SITE NAVIGATION

SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER (CG)
CLASS	TICONDEROGA
OFFICIAL NAME	USS HUÉ CITY (Pronounced "Hoy")
PENNANT NUMBER	66
NICKNAME	N/A
MOTTO	FIDELITY, COURAGE, HONOR
BUILDER	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	04/16/1987
KEEL LAYING DATE	02/20/1989
LAUNCH DATE	06/01/1990
DELIVERY DATE	06/28/1991
COMMISSION DATE	09/14/1991
PLANNING YARD	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING, PASCAGOULA, MS
NAVSEA PMS	400
CUSTODIAN	US NAVY
STATUS	ACTIVE DUTY
HOMEPORT	MAYPORT, FL
MAILING ADDRESS	FPO, AA, 34091-1186
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	21656
TYPE COMMANDER	SURFLANT
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	CARGRU 2
SQUADRON COMMAND	N/A

Aegis Guided Missile Cruisers, TICONDEROGA Class

.............................................

CG 66 | USS HUÉ CITY

Namesake:

Not yet available

Not yet available

Historical Notes:

USS HUÉ CITY is the fourteenth cruiser in the TICONDEROGA class to be built by Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Her keel was laid on 20 February 1989. She was floated on 1 June 1990 and christened on 21 July 1991 by her sponsor, Mrs. Jo Ann Cheatham, the wife of Lieutenant General Earnest C. Cheatham, Jr., USMC (Ret.). HUÉ CITY’s standard is the flag of the United States Marine Corps, in addition to the national ensign and the flag of the United States Navy.

HUÉ CITY sailed on 11 March 1993 for her maiden deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as Air Warfare Commander for the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) battle group. Principally operating in the Adriatic Sea, HUÉ CITY developed the air picture and transmitted it to command centers afloat and ashore. HUÉ CITY also monitored the safety of United Nations relief flights to Bosnia, ensuring Serbian aircraft did not violate no-fly zones.

While conducting refresher training near Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in April 1994 HUÉ CITY was directed to serve as Destroyer Squadron 22 flagship in support of United Nations sanctions against Haiti. Later that year HUÉ CITY conducted counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea.

HUÉ CITY sailed for her second deployment 22 March 1995 with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) battle group, again as Air Warfare Commander. HUÉ CITY took station in the Red Sea, where she provided air coverage and support to the Combat Air Patrols enforcing the no-fly zone in southern Iraq.

HUÉ CITY sailed for the Baltic Sea on 24 May 1996 to participate in operations involving forty-eight ships from thirteen nations. The operations focused on tracking air, surface and subsurface targets in a multinational task force.

HUÉ CITY deployed on 29 April 1997 to the Mediterranean Sea as Air Warfare Commander for the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) battle group. HUÉ CITY operated in the Adriatic Sea, overseeing all air activity in support of naval operations.

Early in 1998 HUÉ CITY received Cooperative Engagement Capability. This capability represents the leading edge of air warfare, enabling HUÉ CITY to launch a missile against an enemy target that is being tracked by another vessel.

CG 66 sailed again for the Baltic Sea in May 1999 to participate in BALTOPS ’99 and on 19 June she departed to return to Mayport, Fla. after a four-day port visit in Kiel, Germany.

USS HUÉ CITY took part in the Carribean Phase Task Group of the 41st annual UNITAS Naval exercise, as the flagship. The Caribbean Phase, hosted by the U.S. Navy, commenced March 19, 2000 with a multi-national task force port visit to Cartagena including four U.S. ships. This phase ended April 10th with a port visit to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. It marked the first time in the history of UNITAS that three separate phases, formerly hosted by the U.S., Colombian and Venezuelan Navies, were being combined into one larger and more complex phase. The following year, Colombia was to host the Caribbean Phase, with rotation of host-nation responsibilities going to Venezuela the following year.

USS HUÉ CITY took part in International Naval Review on July 4, 2000 in New York Harbor, and then Sail Boston 2000.

As part of the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Carrier Battle Group (CVBG), and in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, USS HUÉ CITY set sail in support of defense and humanitarian efforts off the coast of New York.

Ships and aircraft of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) commenced use of the Vieques Island inner range beginning Sept. 24, 2001 in conjunction with their Composite Unit Training Exercises (COMPUTEX). The exercise, which began the week prior, also utilized the northern and southern Puerto Rican operating areas, and involved complex battle group training events, naval surface fire-support training and air-to-ground bombing.

USS HUÉ CITY then took part in Underway No. 10", one in a series of tests leading to the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) Operation Evaluation (OPEVAL) scheduled for Spring 2001. The CEC system provides the capability to cooperatively engage targets by a warship using data from other CEC-equipped ships, aircraft, and land-based sensors, even in an electronic-jamming environment. It also provides a common, consistent and highly accurate air picture, allowing battle group defenses to act as one seamless system. The test, off Wallops Island, VA, simulated missile firings from some of the Navy's most technically advanced ships against unmanned drones.

As part of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) Battle Group (CVBG), USS HUÉ CITY took part Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 02-1, with Phase I of the exercise running from January 19 through 26, 2002 and Phase II running February 7-14, 2002.

In March 2002, USS HUÉ CITY was part of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) Carrier Battle Group at it relieved the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) Carrier Battle Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In May 2002, during a three-day Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS) exercise off the coast of Djibouti, Africa, USS HUÉ CITY fired hundreds of 5-inch rounds in support of Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise 2002 (MEUEX '02) more than 60 targets that included tanks, bunkers, and various military vehicles. HUE CITY joined the WASP Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct this first of its kind exercise in this little-known region of northeast Africa.

HUÉ CITY’s awards include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Battle Efficiency awards, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, three Sea Service awards, the NATO medal, the CNO Safety Award and three Community Service Awards.

HUÉ CITY is assigned to Commander, Western Hemisphere Group, and is home-ported at Naval Station Mayport, near Jacksonville, Florida.

Description of Coat of Arms:

Supporters:Dark blue and gold are traditional Navy colors; red is emblematic of courage and sacrifice. The trident represents past and present and symbolizes sea power and the vertical launch system of USS Hue City. The tines of the trident represent the modern AEGIS cruiser capabilities of anti-air, land, and surface warfare, while the bottom spike denotes the ship’s undersea warfare capabilities. The crossed swords form a saltire with the upper and lower quadrants depicting the two Vietnams. The point where they cross illustrates the location and strategic importance of the battle for Hue. The smaller shield at center commemorates the U.S. Marines’ victory and the raising of the U.S. flag upon capturing the provincial headquarters in Hue. The crossed Navy cutlass and Marine mameluke sword also express strength through teamwork and cooperation, and are combined with a palm wreath symbolizing the battle and victory. The fortress recalls the citadel at Hue, which the U.S. Marines fought so valiantly to capture. The oriental dragon symbolizes both the fierceness of the siege and the fighting spirit of the crew of Hue City. Fidelity, Courage, Honor represent the finest qualities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps: faithfulness to one’s comrades and the values of the United States, the moral fortitude to overcome fear in the face of battle, and the integrity to conduct oneself with dignity and respect at all times.