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| Keel laid: October 9, 1997
Launched and Christened: November 7, 1998 Commissioned: August 19, 2000 Propulsion: four GE LM 2500 gas turbine engines, two propellers Length: 508,5 feet (155 meters) Beam: 67 feet (20.4 meters) Draft: 30,5 feet (9.3 meters) Displacement: approx. 9,200 tons full load Speed: 32 knots Aircraft: two SH-60 (LAMPS 3) helicopters Armament: one Mk-45 5"/54 caliber lightweight gun, two Mk-41 VLS for Standard missiles and Tomahawk ASM/LAM, two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, two Mk-32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk-50 and Mk-46 torpedoes Homeport: Norfolk, VA Crew: approx. 380 |
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| Sixth Fleet Flagship USS La Salle Visits Tarragona |
| The Navy League, Barcelona Council, joined members of the Liga Naval de Catalunya, Tarragona, for a special group tour of the visiting Command Ship of the Sixth Fleet, the U.S.S. La Salle. The command vessel, home to the Admiral´s command operation center in the Mediterranean Sea, named after the city of La Salle, is a modified Rally Class LP vessel, commisioned in 1964. It carries a crew of 470 sailors and an additional compliment crew of 230 from the Sixth Fleet.The U.S.S. La Salle has one of the most advanced communication systems, including data links to other ships, the Internet, and even CNN! It is equipped to carry compliments of Navy SEALS and Marine Fast Platoons, and can employ amphibious vessels upon command. Our special thanks to Cpt. Herman Shelanski for arranging our visit, to Lt.J.G. John Hoy for conducting our English tour and Ensign Riveras for conducting our Spanish tour of the ship, and to all the personnel of the U.S.S. La Salle for hosting us aboard. Our thanks also go to Nick Mancha from the U.S. Navy Criminal Investigative Service for liaison and to David Kennedy, Navy League Barcelona Council, for coordinating the tour. |
| Navy League of the United States, Barcelona Council |
| USS La Salle Navy Designation: AGF3 (formerly LPD3) Vessel Type: Miscellaneous Command Ship Keel Laid: April 2, 1962 Launched: August 3, 1963 Length: 521 feet Beam: 84 feet Draft: 21 feet System: Steam Turbine (600 psi) Propellers: Two Speed: 20 knots (sustained) 21.6 knots (maximum) Armament: Two Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems Displacement: 14,100 Tons (full load) Crew:470 and 230 Sixth Fleet compliment |
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P.O. Box 5126, 08080, Barcelona, España Email: navyleaguebarcelona@yahoo.es |
| Updated January, 2008 |
| Consul General of the United States in Barcelona Welcomes the USS JFK |
| "En primer lugar, quisiera agradecer a las autoridades españolas por haber hecho posible que la visita del portaaviones John Fitzgerald Kennedy a Tarragona sea un verdadero éxito. El Consulado y la Misión diplomática en España quieren expresar su gratitud especialmente al Capitán Adolfo Contreras de Comandancia Naval, a Joan Miquel Nadal, Alcalde de Tarragona y al Teniente de Alcalde, Albert Vallvé. Todos ellos son unos magníficos anfitriones. Así, que no sorprende que el "Big John" haga su cuarta visita a Tarragona en los últimos siete años. Los catalanes de Tarragona tienen una ciudad espléndida, muy acogedora y llena de tradición, que ha tenido una especial afinidad con el JFK. Y a su vez, este maravilloso barco y su tripulación han devuelto su agradecimiento escogiendo a Tarragona casi como su segundo puerto. De más está decir que el Consulado y nuestra Embajada en Madrid están también agradecidos al Almirante McCullogh y al Capitán FitzPatrick y su personal, particularmente a la Teniente de Navío Leslie Hull-Ryde, por todo el esfuerzo que han realizado al hacer posible esta recepción. Ayer por la mañana el Almirante y el Capitán me recibieron en la sala de oficiales, un espacio impregnado de tradición y dedicado a la memoria del Presidente Kennedy, un líder en los Estados Unidos, cuyo juvenil entusiasmo, vigor y energía están reflejados en la tripulación del JFK - una tripulación llena de hombres y mujeres jóvenes que representan lo mejor de los Estados Unidos. Nuestro equipo en España y yo estamos muy orgullosos de estar asociados a ellos. La visita de JFK muestra una verdad muy importante, y es que las relaciones entre los Estados Unidos y España son sólidas y duraderas. A pesar de los desacuerdos puntuales, somos amigos que compartimos unos valores comunes y un compromiso con la paz y el deseo de un mundo mejor para nosotros mismos y nuestros hijos. Muchas gracias por venir esta noche y que Dios bendiga a Cataluña, España y a los Estados Unidos de América." |
