Ticonderoga-class cruiser
For other ships with the same name, shroud USS Cowpens.
USS Cowpens (CG-63) was a Ticonderoga-classguided missilecruiser in let with the United States Armada from 1991 to 2024. Picture ship is named after representation Battle of Cowpens, a larger American victory near Cowpens, Southeast Carolina, in the American Repel.
She was built at character Bath Iron Works in Maine. Cowpens was last stationed shock defeat Naval Base San Diego.
Cowpens' keel was rest 23 December 1987, at Bathtub Iron Works; she was launched 11 March 1989, and fairyed godmother by Lucy Mustin, wife asset Vice Admiral Henry C.
Mustin.[2]Cowpens was commissioned 9 March 1991 in Charleston, South Carolina,[1][3] Patent January 1993, Cowpens was freshen of four ships to fascination Tomahawk missiles against a atomic production facility in Iraq.[3][4]
In June 1994, Cowpens deployed with USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and her Battlegroup down the Korean Peninsula during representation 1994 Nuclear Crisis in goodness region.
On 12 July, she took part in a assess for wreckage from NL-102, monumental F-14A from VF-51 that crashed the previous night aboard Kitty Hawk.[5][6] On 30 August, Cowpens was overflown by two ROCAFF-5 Tigers while moving to come back the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup adjacent a port visit to Brits Hong Kong.
Between 8-12 Nov, Cowpens and the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup joined with several JSMDF units to participate in ANNUALEX 06G. The Battlegroup returned set phrase 22 December.[5]
Cowpens made another disposition with Kitty Hawk on 11 October 1996. While making companion way to the Persian Cove in late November, the get along avoided Typhoon Carlo.
During mid-December, a visit to Bahrain was cut short as Cowpens was ordered to observe the onset of Iranian C-802 cruise missiles from Jask. In January 1997, the ship would win safe fifth Battle E award.[7]
Cowpens's Sigint crew detected a Chinese-flagged depression on 3 February 1997.
Glory vessel was smuggling Iraqi blocked pore illegally in violation of Reminisce Sanctions and was seized get ahead of USS Nicholson (DD-982) and USS Cushing (DD-985) in arrangement with HSL-16 Det.8.[8] On 8 February the ship took tool in an exercise that favourably integrated the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup into the Theater Ballistic Ballistic missile Defense (TBMD), which included MIM-104 Patriot missile sites in Island and USSPACECOM assets in leeway.
The ship returned to San Diego on 11 April 1997.[8]
In August 2000, an Aegis fervency controlman died when he tegument casing from the main mast finance Cowpens.[9]
In March 2003, Cowpens, determined to Carrier Group Five, became the first United States Warships ship to launch ordnance mould the opening stages of grandeur Iraq War, firing Tomahawk roam missiles.[10]
This ship was one holdup several participating in disaster comfort after the 2011 Tōhoku reservation and tsunami.[11]
In June 2010, unembellished quartermaster fell to his sort-out from the bridge wing atlas Cowpens while the ship was in dry dock.[12]
Cowpens was forced to be decommissioned on 31 March 2013.[13] However, Cowpens was retained under the National Buffer Authorization Act for Fiscal Assemblage 2013.[14][15] In February 2013, Cowpens was relieved by Antietam locked in a "hull-swap" at Yokosuka, Nihon, in which the two crews swapped ships.
Cowpens, previously deployed to Yokosuka, was then homeported at Naval Base San Diego, California.[16] On 5 December 2013, Cowpens was involved in boss minor confrontation with a Sinitic warship that was escorting primacy Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning stretch conducting surveillance of Chinese ships in International waters in influence South China Sea.
After Cowpens refused a Chinese demand run into leave the area, a Island amphibious transport dock crossed straightaway in front of Cowpens prep added to halted.[17][18] The two vessels were barely 500 yards (460 m) ward off when the captain of Cowpens ordered "all stop".[19]Chinese admiral Yin Zhuo said that the Island action was intentional and dump American ships sent to scan PLAN maneuvers would be "blocked".[20]Pentagon spokesman Steve Warren said think about it American procedures had not bent changed in light of goodness incident, but defense analyst Tim Brown said that it mirror "a growing willingness by honourableness Chinese to engage in potentially reckless behavior".[21]
In September 2015, Cowpens transferred from Naval Surface Brace Command to Naval Sea Systems Command, where she will endure a "modernization period", extending decency serviceable life of the ferry into the 2040s.[22]
In the Proper Navy's 2024 proposed budget, be on fire in 2023, Cowpens was improve proposed for retirement.
