 USS Hopper |
|
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | 8 April 1992 |
| Laid down: | 23 February 1995 |
| Launched: | 6 January 1996 |
| Commissioned: | 6 September 1997 |
| Status: | Active in service as of 2007 |
| Homeport: | Pearl Harbor |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 6,750 tons light, 8,873 tons full, 2123 tons dead |
| Length: | 505 ft (153.9 m) overall, 466 ft (142 m) waterline |
| Beam: | 66 ft (20.1 m) extreme, 59 ft (18 m) waterline |
| Draft: | 32 ft (9.8 m) maximum, 22 ft (6.7 m) limit |
| Complement: | 23 officers, 24 chiefs, 302 junior enlisted |
| Propulsion: | 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 100,000 shp (75 MW) |
| Speed: | 30+ knots |
| Range: | |
| Armament: | 1 x 29 cell, 1 x 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 90 x
1 x 5/54 in (127/54 mm), 2 x 25 mm, 4 x 12.7 mm guns, 2 x Phalanx CIWS 2 x Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes |
| Aircraft: | 1 SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter can be embarked |
| Motto: | Aude Et Effice - "Dare And Do" |
USS Hopper (DDG-70), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, is the first (and to date only) ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pioneering computer scientist, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper.
The contract to build her was awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine on 8 April 1992 and her keel was laid down on 23 February 1995. She was launched on 6 January 1996 sponsored by Mrs. Mary Murray Westcote, sister of the ship's namesake, and commissioned on 6 September 1997, with Commander Thomas D. Crowley in command.
Hopper is only the second US Navy warship to be named for a woman from the Navy's own ranks. The other was the World War II destroyer USS Higbee named for the Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps during World War I, Lenah Higbee.
Hopper has participated in multiple deployments to East Asia and the Persian Gulf, including RIMPAC 98, three individual PACMEF deployments, an Expeditionary Strike Group deployment to the Persian Gulf in 2004, and most recently, a deployment to Southeast Asia in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2006. In addition, Hopper has been foremost in the field of Ballistic Missile Defense.
Ship's Coat of Arms
Blazon
SHIELD: Azure, a lion rampant Or, armed and langued Gules.
Translation: On a background of blue, a gold lion rising with fore paws in the air as if attacking, claws and tongue of red.
CREST: From a wreath Or and Azure a lozenge Gules charged with a mullet Argent above a demi-trident of the first, between two lightning bolts pilewise of the like and all upon a wreath of laurel and oak Proper.
Translation: From a two-color roll of gold and blue, a red diamond bearing a white five-point star above a gold three-point spear head, between two wedge shaped lightning bolts also of gold, and all upon a wreath of laurel and oak in their natural colors.
MOTTO: A scroll Argent edged Gules inscribed "AUDE ET EFFICE" Azure.
Translation: A white scroll edged in red inscribed "DARE AND DO" (in Latin) in blue.
SEAL: The complete coat of arms in full color as in the blazon upon a white field enclosed by a blue oval border edged on the outside with gold rope and bearing the name USS HOPPER at top and DDG 70 in base all in gold.
Symbolism
SHIELD: Blue and gold are traditionally used by the Navy. The lion, a symbol of strength and courage, stands for the USS Hopper's characteristics of survivability and alludes to the ship's motto ( DARE AND DO ). The rampant lion has been adapted from the arms of Scotland and refers to Rear Admiral Hopper's heritage. Gold stands for excellence; blue is for devotion to duty.
CREST: The lozenge, traditionally used in the coats of arms of women, honors Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. Her distinction as the first woman to achieve the rank of rear admiral is represented by the single silver star. The trident symbolizes her love for the United States Navy and her Naval service, the focus of her life's work. The lightning bolts, framing the bottom of the shield, connote the image of ship's hull cutting through the sea. They also represent the sophistication and power of the Aegis warship, in large part made possible by Admiral Hopper's pioneering work in the computer field. The wreath consists of laurel and oak representing honor and strength. Red denotes courage and sacrifice; gold stands for excellence.
MOTTO: The Latin phrase "AUDE ET EFFICE" translates into the English phrase "DARE AND DO", in context of a command. RADM Hopper was frequently quoted using this phrase when issuing advice. The phrase captures the spirit of RADM Hopper in her quest for pushing the limits of conventional thinking and looking beyond the norm for innovative solutions and approaches to problem solving. The simple phrase, in Latin, exemplifies the essence of Admiral Hopper's spirit while paying tribute to her tremendous academic achievements.
References
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register.
External link
- "Amazing Grace" Official U.S. Navy website for the USS Hopper (DDG-70)
- DDG-70 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com
| Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | |
|---|---|
| Flight I ships |
Arleigh Burke | Barry | John Paul Jones | Curtis Wilbur | Stout | John S. McCain | Mitscher | Laboon | Russell | Paul Hamilton | Ramage | Fitzgerald | Stethem | Carney | Benfold | Gonzalez | Cole | The Sullivans | Milius | Hopper | Ross |
| Flight II ships | |
| Flight IIA ships |
5"/54 variant: Oscar Austin | Roosevelt |
| List of destroyers of the United States Navy | List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy | |
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