| USS John F. Kennedy - The "Big John" Docks At Tarragona |
| The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy, docked in Tarragona November 29-December 4, 2004, and was welcomed by the Navy League of the U.S., Barcelona Council. This is the fourth visit (during the past seven years) the USS John F. Kennedy has made to Tarragona, considering this port almost as their second home port. The vessel and its crew form the centerpiece of the USS John F. Kennedy Strike Group, consisting of an airwing, two cruisers, four destroyers, two attack submarines and a fast combat support ship. More than 5,000 sailors call the carrier home. As a self-contained city, Kennedy has the same amenities as any U.S. city with a comparable population. It has a daily newspaper, radio and television stations, fire department, library, hospital, two general stores, a barbershop and a post office - with its own zip code. U.S. Consul General in Barcelona, Juan Alsace, toasted the crew of the vessel (side bar) during a reception hosted aboard the vessel by the U.S. Consulate on December 1st. Mr. Alsace started the event with an expression of gratitude to the Spanish and Catalan authorities for making the JFK's visit possible. He told of his meeting that morning within the confines of the officers' quarters, in a room filled with momentos of tradition dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy, how the spirit of this youthful, vigorous and energetic leader was embodied by the crew of the ship that bears his name. |
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| The USS La Salle was named after the City of La Salle, Illinois, which in turn is named after Rene-Robert Cavellier, Sieur de la Salle, the French explorer. La Salle is most noted for his travels through the Mississippi River basin. His efforts formed the basis for the French territory, later acquired by the fledgling United States, known as the Louisiana Territory. The USS La Salle served as flagship for the Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Forces in the 1960s. Amongst its many accomplishments were the recovery and return of space capsules to Cape Kennedy and serving as a test platform for the prototype Harrier fighter bomber. In the 1970s the La Salle was desginated as a Miscellaneous Command Ship and assumed duties as the flagship for the Commander of the Middle East Force. At one time it was painted white to reflect the Middle East sun and became known as the Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast. During the Iranian hostage crisis, the La Salle assisted in the evacuation of civilians from Bandar Abbas, and in 1987 she provided crucial fire-fighting, damage control and medical aid to the USS Stark following an Iraqui missile attack. The vessle was part of the U.S. Navy presence during the Iraqui invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and participated in both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, serving concurrently as flagship for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command. Prior to assuming the role of Sixth Fleet flagship, the La Salle underwent an extensive yard period to upgrade its capabilities. After a long history of service in the U.S. Navy, the USS La Salle is scheduled to be decommissioned in May of 2005. |
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| On board these floating mobile airports seven different types of aircraft land and launch. During flight operations, the flight deck vibrates with intense activity. The crew and equipment work as a well-rehearsed, carefully choreographed team. The various functions of the flight deck crew are identified by the colors they wear: yellow for deck officers, catapult officers and aircraft directors; purple for fuel handlers; green for catapult and arresting gear crews; red for crash and salvage teams and ordnance personnel; and white for quality assurance or safety personnel. Support facilities are essential to the operational success of a carrier. A carrier includes several specialized shops – electronic shops for communications, avionics and navigation equipment and repair shops to maintain all types of machinery. Behind all these shops and services are the seamen, airmen, petty officers, chief petty officers and officers, who, through professionalism and commitment, make it all happen. |
