Some new US Navy heraldry

 
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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06 February 2007 12:40
 

From the TIOH site the blason and symbolism of the CoA of USS Sterett:

"SHIELD:  Celeste (Yale Blue) a demi-trident issuing from base Or, above each tine a mullet of the like, the shaft surmounted in base by a mullet Gules; on a chief wavy of the last edged of the second, a Naval officer’s sword point down and an antique telescope saltirewise Proper, all within a bordure Azure (Dark Blue).

 

CREST:  On a wreath Or and Celeste an eighteenth century frigate in silhouette Sable, surmounded overall by an annulet of twenty –one mullets of the first. "

 

Symbolism:

 

"SHIELD:  Celeste represents worldwide mission capabilities of the new DDG-104, Gold and Dark Blue symbolize U.S. Navy traditions.  Scarlet denotes courage and the sacrifices made in battle by the three previous ships to bear the name Sterett since the founding of the nation.  The Scarlet mullet in base recalls the first incident in which a U.S. Navy vessel, DLG-31, shot down and destroyed a Russian built MIG 17 airplane with a Terrier missile during the Battle of Dong Hoi in Vietnam.  The mullets on top of the demi-trident represent the three previous ships named STERETT (Destroyer No.27, DD-407 and DLG/CG-31); the trident signifies expertise and mastery at sea.  The sword and spy-glass are derived from the insignia of DLG/CG-31; the sword recalls that awarded to Andrew Sterett by Congress for the capture of a Tripolitan cruiser in 1801, while he commanded the USS Enterprise during the Barbary Wars, the telescope eye-glass symbolizes his outstanding service in the early days of the U.S. Navy.  The bordure signifies unity and resolve.

 

CREST:  The frigate recalls the first – ever U.S. victory against a foreign Navy, in which Sterett participated as Third Lieutenant of the USF Constellation in the capture of the French frigate L’lnsurgente in 1799.  The annulet of stars represents the combined battle stars awarded to Steretts DD-407 and DLG-31 for World War ll and Vietnam service.

 

MOTTO:  “Forever Dauntless “(Recalls the “Dauntless” motto of DLG-31, later redesignated CG-31).  The motto appears in Gold letters on a Dark Blue scroll doubled Gold with Dark Blue garnishing."

 
Daniel C. Boyer
 
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Daniel C. Boyer
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06 February 2007 13:10
 

Joseph McMillan wrote:

Just noticed another detail in the Kidd arms—in the crest, Kamehameha is supporting with his left hand a gold star with two points up and a design on the center.  I’d bet this is the posthumous Medal of Honor awarded to R.Adm. Kidd for gallantry at Pearl Harbor.


The thing that could be criticised as regards the crest, however, are the two mullets floating in the air on either side of the king.  Constructing this out of wood or leather gesso so that they don’t simply fall to the ground will be most challenging.
Quote:

Regarding the swords crossed behind each shield:  The one bendwise is the commissioned officer’s saber; the one bendwise sinister is the cutlass worn by petty officers and formerly used by sailors in combat.  I think the hilt on the cutlass in the Kidd arms should actually be steel-colored, as it is in the Gridley arms, unless there’s some reason to the contrary of which I’m not aware.

 

The fesswise sword in chief in the Kidd arms is an officer’s saber.

 

Finally, it occurs to me that the flames below the phoenix in the Kidd arms appear to be floating on the water in base—very appropriate allusion to the Pearl Harbor attack.


Though this design is very visually effective, it might be noted by a quibbler that heraldically speaking it isn’t water but seems to be a base, point or perhaps champagne wavy sable—but I don’t intend this as a criticism; it’s quite a stunning approach in making you think of December 7 and indeed more so than the typical barry wavy would have been.

 
Daniel C. Boyer
 
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Daniel C. Boyer
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06 February 2007 13:24
 

Marcus K wrote:

"SHIELD:  Or, a pale Azure (Dark Blue), the Green Bay City logo Proper all edged of the first; an a chief wavy Vert the silhouette of the PG 101 Sable, fimbriated Or.


