The next generation of USN Destroyers the DDG 1000 or Zumwalt-Class Program has the following nonheraldic Seal:
http://www.gdbiw.com/company_overview/programs/images/DDG 1000 crest.jpg
One can only hope that the various Ships of the new Class will get proper heraldic Arms in their Seals.
I read in Wikipedia that there is a campaign by some folks to name the first of the destroyers for American writer and Navy veteran Robert Heinlein.
Might be interesting to consider what a coat of arms for a USS Robert Heinlein might look like.
arriano;60686 wrote:
I read in Wikipedia that there is a campaign by some folks to name the first of the destroyers for American writer and Navy veteran Robert Heinlein.
Might be interesting to consider what a coat of arms for a USS Robert Heinlein might look like.
Well, pretty much by definition, the lead ship in the Zumwalt class will be named Zumwalt.
I have to say that, by my lights, five years of peacetime commissioned service and a medical discharge don’t quite reach the level to have a destroyer named after you, no matter how good a writer you might have been afterward. William Faulkner was a certifiably greater writer than Heinlein, but I haven’t noticed the Canadian Forces naming an air base after him on the strength of his service in the Royal Flying Corps.
ah america, always back and forth with seals and coat of arms, then seals with coat of arms, then seals with coat of arms that arent coat of arms cause theyre seals.
some form of standardization would be nice 
xanderliptak;60705 wrote:
some form of standardization would be nice
Welcome to the AHS, right?
I’ll offer a bit of standardization of terminology.
If it’s not intended to be physically impressed into wax, wafer, or paper, or stamped onto the same, it’s not a seal.
If it doesn’t have something that can reasonably pass for a shield, it’s not a coat of arms.
The emblem of the DD 1000 program is neither a seal nor a coat of arms. I’m not sure it’s even a logo. It is merely a badly designed emblem and is, in my opinion, of no interest.
We can only hope that when the first Zumwalt-class Destroyer is commissioned that it bears a proper heraldic insignia.
Jonathan R. Baker;60709 wrote:
We can only hope that when the first Zumwalt-class Destroyer is commissioned that it bears a proper heraldic insignia.
Yes one can only hope that the USN continues the present tradition of Heraldic Insignia for Destroyers and other ships.
For the (as yet hypothetical) USS Heinlein:
per pale Argent and Sable (or whatever colors you prefer) a demi-cat of the second issuing from the palar line.
(What’s Latin for "The Cat who walks through walls"?)
Michael F. McCartney;60711 wrote:
For the (as yet hypothetical) USS Heinlein:....
I vote for "On The Bounce" used by the Mobile Infantry in Starship Trooper.
—Guy (death to bugs!) Power
My take on the Heinlein:
Sable a semy of Mullets Argent a bend sinister Gules overall a Cannon Or.
This is a heraldically correct blazon of the flag of Luna from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (in the book it is blazoned badly). The motto, from the same novel, would be "TANSTAAFL!" (in actuality an acronym, standing for "There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch!").
Well I don’t think they will have any luck with their lobbyning.
The first to names are to be:
DDG 1000 USS Zumwalt as guessed. Named after Admiral Elmo Russell Zumwalt Jr. (1920-2000), 19th Chief of Naval Operations 1 July 1970- 29 june 1974.
DDG 1001 USS Michael Monsoor. Named after Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Michael Monsoor (1981-2006) a SEAL Killed in Action in Iraq and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Both worthy choices. I assume that (semi) heraldic devices will follow in due course.
The TIOH har on their site presented the Arms and Seal of the USS Zumwalt.
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/Navy/NavalShip.aspx?u=9140
Not that great Heraldry I think.
Awful, in fact.
At least there’s actually a reasonable chance this ship will fly the flag I designed :-D
This boat is being built down the street from me and City Councilors have already discussed starting a tradition of gifting a flag of Bath during ship christenings.