| USS Spruance Visits Barcelona |
| The ship's seal based on the coat of arms of the Kennedy and Fitzgerald families. These ancient symbols represent the stability that stems from tradition. Modern symbols have been incorporated to show the progress that stems from innovations. Both stability and progress were notable characteristics of the policies of President John F. Kennedy, and are essential to the continued accomplishment of their mission. The black shield with three gold helmets are the traditional coat of arms of the O'Kennedy of the Ormonde. The helmets represent the original Gaelic word from Kennedy, Ceinneide, which means, "helmeted head." The red and white borders are the colors of Fitzgerald of Desmond. |
| Big John serves as one of the United States' most flexible tools of diplomacy. When a crisis erupts anywhere in the world and threatens U.S. interests, a carrier strike group is generally less than 48 hours away. It serves as a highly visible deterrent to would-be aggressors. If deterrence should fail, then the carrier and its strike group offer the most versatile and powerful weapons systems in the world. |
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| USS JOHN F. KENNEDY - CV67 - "Big John" |
| Above the shield is the single helmet crowned with a wreath of the Kennedy colors: black and gold, flanked by the red and white mantel in Fitzgerald colors, symbolic of courage. The crest of the coat of arms is a mailed forearm, holding a sheaf of arrows and framed by olive branches, symbolizing power and peace. The bottlenose dolphins holding the banner at the bottom are traditional symbols of the sea and seaman. They represent freedom to roam the seas, freedom essential to progress in the world community. Dolphins are friends of man, but deadly enemies of aggressors. The shamrock-shaped banner symbolizes good luck, President Kennedy's Irish ancestry and our ties with Ireland. Written on the banner in Latin is the ship's motto, Date Nolite Rogare, which means "Give, be unwilling to ask." The phrase represents the spirit of President Kennedy's inaugural address and specifically the famous line: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country..." The wings are symbols not only of Kennedy's air power, but also of progress and the freedom to roam the skies. Stars representing the 50 states surround the shield. A 51st star, the topmost in the seal, represents the high state of readiness sought by Kennedy. When Kennedy receives the Navy "E" for efficiency, this top star will be gold in color. |
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| The USS Spruance was welcomed by the Navy League of the U.S., Barcelona Council, when she docked at our home-town port in November. Commander Jerome F. Hamel hosted a tour of "The Quiet Warrior", as the vessel is nicknamed, for our council members and friends. Our thanks to Commander Hamel and all his crew for their hospitality. |
| The USS Spruance is the oldest and finest destroyer in the U.S. Navy. Primarily designed for undersea warfare, the Spruance has evolved to serve as a Strike Destroyer. The heart of the ship's fighting spirit is the 35 Officers, 30 Chief Petty Officers, and 300 Sailors who make up her crew. Their pride and professionalism are the reasons why the USS Spruance sets the standard on the waterfront, with readiness to perform all air, surface, subsurface and strike missions as required by the USS JFK Carrier Strike Group. |
| USS SPRUANCE (DD 963) |
