Does anyone know if the new Littoral Combat Ships of the Freedom-Class (USS Freedom [LCS-1] and USS Independence [LCS-2]) have got arms designed for them yet?
No news on the possible arms of the LCSs?
The LCS CLASSRON (Classification? Squadron) have now have arms approved:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Navy_Graphics/LCSClassronCOA.jpg
"Blazon
SHIELD: Per fess Vert (Green) and Azure (Dark Blue) on a fess wavy Argent (Silver Gray) between two lightning flashes in chevron reversed Or (Old Gold) an anchor Argent fouled Proper.
CREST: On a wreath Or and Vert a representation of San Diego’s Point Loma Lighthouse in silhouette Sable(Black) surmounted by a ship’s wheel of the first garnished Sanguine (Maroon).
SUPPORTERS: Behind the shield two spears points up saltirewise Or, their ends intertwining the motto scroll in base.
Symbolism:
SHIELD: The Littoral environment is represented by the color green, the white wavy fess emphasizing the mission of support for Littoral Combat Ships and their crews through comprehensive operational and administrative supervision. The color dark blue and the anchor symbolize the U.S. Navy and the organization’s status as a shore based command. The lightning flashes denote speedy response to mission demands and the mobility and speed of Littoral Combat Ships.
MOTTO: The word “READY” in gold upon a dark blue scroll doubled gold garnished dark blue.
CREST: San Diego’s Point Loma Lighthouse represents the organization’s location in San Diego and its role as guide to Littoral Combat shipping. The wheel signifies direction, safety and distance support. Gold denotes excellence.
SUPPORTERS: The gold spears represent readiness and support of combat ships."
Picture and information from the TIOH site.
Explanation of CLASSRON can be found at http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=25963.
Unfortunately it’s all but unintelligible to anyone outside the USN surface warfare community.
Basically "class squadrons" are administrative organizations to provide support to the class(es) of ships they manage.
Thanks Joseph, the CLASSRON:s is apperantly new organization being formed in 2007. Most beeing based in Norfolk, VA and San Diego, CA.
I have now found the Arms for the first two LCS.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7611/freedomcrest.png
USS Freedom (LCS-1).
"Crest: The early flag represents our traditional ideals and the commitment to preserve and protect our nation’s values. The demi-horse signifies speed and agility, attributes associated with the sea frame’s capabilities.
Shield: The shield represents the power in the modular mission package. The stylized shape echoes the form and surfaces of the ship, equipped with the most modern technology. Scarlet signifies courage and sacrifice. The sea griffin signifies mission package capabilities in the air, as well as on and under the seas. It holds a flaming torch, honoring the freedom characterized by the ship’s name. The enclosing blue orle symbolizes cooperation and unity of purpose. Together, the colors scarlet, white and blue represent the United States."
Picture and information (no blazon was included) from the offcial ship’s site http://www.freedom.navy.mil/
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/913/shipscrest.jpg
The rather disappointing Arms of the USS Independence (LCS 2). Perhaps a better design would have been to replace the ship in the shield with the Liberty Bell.
"Shield:
Azure (Dark Blue) a representation of the new Independence, prow to the front, the national flag displayed, on ocean waves, all proper; a bordure embattled of six merlons Or, charged with eight mullets of the field.
Crest:
On a wreath Or and Azure (Dark Blue) the Liberty Bell surmounted by a United States national flag of thirty stars and a commodore’s pennant of fifteen saltirewise proper.
SYMBOLISM
Shield:
Dark blue and gold are traditionally associated with the United States Navy. The field is charged with a representation of the new Independence at sea. The crenellated bordure bears?six merlons, each representing one of the previous ships to bear the name Independence. The eight mullets on the bordure recall the battle stars awarded Independence (CV-22) for distinguished service during World War II. Gold also denotes excellence.
Crest:
The Liberty Bell signifies the freedoms achieved by America’s independence from England’s domination and emphasizes the participation in gaining national independence of the first ships to bear the name. The stars and stripes and commodore’s pennant of the early nineteenth century recall the nation’s struggles of that historic period.
Motto:
"Libertas Per Laborem Audentium" (Independence Through Bold Action) in gold letters on a dark blue scroll garnished Argent doubled gold with dark blue garnish.
Seal:
The coat of arms as blazoned on a white oval within a dark blue collar edged on the outside with stylized gold cable and inscribed at top "USS Independence" and in base "LCS 2" all in gold letters."
Picture and information from http://ussindependenceship.org/
A note on the LCS it appears that the first four are prototype ships, each of very differnet appearence. They are to be evaluated and one chosen for serial production. LCS 4 will bear the name USS Fort Worth and LCS 4 will be USS Coronado.
Marcus K;68571 wrote:
...LCS 4 will bear the name USS Fort Worth and LCS 4 will be USS Coronado.
Want to try that again?
Marcus K;62287 wrote:
The LCS CLASSRON (Classification? Squadron) have now have arms approved:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Navy_Graphics/LCSClassronCOA.jpg
"Blazon
SHIELD: Per fess Vert (Green) and Azure (Dark Blue) on a fess wavy Argent (Silver Gray) between two lightning flashes in chevron reversed Or (Old Gold) an anchor Argent fouled Proper.
This blazon lists the anchor and lightning bolts as being on the fess. But the picture shows the anchor and bolts as being over all.
This is, however, a pretty good depiction of the old Point Loma Lighthouse. I recognized it even before I read the crest’s blazon.
It’s the LCS Class Squadron… Meaning the Squadron Command for this specific class (grouping ships of the same type) of ship.
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27877
I’m wondering when they do a significant class change, will they call it the CLASSRON_V1?
But back to heraldry. I think that many US Military arms are becoming just too "busy." The Crest is ambitious, but works. The Shield could have stopped at the lightning bolts and/or omitted them and kept the anchor.. Better yet, get rid of the fess wavy argent…
Doug Welsh;68592 wrote:
Want to try that again?
Well LCS 3 is the number of USS Fort Worth, my misstake.
Thanks, Marcus. Interesting arms, so far.
And thank you Doug. As for Heraldry of the comming LCS 4 USS Coronado. There former AGF-11 was also named as USS Coronado and was decommissioned in 2006. I wonder if the new USS Coronado will use the Arms of the old one or if a new one will be designed?
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/images/agf-11.gif
Picture from http://www.globalsecurity.org/
Probably new, more’s the pity.
(And a nice pun in the crest of the old Coronado, which means "crowned.")
Well then we have to wait and see what kind of Heraldic Arms the new Coronado will use.
I like it!—though I suspect the appeal is more the artwork than the basic design, which a less talented artist could easily have rendered in a quite boring fashion.
