About

Crest Meaning:

Shield

Red and gold is representative of the embarked Marines, while dark blue and gold represents the traditional mission of a deep-water Navy. The cog wheel, a symbol of manufacturing, is taken from the seal of the city of Portland, Oregon, seal and represents the city's shipbuilding industry which built Victory and Liberty ships during World War Il. The gold anchor acknowledges the city's longstanding connection to the maritime industry and the U.S. Navy. The sixteen white stars pay tribute to the battle stars awarded to USS Portland (CA 33) for her combat service during WWII.

In 2003, the year of USS Portland's (LSD 37) decommissioning, the city co nicknamed Portland "The City of Roses" by a unanimous vote. The yellow rose alludes to the unwavering support of the families of the crew. The trident is colored black to symbolize determination, and the three prongs depict LPD-27 as the third ship  to be named for the City of Portland. Together, the rose and trident symbolize the significant contributions made by the citizens of Portland to the warfighting effort.

Behind the shield, four swords - a U.S. Navy Officer's sword, U.S. Marine Corps Officers Mameluke, U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer's cutlass and a U.S. Marine Corps Noncommissioned Officer's sword, all in saltire, points downward. The swords symbolize the synergy between the two services. Furthermore, the placement of the swords represents the leadership and direction provided by commissioned officers, combined with the strength and support of the senior enlisted cadre, forging the foundation of USS Portlands crew and the Navy-Marine Corps Team.

Ship History/ Namesake:

USS Portland (LPD 27) is the 11^th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. Portland was constructed in Pascagoula, MS at Ingalls Shipbuilding.  The vessel is named in honor of the city of Portland, Oregon.  Portland 's keel was laid down on 2 August 2013, at the Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  The ship's sponsor is Bonnie Amos, wife of U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos.  The Sponsor’s maidens are Linda Valerga, Jaymie Nielsen, and Molly Amos.  The ship was launched on 13 February 2016 and Christened on May 21^st, 2016.  The ship commissioned on 21 April 2018 in Portland, OR.