| Commissioned on September 20, 1975, the USS Spruance is the first of a class of 31 destroyers developed for the primary mission of undersea warfare. Displacing 9020 tons, Spruance class destroyers are the largest in the history of the U.S. Navy. These sophisticated warships are designed to be readily adaptable to new weapons systems and electronics. The USS Spruance is equipped with some of the most modern upgrades in her class. The Vertical Launch System upgrade was received int he late 1980s, replacing an older ASROC launcher. The active and passive Anti-Submarine sensors are among the most capable int he world. Engineering plant steam auxillary systems have been completely replaced with electric equivalents. Spruance is fitted with Reverse Osmosis Distilling Plants, signicantly increasing the production of fresh water. Numerous other upgrades have kept the Spruance at the cutten edge of technology. The USS Spruance has served in numerous overseas deployments throughtout the past twenty-eight years, most notably serving in Operation Desert Storm, conducting operations in support of U.N. sanctions against Iraq, and helping to enforce the U.N. embargo of Haiti. The Spruance deployed to the Mediterranean in 1997 with the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group. Serving as the Destroyer Dquadron 24 flagship, Spruance made significant contributions throughout the deployment including visiting foreign ports, participating in multi-national naval exercices, serving as Presidential Support Ship in Holland, representing the U.S. Navy in commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the Allied landings in France, and hosting Ukrainian military and diplomatic distinguished visitros during that country's Independence Day celebration. In September, 2000, the Spruance celebrated her 25th year of active U.S. Naval service, making her the oldest of the Destroyer in the fleet. |
The ship´s crest combines features relating to the explorer, the city, and the ship´s mission. The upper right corer bears the charges from the coat-of-arms of La Salle´s family, an eight pointed star and a rabbit. The fort on the lower left side represents Fort St. Louis, which was built by La Salle in 1682 on the banks of the Illinois River. The background anchor symbolizes the Navy and the sea. The motto across the anchor´s base, Facilitas Ad Marem, translates to "Versatility at Sea". |
| A superior weapon suite makes the Spruance one of the most capable ships in the U.S. Navy's arsenal. Armed with a 61 cell Vertical Launch System (VLS), the |
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| Displacement: 9020 tons Length: 563 feet (171.7 meters) Beam: 55 feet (16.8 meters) Draft: 32 feet (9.7 meters) Range: 6000 nautical miles @ 20 knots Max Speed: 30+ knots Crew: 30 Officers, 330 Enlisted Aircraft: One SH-60B Light Airborn Multi-Purpose System Radars: Sonars: E-Warfare: SPS-40E Air Search Radar SQS-53B Sonar Dome SLQ-32 (V) 3 SPS-55 Surface Search Radar SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar SPG-60 Gun Fire Control Radar SPQ-9A Gun Fire Control Radar URN-20 TACAN MK 95 NATO Sea Sparrow Fire Control Radar |
| The Barcelona Council welcomed the men and women of the USS O`BANNON (DD987) -- The Stirke Shamrock -- visiting Barcelona February 1-5. We were proud to be able to offer two unique opportunities to personally meet officers and crew and show them our appreciation and support of the U.S. Navy and the sea services. Commander Troy Stoner and his crew hosted a personalized visit onboard the O´Bannon. Later that evening, |
| the Council hosted a dinner in honor of our visiting guests. We were joined by representatives from both the Spanish Armada and American security services, as well as the Barcelona Port authority. The event proved to be a great chance for our members and friends to gain firsthand valuable insights to life on board a vessel and about education, training or careers in the Navy, and much more. Add to that the exquisite cuisine and friendly ambience of Da Greco Restaurant, site of our Welcome Dinner – and a great evening was enjoyed by all!! Our heartfelt thanks to Commander Stoner for their hospitality onboard and to Tony Greco for hosting our dinner. What a fantastic group of people make up the crew of USS O`BANNON. These professionals have a few outstanding things in common -- ever vigilant for the safety of crew and vessel, they are dedicated to excellence in their posts and conscious that their individual and team efforts contribute to maintaining peace and to making the world a safer place for all of us. We are sure they will tell you why Barcelona was their number one choice as the Liberty Port, and we in the Barcelona Council were delighted to receive them and honoured to meet and mingle with such fine people. We would also like to thank them for dedicating part of their “liberty time” to some appreciated community work here in Barcelona. Crew members did some welding for the