Heraldic design such as this deserves particularly savage criticism.  Leaving aside the design weakness it engenders, the inclusion of the Green Bay City logo is to be condemned as it might call for original research on the part of the artist (or just the person picturing the arms in his head) finally versed in the practice of heraldry but just not happening to know what the logo looks like, and it particularly might some centuries hence, if Green Bay ever becomes a ghost town, is abandoned or destroyed in some disaster (presuming the disaster has no impact on the continued ability of people to find this blazon).  This kind of thing (the representation of very specific buildings or things of the kind that may not last or may not be familiar to artists in the distant future, or items requiring a specialised knowledge of some extra-heraldic field such as the Assyrian idiograms discussed elswhere on this board, very specific weaponry or weapons systems as in the heraldry of the U.S. Army) strikes me as bad heraldry from wherever it emanates; while the Institute of Heraldry has often been guilty, the College of Arms is not without fault here as well.  I am a firm proponent of what might be called (to borrow a concept from contract law) "four corners" heraldry.

 
Daniel C. Boyer
 
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Daniel C. Boyer
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06 February 2007 13:32
 

The sword (http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Navy/USSRoosevelt .htm) is stated to be "throughout" but it is clearly not.

 
Donnchadh
 
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Donnchadh
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06 February 2007 16:51
 

You’re right Daniel. It isn’t throughout. It might be a small slip up.

Visually it is an attractive design. smile

 
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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14 February 2008 16:52
 

Found a picture of the CoA of the USS Truxtun:

http://www.discoverstlawrence.com/images/ShipCrest.JPG

 
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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11 March 2008 13:50
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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11 March 2008 13:57
 

From the official ship’s site http://www.stockdale.navy.mil/ the Crest of USS Stockdale:

http://www.stockdale.navy.mil/Site Images/Crest.jpg

 
arriano
 
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arriano
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11 March 2008 19:14
 

Marcus K;55267 wrote:

From the official ship’s site http://www.stockdale.navy.mil/ the Crest of USS Stockdale:


And the arms as well.

 
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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11 March 2008 19:51
 

Yes you are right there Arriano grin

 
Rob1
 
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Rob1
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09 April 2008 18:24
 

Ben Foster;35455 wrote:

Does the Army’s Institute of Heraldry do this work for the Navy?


Yep, and for Coast Guard Cutters also.

 

Rob

 
Rob1
 
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Rob1
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09 April 2008 18:29
 

Joseph McMillan;35463 wrote:

Regarding the swords crossed behind each shield:  The one bendwise is the commissioned officer’s saber; the one bendwise sinister is the cutlass worn by petty officers and formerly used by sailors in combat.  I think the hilt on the cutlass in the Kidd arms should actually be steel-colored, as it is in the Gridley arms, unless there’s some reason to the contrary of which I’m not aware.


Joseph, the current cutlass used by Petty Officers has a brass hilt.  For those who served as a PO, they have them available at www.usmedals.com.

 

Rob

 
Terry
 
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Terry
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09 April 2008 18:42
 

Rob;57020 wrote:

Joseph, the current cutlass used by Petty Officers has a brass hilt.  For those who served as a PO, they have them available at www.usmedals.com.

Rob


Hi Rob,

 

I might be mistaken, but isn’t the PO cutlass for Chief Petty Officer and above only?  I was a 3rd class, didn’t think I was entitled.

 

Thanks,

 
Rob1
 
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Rob1
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09 April 2008 19:21
 

Terry,

Just off the top of my head, Chiefs are the only ones who carry it ceremonially.  As a Veteran PO, I know of absolutely no reason you can’t use one for display in your "I love me corner". :D

 

I think they are available with custom engraving also.  I’ll see if I can scare up a copy of the current regs relating to it.

 

Yours Aye,

 

Rob

 
Terry
 
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Terry
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09 April 2008 20:13
 

Rob,

Thank you, I have one of those "I love me corners" too.  The funny thing is it’s already full of swords.  A cutlass would be a nice addition.  smile