About

Also known as "The Mighty Moo", the USS COWPENS is one of Third Fleet's finest ships. After serving 12 years as part of Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan, COWPENS crew, "The Thundering Herd", sailed back to her new homeport in San Diego, CA. COWPENS is an advanced surface asset that brings outstanding Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Surface Warfare, and Communications capabilities to the United States Pacific Fleet. It is manned by a highly trained and professional crew of approximately 325 Sailors. Since commissioning in March 9, 1991 in Charleston, SC, USS COWPENS has set a multitude of records, including an unprecedented run of six consecutive Battle Efficiency awards.

The USS COWPENS is named after the Revolutionary War Battle fought on January 17, 1781, at the “Cowpens,” in South Carolina. On that field of battle, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan with his experienced, yet untrained, militia and 300 Colonial soldiers commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard met and defeated the superior force of British Army troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Both Morgan’s knowledge of the enemy and his use of the “double envelopment” maneuver provided victory in less than an hour of battle. The victory at Cowpens, gave the American Army the courage to successfully pursue the British from South Carolina to Yorktown.

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USS COWPENS (CG 63) is the seventeenth AEGIS cruiser of the Ticonderoga class. She was launched in Bath, Maine on March 11, 1989 and commissioned in Charleston, South Carolina on March 9, 1991. Named after a pivotal revolutionary war battle in northwestern South Carolina, The Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, in 1781 was one of the most brilliant victories of the Revolution. Brigadier General Daniel Morgan drew his forces in three lines (alluded to by the three bars) on a terrain of felled trees (denoted by the jagged edge of the wedge shape). Morgan's unexpected rally and attack turned the battle into a decisive victory.

SHIELD: Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy. Red denotes valor and sacrifice, while white represents high ideals. The three wavy bars refer to the sea, the USS COWPENS area of operations; and allude to the three lines of attacked used by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan at Cowpens, South Carolina in 1781. The circle of twelve battle stars honors the previous USS COWPENS (CVL 25) earned in World War II. The Navy sword symbolizes a heritage of service and the vertical launch capabilities of CG 63. The wedge, or pile, symbolizes the spearhead of Morgan's attack and the vertical launch capabilities of the Aegis Cruiser; the jagged edge denotes the terrain of felled trees and rough fences making up the battlefield at Cowpens.

CREST: The muskets with attached bayonets emphasize the victory Cowpens earned by the close combat of sustained fire and bayonet attack. The drum suggests the Revolutionary War call to arms. The first eagle & stripes flag and the Maryland Regimental flag were flown at the Battle of Cowpens. The skyward spikes characterize the combat air support and strike capabilities of CVL 25 and the Aegis Weapons System of CG 63. CVL 25 earned the Navy Unit Commendation for World War II service, represented by the spike colors of blue, gold, red, & green.

MOTTO: "Victoria Libertatis Vindex". Latin for "Victory Vindicates Liberty" The phrase was originally inscribed on a medal awarded to General Morgan by the French government for his brilliant tactics and leadership at the Battle of Cowpens.