Local Maritime Museum. During the four-day visit, we heard and witnessed the “de facto” good relations that exist between the Spanish and U.S. forces. In fact, the USS O’Bannon had participated recently in some of the regular exercises with Spanish and Allied vessels. The Welcome Dinner hosted by our Barcelona Council was fun and informative for members and guests alike. Among invited guests were representatives from the security forces of the Armada Española – Madrid, the U.S. base in Rota, the Port of Barcelona, and the Comandancia de Marina de Barcelona. During dinner, CO Stoner echoed the importance of motto DICIPLINE-PRIDE-PERFORMANCE aboard the USS O’Bannon. The primary concern being the safety of vessel and crew every minute day or night, at sea or in port. Officers gave us an insight to their day-to-day responsibilities aboard. They spoke with the confidence and sense of purpose of the well-educated, competent professionals working daily for peace in our world. Our tour gave us an idea of the cramped living conditions. The routine day aboard is structured, so when not on duty, the crew either eat, sleep, work-out in the gym, read, or study chosen careers. There is a college professor on board and a medical officer. We heard how these men and women from USS O’Bannon have contributed to many other community service projects, such as building a school in Ecuador or a shelter for battered wives in Malta. They told us a little about their personal lives, too. Guess which of the officers has a passion for Ducatti motorbikes? Or who has more than seven pet cats at home? They all spoke excitedly about their families and loved ones back home and how they cope with being far away for long periods.These talented professionals, caring men and women aboard the USS O’Bannon are an asset to the Sea Services, to local communities, and are our best guarantee for world peace and freedom. The Barcelona Council was privileged to share time with them during their visit. The Port and City of Barcelona welcomed you with open arms, and our council served for a brief moment as their “home from home.” It is our aim to continue our mission to educate and inform community leaders and general public about the importance of their work and the work of all U.S. Navy forces, and to promote and facilitate mutual relations between our two cultures and our democratic life. The USS O´Bannon was the fourth U.S. Navy vessel to visit during the past three months. More (below) on the other visiting vessels -- The USS JFK, docked at Tarragon The USS Spruance, docked at Barcelona, and the USS La Salle, also docked at Barcelona |
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| Propulsion system: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines Propellers: two Blades on each Propeller: five Length: 564,3 feet (172 meters) Beam: 55,1 feet (16.8 meters) Draft: 28,9 feet (8.8 meters) Displacement: approx. 9,200 tons full load Speed: 30+ knots Aircraft: two SH-60B Seahawk (LAMPS 3) Homeport: Mayport, Fla. Crew: approx. 340 Armament: Two Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight guns, one Mk 41 VLS for Tomahawk, ASROC and Standard missiles, Mk 46 torpedoes (two triple tube mounts), Harpoon missile launchers, one Sea Sparrow launcher, two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, one Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) System |
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| Keel laid: February 21, 1977 Launched: September 25, 1978 Commissioned: December 15, 1979 |
| Blue and Gold are the colors traditionally associated with the U.S. Navy and both are symbolic of the Navy's element, the sea and it's goal of excellence. The Shield symbolizes an event in 1805 during the Tripolitan War when LT Presley O'Bannon (USMC), at the head of an escort of seven Marines and one midshipman, stormed the fort at Derna in present day Libya. This fort is represented by the embattled partition line. With his own hands, O'Bannon hoisted an American Flag over a captured position for the first time in the history of the US. At Malta, according to tradition, Hamet presented O'Bannon with the jeweled sword he carried while a refugee with the Mameluke in Egypt. This type of blade, known as a Mameluke sword, is worn by Marine Officers today and is the oldest weapon in continuous use by the Armed Forces of the United States.
