 USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) underway |
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| Career (USA) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Bunker Hill |
| Namesake: | Battle of Bunker Hill |
| Operator: |  United States Navy |
| Ordered: | 15 January 1982 |
| Builder: | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 11 January 1984 |
| Launched: | 11 March 1985 |
| Commissioned: | 20 September 1986 |
| Homeport: | Naval Base San Diego |
| Motto: | Determination, Deterrence |
| Nickname: | "Bravo" |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2009[update] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Ticonderoga class cruiser |
| Displacement: | approx. 9,600 tons full load |
| Length: | 567 feet (173 m) |
| Beam: | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Draught: | 33 feet (10 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 80,000 shp (60 MW) |
| Speed: | 32.5 knots (60 km/h) |
| Complement: | 33 officers & 327 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
AN/SPY-1A/B multi-function radar AN/SPS-49 air search radar AN/SPG-62 fire control radar AN/SPS-55 surface search radar AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar AN/SQQ-89(V)3 Sonar suite, consisting of
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| Armament: | 2 × 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems 122 × RIM-156 SM-2ER Bock IV, RIM-162 ESSM, BGM-109 Tomahawk, or RUM-139 VL-Asroc 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon missiles 2 × Mark 45 5 in / 54 cal lightweight gun 2 × 25 mm 2–4 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) gun 2 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × Mk 32 12.75 in (324 mm) triple torpedo tubes |
| Aircraft carried: | 2 × Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. |
USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) is a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser laid down by Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at Pascagoula, Mississippi on 11 January 1984, launched on 11 March 1985 and commissioned on 20 September 1986. Bunker Hill is homeported at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego, California.
Bunker Hill was the first Ticonderoga-class cruiser to be equipped with the Mk. 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) in place of the previous ships' Mk. 26 twin-arm missile launchers, greatly improving the flexibility and firepower of the ships by allowing them to fire RGM-109 Tomahawk missiles.
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1980s
After commissioning, the Bunker Hill entered the Pacific Fleet via the Panama Canal and began short notice work-ups to deploy to the U.S. Seventh Fleet. She made her first deployment in July 1987, nearly one year ahead of schedule during which she provided an anti-air warfare umbrella inside the Persian Gulf for USS Missouri (BB-63) and other US-flagged tankers and ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
In August 1988, Bunker Hill's homeport was shifted from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan joining the USS Midway (CV-41) Carrier Battlegroup for a four month deployment in the Seventh Fleet, for which she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. She was also awarded her first Battle Efficiency Award.
1990s and 2000s
In November 1990, Bunker Hill sailed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and served as the multinational Air Warfare Commander (AAWC) and as one of the first ships to launch a Tomhawk Land Attack Cruise Missile against Iraqi targets. Following the conclusion of the Persian Gulf War, Bunker Hill participated in organizing and establishing Operation Southern Watch, the complex enforcement of the United Nations established no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Bunker Hill made a historical visit to the Russian city Vladivostok in 1993, and then one year later she made a port visit to Qingdao in the People's Republic of China.
In March 1996, she took station south of Taiwan to monitor missile tests by the People's Liberation Army.
In July 1998, Bunker Hill's homeport was shifted from Yokosuka, Japan back to San Diego. In Late 2000, Bunker Hill deployed with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Battle Group. She again participated in Operation Southern Watch and conducted boardings and inspections of over 40 merchant vessels in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. Bunker Hill also escorted the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) Amphibious Ready Group while conducting humanitarian operations off East Timor and training exercises in Kuwait. Bunker Hill acted as Air Defense Commander for the ARG where she designed and implemented innovative procedures for CG integration into an Amphibious Ready Group. Following the attack on USS Cole (DDG-67), Bunker Hill sortied from Bahrain to provide support and protection to seven USN and USNS ships based there and subsequently remained at sea for 67 consecutive days. Bunker Hill returned from deployment in February 2001.
Since her commissioning, Bunker Hill has deployed six times to the Persian Gulf and has earned fifteen Battle "E" Awards, including the Golden Battle "E" in 1996 and 2006 which is given when a ship receives five such awards consecutively.
In March 2006, it was announced that Lockheed Martin will upgrade the Aegis system on 22 navy vessels; the Bunker Hill is the first slated to receive the upgrade.
In January 2007, the Bunker Hill was sent to the coast of Somalia to conduct antiterrorist operations as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) task force. She was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for this role.
On 28 February 2008, Bunker Hill was awarded the 2007 Battle "E" award, her 6th consecutive Battle "E". [1]
In Fiction
- The Bunker Hill was featured in Tom Clancy's 1986 novel, Red Storm Rising. "Bravo" was one of three Aegis-equipped ships to defend a merchant convoy, then an amphibious group to retake Iceland. She is instrumental in defending the ships against anti-ship missiles, and she assists the USS Reuben James (FFG-57) and the HMS Battleaxe (F89) in conducting anti-submarine warfare.
- In Full Metal Panic!, the Bunker Hill is the site of negotiations taking place between U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Jenkins and Major Andrei Kalinin of Mithril; "Bravo" is later engaged by the hijacked Mithril amphibious assault submarine Tuatha De Danaan, which fires Harpoon missiles with inert warheads at the Bunker Hill.
- The Bunker Hill is featured in the role playing game, Rifts.[1]
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) |
- ^ http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Rifts/Rifts-Pre-Rifts-Vehicles/United_States/US_FFGN-235_Darcey_Frigate.htm
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
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