Comte De Grasse (DD 974) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMBAT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT LCDR Cully Combat Systems Officer LT Caywood ASW Officer LT Curia Electronic Material Officer ENS Zirkle Gunnery Officer ENS Adamy Missiles Officer EWC (SW) Marsh Electronic Warfare Officer

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COMTE DE GRASSE (1722-1788) FRANCOIS JOSEPH PAUL DE GRASSE WAS A FRENCH ADMOIAL WHOSE TACTICAL SUCCESS AT THE BATTLE OF THE VIRGINIA CAPES IN 1781 MADE A MAJOR CONTRIBU- TION TO THE AMERICAN VICTORY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. BY INHERITANCE, HE WAS MARQUIS DE GRASSETILLY AND COMTE DE GRASSE. BORN IN CHATEAU DU BAR, NEAR GRASSE, ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1722, HE ENTERED THE NAVY IN 1738 AND SERVED WITH DISTINCTION THROUGHOUT THE WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION (1740-1748) IN WHICH HE WAS WOUNDED, AND THE SEVEN YEARS WAR (1756-1763). DUR- ING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, DE GRASSE SERVED IN THE WEST INDIES AGAINST THE BRITISH AND, IN 1781, HIS FLEET OF 20 SHIPS-OF-THE-LINE ESCORTED ABOUT 200 MERCHANT SHIPS TO CAP FRANCOIS, HAITI. THERE HE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO COOPERATE IN THE YORKTOWN CAMPAIGN. ON AU- GUST 30, 1781, HE ARRIVED INSIDE THE CHESAPEAKE CAPES WITH 28 SHIPS AND 3,300 TROOPS. MEANWHILE, ADMIRAL THOMAS GRAVES WITH 19 SHIPS HAD SAILED FROM NEW YORK TO RESCUE GENERAL CORNWALLIS ' ARMY, WHICH HAD RETREATED TO YORKTOWN FROM NORTH CAROLINA ON SEPTEMBER 5. DE GRASSE ENGAGED GRAVES FOR TWO HOURS OFF THE ENTRANCE TO CHESAPEAKE BAY, INFLICTING SUCH HEAVY CASUALITIES AND DAMAGE THAT THE BRITISH WERE FORCED TO RE- TURN TO NEW YORK. ON SEPTEMBER 14, WASHINGTON BEGAN THE SEIGE THAT FORCED CORNWALLIS TO SURRENDER ABOUT 8,000 MEN ON OCTOBER 19, A DECISIVE VICTORY MADE POSSIBLE BY DE GRASSES AID. Symbolism Of Ship ' s Crest THE WAVY BARS ALLUDING TO THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE PILE FLUERY SIMULATING THE PROW OF A FRENCH SHIP BEARING THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE FRENCH ADMIRAL FRANCOIS JOSEPH PAUL COMTE DE GRASSE, SYMBOLIZE THAT GREAT NAVAL VICTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WHICH HELPED FORCE THE SUR- RENDER OF CORNWALLIS, AFFECTING THE ISSUE OF THE WAR AND THE SHAPING OF AMERICAN DESTINY. THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CHIEF WITH TWO STARS, TORCH AND EM- BATTLED PARTITION LINE ALLUDE TO THE NATIONAL COL- ORS AND THE TWO HUNDRED YEARS SINCE THE ESTAB- LISHMENT OF THE REPUBLIC. THE EMBOWED ARM IN AR- MOR GRASPING A TRIDENT, AN ATTRIBUTE OF POSEIDON, GOD OF THE SEAS, SYMBOLIZES THE AWESOME FIGHTING POWER OF THE MODERN DESTROYER. c o ■ ' °f a Co OO . 97

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