Hue City (CG 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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l I CREST The fortress recalls the Citadel at Hue, for which the U.S. Marines fought so valiantly to capture. The oriental dragon symbolizes both the fierceness of the siege and the fighting spirit of the crew of the USS HUE CITY. MOTTO FIDELITY, COURAGE, HONOR represents the finest qualities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps: fidelity to one's comrades and the values of the country, courage to do one's duty regardless of the consequences, and honor as a principal virtue of the military profession. SEAL The coat of anns in full color as in the blazon, all upon a white background and enclosed within a dark blue oval border edged on the outside with gold chain and bearing the name USS HUE CITY at top and CG 66 in base, all in gold. SHIELD Dark blue and gold are the traditional Navy colors, red is emblematic of courage and sacrifice. The trident represents past and present and symbolizes sea power and the vertical launch system of CG 66. The tines of the trident represent the modern Aegis cruiser capabilities of anti-air, land, and surface warfare, while the bottom spike denotes the ship's anti- submarine capabilities. The crossed swords form a saltire with the upper and lower quadrants depicting the two Vietnams and the point where they cross illustrating the location and strategic importance of the battle for Hue. The smaller shield at center commemorates the Marines' victory and the raising of the U.S. flag upon capturing the provincial headquarters in Hue. The crossed Navy cutlass and Marine mameluke sword also express strength through teamwork and cooperation, and are combined with a palm wreath symbolizing the battle and victory. 5

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5a'l l'lc of l'l'ue 05111 The city of Hue, South Vietnam, was the site of one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War. Three under strength U.S. Marine battalions, consisting of fewer than 2,500 men, attacked and soundly defeated more than 10,000 entrenched enemy troops, liberating Hue for South Vietnam. Situated in central Vietnam, Hue was the country's cultural capital, a unique blend of French and Vietnamese influence. The Imperial City, it gracefully retained the glory of Vietnam's past while its universities educated Vietnam's brightest minds for the future. Hue was a symbol of everything the Vietnamese people admired and respected. For this reason, it was spared the terrible effects of war-until Tet 1968. During the lunar New Year holiday of Tet-a very important week-long holiday celebrated all over Vietnam-the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army launched a massive assault on South Vietnam. They seized the American embassy in Saigon. They also seized the city of Hue and its population of about 140,000 citizens. This Tet Offensive began on January 31, 1968. The Battle of Hue lasted four weeks and cost some 142 American lives. Marines of the 1st and 5th Regiments, fighting alongside the Republic of Vietnam's 1st Division, were supported by U.S. Army 7th and 12th Cavalry Regiments, among other units, in the battle for Hue. North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces were driven out of Hue little by little as U.S. Marines retook the city one block at a time. The Marines retook the Treasury building, the university, the hospital, the Provincial Headquarters and, finally, the citadel. Cn February 26, 1968, the city of Hue was declared secure. U.S. forces remained another week to ensure the city' s safety. H0':J6SI.OME1lnfe3ESreigjal3II2:redobGonzalez was awarded the Medal of USS Gonzalez CDDG-365 honor? tive and beyond he can of duty' Today, e memory of this hero. Additionally, countless Silver Stars and Purple Hearts were awarded for other acts of heroism. N41 - -

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,q.,,.............,,......,.-a-sve--,..,,.fw,e,v-1....f..... .,q-.-,,,..v.,...-..T.,-v-.q..e-vp----v:-.,,,....Q-.e-.-1 . . K- ' f - fn- L-ww ' ef ' USS l'l've 05111 Ju-Sf' the 178019 USS Hue City iCG-661, the first United States ship to bear this name and the only ship named after a battle of the Vietnam War, is the twentieth in the Ticonderoga Class of Aegis guided-miSSile CrUISerS and The fourteenth to be built by Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her keel was laid on 20 February 1989. She was floated on 1 June 1990 and christened on 21 July 1991 by her sponsor, Mrs. Jo Ann Cheatham, the wife of Lieutenant General Earnest C. Cheatham, Jr., USMC QFiet.J. Hue City's standard is the flag of the United States Marine Corps, in addition to the national ensign and the flag of the United States Navy. The mission of Hue City TCG-665 is to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea in support of a carrier battle group or amphibious assault group. Hue City has been designed to defend against coordinated saturation attacks involving enemy surface ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles. Additionally, Hue City is able to engage in offensive actions against the enemy through employment of long-range anti-shipping missiles, land attack missiles and naval gunfire. At the heart of Hue City is the Aegis Weapon System, the most advanced integration of electronic detection, engagement and control equipment in the world today. The Aegis Weapon System, combined with the Vertical Launching System and the SPY radar, allows Hue City to fire more missiles and guide them in flight with greater accuracy than,any existing systemrg' g , , , 1 S- , The Vertical Launching System'isfcapableEfof,filringfa mix of missiliesyagainstf airborne and surface threats. These missiles include the andthe Tomahawkfcruise misasile, The SPY-1 B phased array radar sends out beams of in all direct'ions-icorgtinffou'sIy,-to provide a search and tracking capability for and beyond!200'im,ilVes,L-ZlTwQ175I1fgun mounts, Phalanx rapid-fire guns and Harpoon anti-ship missiles the firepower'sulpplieidnbyfthe Vertical Launching system. Hue City also has the most ,agfvancediliriijielrwater sunfeillance' systemlavailable. Anti-submarine warfare 9ClU1Pme'11C011S1S1S Of e ,e9Qglstigc,.towed1airrEty SSH-60B Seahawk helicopters to provide a long-range detection andqattack capability. , 1 ' 1 Four powerful, quick-responifgas turbinewengiines give Hue City the ability to reach speeds in excess of 30 knots. This propulsion system is an integral part of Hue City-one of the fleet's finest Aegis cruisers. U55 Hue Oifq A+-Pr-Gllance Keel Laid: Propellers: Cost: February 20, 1989 Two approximately 1 million Launched: Blades: Aircraft: JUI1e 1, 1990 Five Two SH-60B Sea Hawk Commissioned: Length: Armamentg September 14, 1991 567 ft C173 my Two MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems Builder: Beam: TWO MK 32 SV-I-T Ingalls Shipbuilding, West Bank 55 ft Q16.8 my Harpoon Launch System Propulsion System: Draft: TWO MK 45 Gun System Four General Electric LM 2500 34 ft l1O.2 my Two Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System Displacement: Speed: Hompo,-U approximately 9,600 tons 30+ knots Mayport, Florida Crew: 37 Officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers, 261 Enlisted Sailors 6