Navy-wide 1993 Captain Edward F. Ney Award for Food Service Excellence, ANTIETAM departed in February 1994 on her fourth deployment, again to the Arabian Gulf. She participated in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and hosted many ambassadors and diplomats in the Gulf and Australia.

Returning from deployment, ANTIETAM completed her first regular overhaul in Long Beach, and in late 1995, she switched homeports to San Diego, California. She was awarded the Battle "E" and four of four area awards for the 1995 competitive cycle. In May and June 1996, ANTIETAM participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC-96) Exercise, which included numerous U.S. and foreign naval units in the largest naval exercise ever.

In April 1997, ANTIETAM returned from the Arabian Gulf, completing her fifth deployment, this time with the USS KITTY HAWK Battle Group. She participated in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and VIGILENT SENTINAL, and conducted exercises with the English, French, and South Korean Navies. The ship again won four of four area excellence awards including a fleet-leading eight consecutive red Engineering "E" for excellence. In the middle of 1997, ANTIETAM received the Chief of Naval Operation's Safety Award for Pacific Fleet Cruisers.

During June 1998 ANTIETAM participated in a second Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise. Later that year she deployed for the sixth time to the Western Pacific, making port calls in Singapore, Thailand, Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Australia before returning home to San Diego in May 1999.

In May of 2000 ANTIETAM participated in a Counter-Narcotics deployment aimed at stemming the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. The highly successful four-month deployment set new standards for counter drug operations and provided the crew with port visits to Mazatlan, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. Upon returning to San Diego, ANTIETAM was again awarded the Battle "E" for excellence and began work-ups for her seventh Western Pacific deployment in July 2001.

In February 2001, ANTIETAM underwent the three-week long intensive pre-deployment workup COMPTUEX. COMPTUEX represented the first time that ANTIETAM operated with the other ships in the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) battle group with which she would be deploying. In April, ANTIETAM went through INSURV and successfully completed both the underway portion and the open and inspect phase. The inspection is a comprehensive review mandated by Congress to ensure that all Navy ships are properly maintained. It also serves to identify any problems that could limit a ship's ability to continue in service for the length of its intended life span.

In May, ANTIETAM took part in the JTFX exercise along the CARL VINSON battle group. It deployed with that Battle Group on 26 July. The first stop of the deployment was Lualualei, Hawaii, home of Pearl Harbor's Naval Magazine where ANTIETAM completed her ammunition onload with the addition of Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles. Following this, ANTIETAM proceeded to Singapore and then to Phuket, Thailand. On the way to Singapore, ANTIETAM participated in a PASSEX with the Royal Singaporean Navy.

ANTIETAM was transitting with the CARL VINSON battle group to the Arabian Gulf when the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States took place. The battle group immediately took station in the North Arabian Sea, prepared for action. On 15 September, ANTIETAM and USS O'KANE (DDG 77) were detached to transit through the Strait of Hormuz to conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the North Arabian Gulf, enforcing United Nations sanctions imposed on Iraq. ANTIETAM's two Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) teams inspected over 125 vessels for contraband oil and other cargo entering or leaving Iraq.

ANTIETAM was designated to provide air defense for the annual meeting of the World Trade Organization held in Quatar in November. During this time, ANTIETAM operated in a Modified Location box with the PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group.

ANTIETAM was detached to proceed to Mumbai, India on 17 November, 2001. During the transit through the Strait of Hormuz ANTIETAM was turned around to assist with the Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts as a result of the loss of two crewmembers from USS PETERSON (DD 969). On 15 December ANTIETAM and O'KANE pulled into Mumbai, India. The port visit was a significant public relations event and received a great deal of positive media coverage in India. ANTIETAM departed India and proceeded to Singapore on 18 December, on her route home.

Ship's Crest:

The Shield: Dark blue and gold are the traditional colors associated with the Navy and symbolize the sea and excellence. The trident, symbol of sea power, represents the ANTIETAM's capabilities in the three dimensions of naval warfare: air, surface and subsurface. The broken chain symbolizes the Emancipation Proclamation, the most positive outcome of the Civil War Battle of Antietam. The red field refers to the sacrifice and heroism of the battle, the single bloodiest day of the Civil War. The Burnside Bridge is the battlefield's best known landmark. The two gold stars represent the aircraft carrier USS ANTIETAM (CVS 36) which earned two battle stars for its service in the Korean conflict.

The Crest: The serpent has a fourfold meaning: it was on the first Navy Jack; its wavy shape, movements and tongue allude to the new sensor systems (AN/SQQ-89, SLQ-32(V)3, SPY-1, CCSS, LAMPS MK III) on the ANTIETAM; it is similar to the copperhead found in the State of Maryland, site of the Civil War battle; its striking position reinforces the quick striking capabilities of ANTIETAM. The parrot guns with the modern missile represent the continuity in ordnance. The upright position of the missile also suggests the vertically-launched cruise missile capability of the cruiser. The gold laurel wreath is symbolic of the ANTIETAM's excellence in accomplishing its mission.