On his return home, O'Bannon was presented a second sword, this time a ceremonial one, by his native state of Virginia. The crossed sword and cutlass on the shield have been adopted from the Enlisted and Officers surface warfare badges and represent the two swords presented O'Bannon as well as the mission, capabilities, and personnel of the Spruance Class Destroyer. Three shamrocks refer not only to the O'Bannon's Irish heritage, but also the three ships to bear this name DD 177, DD/DDE 450 and DD 987. The globe and the anchor, adapted from a USMC seal, are direct references to Presley O'Bannon's outstanding service in the USMC. |
| DID YOU KNOW? The O´Bannon can go from top speed to completely stopped in just two and a half ship lengths. |
| The USS O'BANNON is the 25th in a series of 31 Spruance Class Destroyers, and the fourth to bear the namesake of Presley Neville O'Bannon, USMC, "the Hero of Derna". A highly versatile multi-mission vessel, O´Bannon is capable of operating independently or in company with Amphibious or Carrier Task Forces. She is a verteran of many overseas deployments, counter narcotics operations, and many exercises as a test platform for boty systems and tactics. One of O´Bannon´s primary missions is to operate offensively as a Strike Warfare platform for the launching of Tomahawk Missiles at land targets. Also a premier Undersea Warfare platform, O´Bannon´s AN7SQQ-89(v)6USW suite is the most advanced underwater detection system yet developed.The Seahawk helicopters extend O´Bannon´s sensor range. |
| USS O´BANNON DD 987 "Strike Shamrock" |
| Spruance can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against shore targets and Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets against hostile submarines. The weapon systems aboard the Spruance gives it a lethal ability to engage enemy forces in a highly complex and challenging warfare environment. |
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| Mr. Alsace went on to tell the audience how the visit of the USS JFK demonstrates an important truth -- that despite occasional discords, the friendship between the United States and Spain is based on shared values and a commitment to Peace, with a desire for a better world for ourselves and for our children, and that the ties between our two countries remain strong and lasting. God bless Catalunya, Spain, and the U.S.A. The following day, a personalized tour of the vessel was given to the Council and our special guests, a group of students from the American School in Barcelona. They were able to experience first-hand what life is like aboard a floating city and the structure of the naval environment. Our thanks to Ms. Ettie Zilber, Director of ASB, for bringing her students all the way to Tarragona! |
| More photos on our Council Photo Album |
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| Barcelona Council Hosts a Welcome Dinner for Guests from the USS O´Bannon |
The US Navy cruiser, USS Monterey, carrying over 300 Navy personnel, glided into Tarragona on April 5th for a four-day port call. After its visit to Spain, the ship was homeward bound to Norfolk following a hard six months on the open sea. HISTORY OF THE USS MONTEREY |
U.S. Navy Vessel "USS MONTEREY" Visits Tarragona |
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| USS O´Bannon - Strike Shamrock - Visits Barcelona |
| SHIP VISITS TO SPAIN |
| The American School in Barcelona on a field trip to the USS John F. Kennedy during its port call in Tarragona. |
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| The USS MONTEREY was built at Bath Iron Works, launched on 23 October 1988, conducted her first sea trials in November, 1989, and was commissioned in Mayport, Florida on 16 June 1990. It is the fourth ship to bear the name MONTEREY in the U.S. Fleet.
The USS MONTEREY returned in January 1994 from a six month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean with the USS AMERICA joint task Group (JTG). While deployed, JTG ships supported a variety of national, NATO and United Nations missions, including participation in Operations Deny Flight, Provide Promise and Sharp Guard in the Adriatic Sea off Bosnia-Herzegovina, Southern Watch in the Red Sea, and UNOSOM II (Continue Hope) in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. The ships of the JTG also participated in the bi-lateral U.S./Spanish exercise Poopdeck 94, off the coast of Spain in mid-January, before conducting visits to various Spanish ports. Poopdeck is an annual bi-lateral exercise in which aircraft and ships of Task Force 60 test the air defenses of Spain while defending against offensive strikes led by Spanish aircraft directed at Task Force 60 ships. Inclement weather precluded full airwing participation in the exercise, and most air operations were canceled for Poopdeck '94. USS MONTEREY provided duties as escort during the exercise. |
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| The USS MONTEREY departed its homeport of Mayport, FL, on August 25, 1996, to relieve USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40) in the Adriatic Sea as the U.S. cruiser responsible for air surveillance off the coast of Bosnia. Once in the Adriatic, MONTEREY assumed the duties of Redcrown, where it was responsible for all air surveillance and aircraft control in the Adriatic Sea in direct support of NATO operations Deny Flight and Sharp Guard. During the six-month deployment, the Monterey also had roles in operations Provide Promise, Southern Watch, Decisive Edge, and Decisive Endeavor in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas and the Arabian Gulf. Monterey also participated in Exercise Infinite Courage, and the multinational exercises Bright Star and Final Courage.
