Momsen (DDG 92) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMISSIONING TRADITION The Commissioning Ceremony signifies the entry of a warship into active service in the United States Navy, under the command of a commissioned officer. At the moment when the commissioning pennant is hoisted, USS MOMSEN (DDG 92) becomes a proud ship of the hne, and assumes her place alongside the other active ships of the Pacific Fleet. Once in commission, the Commanding Officer and crew enjoy the privilege and assume the responsibility to maintain MOMSEN ' s readiness in peace, and to conduct successful sustained combat operations at sea in time of war. This ceremony continues a centuries-old tradition observ ed by many navies worldv ide, and by our Na y since the early days of the Revolutionary War. In the early period of our nation ' s history, no e.xact procedure for the commissioning of warships was prescribed. As a result, different ships recorded commissioning dates based upon a number of different events, including when the colors were tlrst raised, vv hen officers and crew reported on board, when the tlrst log enti y w as made, or w hen the ship first put to The commissioning pennant is the most outv ardly isible indication of a ship in commission. The pennant is believed to ha e its origins in the 1 7 ' century, when the Dutch and British were at w ar. When the two fleets met on the open sea, Dutch .Admiral Maarten Harpertszon Tromp hoisted a broom to his masthead to indicate his intention to SYNeep the British from the sea. In response to this pro ocation. Royal Navy Admiral William Blake hoisted a horsewhip, indicating his intentions to subdue the Dutch. The Royal Navy was victorious in its efforts, and since that time, many nations ha e adopt ed the w hip-like pennant as the distinctive mark of a ship of war. The United States Navy Commissioning Pennant is blue at the hoist with a union of seven stars, and horizontal red and white stripes at the fly. All active ships of the United States Navy proudly tly the commissioning pennant and our nation ' s ensign.

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SHIELD: Gold and Dark Blue represent the a : Celeste ( Light Blue) and arched chief symbolize world- w ide capability. The single nebula rompu represents the submarine rescue chamber de eloped and tested by Vice Admiral Momsen and since used b the N ' a y in submarine rescue operations. The upper portion of the nebula is freed and rising from the main body to convey the fijnction of the rescue chamber and Momsen Lung. de ices concei ed and de eloped b ADM Momsen to sa e trapped mariners from damaged and sunken submarines. The demi-trident symbolizes advanced weaponry and sea-power and its tines recall the attack pattern employed by V. DM Momsen against convoys of Japanese shipping during Word War II. The dolphins, derived from the submariners badge, and traditional friends of the sailor, refer respectively to the diving community and the individual submariners whose safety was the main concern of the Vice Admiral ' s own diving skills and the equipment testing he conducted at gra e personal risk. Gold denotes achievement and excellence. CREST: The sty lized Navy Cross refers to that aw arded to V.ADM Momsen for his heroism as Commander of an attack group of submarines against Japan ' s forces in the East China Sea during World War II. The blue and gold riband recalls the Distinguished Ser ice Medal he received among many awards for his wartime serv ice; the two gold stars refer to the legion of Merit. The swords denote readiness and ability to fight the cutlass represents the enlisted sailor and submariner. Together, in the form of the letter V . they represent the Vice Admiral ' s Combat .Awards. The Wreath, symbol of honor and achievement, recalls the many and arious decorations made to him during his distinguished career. The Scarlet doubling on the nband svinbolizes courage and sacrifice and refers to Na y support to Marine Corps forces. Gold denotes excellence. MOTTO: RISE ABOVE is the ship ' s motto. It characterizes VADM Momsen ' s approach to many career challenges and associated achie ements. His inno ati e approach to technical challenges, combined with unwa ering determination, forever transformed the operational capabilities of both the diving and sal age, and submarine communities. Rise Abov e is a spirit shared by the USS MOMSEN crew.

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' COMMISSIONING CEREMONY PROGRAM li. Momsen, USN f: 1 (1896-1967) AUCjLJSI 2o, 2UU4 de Momsen was bom on June 21, . c vYork. He received a congressional ,: . .-ipointmcnttothc L ' niicd StaicsNaval Academy in 1916. ANNOUNCEMENT OFsie JUiTFQpi «J ESTiSe Naval Academy on me 7. 141 ). and cnlered active service aboard battleships HONORS TO THE PRINCIPAL SPEAKER Jatuian, of 1 112. Momsen set his sights below the NATION L ANTHEM graduated from Submarine School in onnecticut, beginning an illustrious career in n i r. A rwT- t r A ' ! ICC 35 Executivc Officcr otthe submarinc PAKAUE COLOR -,,, PWNCIPAL SPEAKER ' S ADDRESS Momsen commanded subfNVOCATION -76), ' HEMARKS FROM DISTINGUISHED PLATFORM GUESTS of Her where ne sei cruiser. As a member ofthe Submarine Safet Tesi L nil on Sub USS S-4 frc»BB, KiPJ (? lQQMJ S8«aNC!Jfil PENNANT the Distinguished Ser ice Medal lor the de elopmeiit ofw hat became known as the MoiASSUMING COMMAND allow trapped submariners t( depths oftwohu SETTING OF THE FIRST WATCH todav. i: MANNING THE SHIP AND BRINGING HER the Washingioii Njv decompression tables o.xygcn in deep d REPORTING FOR DUTY COMMANDING OFFICER ' S REMARKS GOD BLESS AMERICA - NAVY HYIHN BENEDICTION . 1 ' DEPARTURE OF PLATFORM GUES y