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SHIP's NAMESAKE

 

Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd

 

Isaac C. Kidd was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 26, 1884 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1906. His distinguished career included participation in the World Cruise of the "Great White Fleet" 1907-1909 aboard the battleship USS New Jersey. He also served in the battleship USS North Dakota, and the cruiser USS RADM KiddPittsburgh. He served as aide and flag secretary to the commander in chief, Pacific Fleet, the first of his many staff assignments and was an instructor at the United States Naval Academy from 1916-17.

During and after the First World War, Kidd was stationed aboard battleship USS New Mexico, and later he had staff and Naval Academy service. He was executive officer of the battleship USS Utah and commanded the support ship USS Vega until his assignment as Captain of the Port at Chrisobal, Panama Canal Zone from 1927-30.

Promoted to the rank of Captain, he was chief of staff to commander, Base Force, U.S. Fleet in 1930-32. After three years at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C., he was commander Destroyer Squadron One, Scouting Force, in 1935-36.

Captain Kidd next attended the Naval War College and served on the College staff. He was commanding officer of the battleship USS Arizona from September 1938 until February 1940. He was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned as commander Battleship Division One and chief of staff to commander, Battleships, Battle Force.

On Dec. 7, 1941, he was killed in action on board USS Arizona during Japanese Navy’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Pearl Harbor attack. He was the first flag officer to lose his life in World War II, and the first in the U.S. Navy to meet death in action against any foreign enemy.

Medal of Honor citation of Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd (as printed in his official Navy Office of Information Biography, June 1974):

 ribbon - Medal of Honor

 

"For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He immediately went to the bridge and as Commander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss of his life."

 

ABOUT the USS KIDD

USS KIDD was built in Pascagoula, MS by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. She is the forty-ninth Arleigh Burke class Destroyer to be built and is run by the finest Officers and Crew in the United States Navy. Her specifications are below.

CHARACTERISTICS / CONFIGURATION

DIMENSIONSUSS Kidd (DDG 100)

Hull Length (Overall) 509.5 ft
Beam 66 ft
Draft, Navigation 31 ft
Displacement (Saltwater) 9,300 Tons
Speed 30+ Knots

WEAPONS

One MK45 MOD 1 5"/62 Caliber Gun Mount
Two MK41 Vertical Launching Systems
Evolved Sea Sparrow, Vertical Launched ASROC, Standard, and Tomahawk Missiles
Two MK32 MOD 14 Triple Torpedo Tubes
MK46 and MK50 Torpedoes
MK53 Decoy Launching System
Super Rapid Blooming Off-board Chaff

AIR POWER

2 SH-60B/R Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) MK III Helicopters

SENSORSUSS Kidd (DDG 100)

Radar
AN/SPY-1D(V)3-D Search/Track Radar
Bridgemaster Navigational Radar
AN/SPS-67(V)3 Surface Search Radar
Sonar
AN/SQQ-89(V)15 Undersea Warfare Combat System Suite
Electronic Warfare
AN/SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Warfare System

ENGINEERING

Four LM2500 Marine Gas Turbine Engines (100,000 HP)
Three Rolls Royce 3000 KW Gas Turbine Generators
Two Shafts with CRP (Controllable Reversible Pitch) Propellers

LOCATION: Galveston, TX
COMMISSIONED: 09 JUN 2007
 
   

USS Jackson (LCS 6)

USS KIDD’s BLAZON
 
Shield:
Celeste and eagle wings displayed and elevated or rising from flames of the like issuing from a point wavy azure (dark blue); a Naval Officers sword fesswise surmounting the wing tips, point to dexter proper.

Crest:
On a wreath of the colors or and Celeste a demi-figure of the goddess Athena in battle dress an Aegis over shoulders in dexter hand a spear the sinister hand resting upon a stylized medal of honor all of the first between two mullets of the like at her head.

SYMBOLISM

Shield:
Dark blue and gold represent the U.S Navy: celeste refers to the medal of honor awarded posthumously to Rear Admiral Kidd. It also denotes combat capability in the air, gold and dark blue dignify respectably the KIDD’s-effectiveness to also engage simultaneously surface and below the surface combatants. The eagle rising from flame represents America’s response to the attack in 1941 on Pearl Harbor during which Rear Admiral Kidd gave his life in defense of his ship. The eagle’s wings are reaching for a Naval Officer’s sword to answer and avenge the attack.

Crest:
Goddess of mythology Athena represents the unmatched fighting capabilities of the Aegis class USS KIDD, about her shoulders she wears an aegis of antiquity; a protection in battle from which the class is named. Her hand rests upon a representation of the medal of honor recalling the award made posthumously to the Rear Admiral for his heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The mullets to either side of her helmet recall the two previous ships to bear the name USS KIDD and also refer to RADM Kidd’s rank as commander of the battleship Arizona and commander Battleship Division One.

Supporters:
Behind the shield a Naval Officers’ sword and navy cutlass pints down saltirewise proper representing the strong relationship between officers and crew.

Motto:
The scroll azure garnished or double azure inscribed “on to victory” in gold letters. The scroll ends inscribed ”19” to dexter side, “41” to sinister. The gold in reference to the year of the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into WWII.

Seal:
The coat of arms as blazoned in full color upon a white oval enclosed by a blue color edged on the outside with gold rope and bearing the name “USS KIDD” at the top and “DDG 100” in base all gold.
 
 
USS America (LHA 6) Logo
USS Kidd (DDG 100)

Unit 100209 Box 1
FPO AP 96670-1212

                                  
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