While en route to a post-exercise port visit, the Monterey responded to a distress call from an Austrian sailing vessel; one of whose crew members had suffered a severe head injury that required immediate medical attention. Monterey´s next mission was to escort USS AMERICA to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch and enforcement of U.N. sanctions against Iraq. Shortly thereafter, AMERICA and MONTEREY were recalled back to the Adriatic Sea to support Operation Joint Endeavor and NATO troop insertions into Bosnia-Herzegovina as the Dayton Peace Accords went into effect. During the transit, MONTEREY answered another distress call by a U.S. sailing vessel, which was being fired upon by Eritrea and Yemen forces during their conflict over disputed islands in the Red Sea. MONTEREY also joined forces with a the Russian RNS ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV (CV 063) battle group for two days of exercises January 21-22, 1996. The ships made port calls at Trieste, Ancona and Naples, Italy; Corfu, Souda Bay, Crete, Greece; and Antalya, Turkey, before returning home on February 24, 1996. USS MONTEREY arrived at its new home port of Norfolk on May 10, 1996 as part of the Atlantic Fleet's reorganization of its forces. The guided missile cruiser then began an 11-month maintenance overhaul on June 19 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Inc. in Newport News, VA. USS MONTEREY served as the U.S. Flagship for U.S. Navy units participating in the Atlantic phase of the UNITAS 2001, which was hosted by the Uruguayan Navy. UNITAS 2001 focused on high-tech surface, air and under-sea naval training exercises designed to train the force in multinational coalition operations, improve force interoperability and demonstrate hemispheric defense. The exercises were based on realistic world scenarios requiring the participating ships to operate as a combined multi-national task force. USS MONTEREY took part from January 12 through February 4, 1998, in Joint Task Force Exercise 98-1 as part of the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) Carrier Battle Group (CVBG). This exercise, which included participation by more than 30,000 service members from all branches of the armed forces, was designed to meet the requirements for quality, realistic, intensive training to fully prepare U.S. forces for joint operations. The JOHN C. STENNIS CVBG and WASP ARG were to depart for a scheduled six-month deployment the following month, and the JTFEX was to serve as the final certification on their readiness to deploy. This was to be the first deployment for JOHN C. STENNIS. USS MONTEREY deployed as part of the JFK Battle Group to the Arabian Gulf in 1999. 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 MONTEREY set sail in support of defense and humanitarian efforts off the coast of New York. |
Keel laid: August 19, 1987 * Launched: October 23, 1988 * Commissioned: June 16, 1990 * 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) * Speed: 30+ knots Displacement: approx. 9,600 tons full load * 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 Crew: 33 Officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers and approx. 340 Enlisted MOTTO: The motto of the USS Monterey is ROUGH IN BATTLE AND READY IN PEACE, and comes from the nickname of Zachary Taylor "Old Rough and Ready," which he earned in battle against the Seminoles in Florida, and later used as a campaign slogan for his election to the office of President of the United States. |
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The USS MONTEREY is the 15th TICONDEROGA class guided missile cruiser and the fourth ship in the Navy to bear the name. |
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| A group from our Barcelona Council rolled out the welcome mat for the crew of the USS Oscar Austin, calling on our homeport February 20-24. The destroyer reciprocated the gestures by providing a tour of the vessel, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer,. Our thanks to Cmd. Pete Demane and to Lt. Timothy Fontana for being our tour guide. |
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| ABOARD THE USS OSCAR AUSTIN |
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