Ship's Crest:
 Description
of Coat of Arms:
A ships crest is to the sailor what a national ensign is to a patriot,
a symbol about which to rally and in which to take pride and build
esprit de corps. Every ships crest is an original, a unique
representation of the character and personality of the crew and the
sea-keeping and fighting qualities of the vessel. It is a legacy that
is passed down from the commissioning crew to all succeeding crews, an
intangible bond uniting all sailors, great and small, who served aboard
the ship throughout her lifetime. The crest of USS ARDENT was designed
by a plankowner, a member of her first crew. The blue and gold of the
outer border are colors that are traditionally synonymous with the
United States Navy.
The two gold stars represent the two previous United States naval ships
that proudly bore the name ARDENT. The shield signifies protection
provided to the fleet, while the broken mine depicts the mine
countermeasures mission of the ship. The shield contains our nations
colors of red, white and blue representing patriotism and allegiance to
country.
The flames behind the shield signify the fire and zeal the crew
possesses. The four red stars above the ships silhouette commemorate
the four battle stars awarded to the second ARDENT for her
distinguished service in the Pacific theater during World War II. The
crossed swords behind the shield, one gold and one silver, symbolize
the teamwork and cooperation which exist between the officer and
enlisted communities. The ships motto, igneus et fervens (fiery and
fervent), represents the irrepressible character and fighting sprit of
the ARDENT crew.
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