Name USS Higgins Ordered 19 January 1993 Acquired 14 January 1999 Construction started 14 November 1996 Length 154 m Beam 20 m | Laid down 14 November 1996 Commissioned 24 April 1999 Launched 4 October 1997 Draft 9.45 m Builder Bath Iron Works | |
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USS Higgins (DDG-76) is a Flight II Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Colonel William R. Higgins. President George Bush awarded Colonel Higgins the Presidential Citizen’s Award two years after the colonel died. Two years later the president named the ship, which was to be built as the 26th destroyer of her class, after Colonel Higgins. USS Higgins was the 15th ship of this class to be built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and construction began on 14 November 1996. She was launched and christened on 4 October 1997. On 24 April 1999 she was commissioned during a ceremony at Port Everglades, Florida.
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Service history
The ship performed logistical support for United States Coast Guard helicopters undergoing relief operations for the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Commanding officers
The Commanding Officer (CO) of USS Higgins is the most senior officer that is in command of the ship. Sailors will refer to the CO as "the Captain" (regardless of rank), or sometimes informally as "Skipper". Below is the list of commanding officers of USS Higgins.
Shield
The shield has background of blue with a “V” cutting through the center. The griffin is shown in the “V” yielding an axe and a trident.
The traditional Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue, white and gold respectively represent the sea, integrity and excellence. The griffin, holding an axe and a trident, denotes valor and intelligence. The axe indicates her ability and readiness for engaging land based hostilities, while the trident symbolizes her modern weapon systems, giving her air combat and undersea engagement versatility. The “V” of the shield represents victory and the cloverleaf is for good fortune.
Crest
The crest consists of an anchor with swords crossing in the middle, both surrounded by wreaths.
The anchor is representative of the U.S. Navy. Two wreaths, one behind and one surrounding the anchor, symbolize the military and civilian honors awarded to Colonel Higgins for some unusual achievements. Crossed swords, a Naval officer’s sword and a Marine Corps Mameluke, represent the long-standing tradition of Navy and Marine Corps cooperation in times of peace and war.
Motto
The motto is written on a scroll of gold that has a blue reverse side.
The ships motto is "First to Fight". The motto is a reference to the honorable feats of Colonel Higgins.
Seal
The coat of arms in full color as in the blazon, upon a white background enclosed within a dark blue oval border edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the inscription "USS Higgins" at the top and "DDG 76" in the base all gold.