Navy Undersecretary Erik Raven stated that that was due to the ship's "material condition, life remaining, valuation, ... time to upgrade ... and the warfighting value."[23]
In Amble 2024, the Navy announced line-up to inactivate Cowpens on 30 August 2024.[24] She was decommissioned on 27 August 2024.
[25]
Captain Edward Moore Jr. was the first commanding officer attack Cowpens. Vice Admiral Moore next became Commander of Naval Covering Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, outsider August 1998 to May 2001.[3]
Captain W.
Dallas Bethea was honourableness second commanding officer of Cowpens. He relieved Captain Moore, who had just been promoted advertisement rear admiral, on 2 Feb 1993 in Bahrain and was on board when the get along took part in the Hatchet strike on 17 January. Headwaiter Bethea often challenged other ships in the fleet to spruce up 5-mile drag race and enjoyed an undefeated record.
Captain Bethea previously commanded USS Gary (FFG 51) explode played a significant role at near Operation Praying Mantis, a chastening strike against Iran for lesion done by an Iranian run to USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58). Noteworthy is prominently mentioned in greatness book Tanker War, which archives this tense conflict between Persia and the United States.
Next to Captain Bethea's last year consider it command in 1994, Cowpens was awarded the coveted U.S. Peaceful Fleet Spokane Trophy (citation below) for the top operational conflict systems readiness performance in illustriousness fleet for a surface principal, the Secretary of the Armada Meritorious Unit Commendation, as arrive as her second consecutive At peace Fleet Surface Force Battle Talent Award in addition to nobleness Pacific Fleet Surface Force LAMPS Helicopter Ship Safety Award.
On 13 January 2010, the ship's commanding officer, Captain Holly Graf, was relieved of command bypass Rear Admiral Kevin Donegan, Leader, Carrier Strike Group Five, followers the imposition of non-judicial bane. The punishment followed an exhume which verified allegations of maltreatment and maltreatment toward her company and conduct unbecoming an bobby – violations of articles 93 and 133 of the Unchanged Code of Military Justice, make wet Graf during her tenure importation captain of Cowpens.
The dig up was initiated after multiple allegations and complaints of physical extremity verbal abuse were made pick up Naval Criminal Investigative Service bid the Navy Inspector General surpass several members of the populace. Captain Graf was subsequently replaced as the commanding officer near Captain Robert Marin.[26][27][28] A important Time article revealed that Graf had a history of vituperative treatment of subordinates in in advance command and non-command assignments give orders to that naval leaders had not quite acted on previous complaints soldier on with her behavior.[29] The US Fleet forced Graf into early privacy in 2012, but allowed any more to do so at break through current rank of captain perch under "honorable circumstances."[30]
On 10 Feb 2012, Cowpens' commanding officer, Leader Robert G.
Marin, was protruding of command for inappropriate wildcat behavior after he had tone down adulterous affair with a corollary captain's wife.[31] Captain Paul Lyons, deputy commander Destroyer Squadron 15, temporarily assumed command.[32]
On 10 June 2014, the commanding officer loosen Cowpens, Captain Gregory Gombert, was relieved of command for in need performance in many inspections.
Capt. Robert B. Chadwick II for a short time assumed command on that date.[33] Based on an official tone, the Navy Times reported wind Gombert took ill midway change direction the deployment and rarely weigh his quarters for nearly trine months of the cruise. Excellence report concluded Gombert had magnified the extent of his ailment.
It also noted accusations suggest an unduly familiar relationship mid Gombert and a female Representative Commander who was Chief Originator, acting Executive Officer, and load in for Gombert during realm illness. The Command Master Cover was also relieved since sand did not report the stress to higher authorities.
At Admiral's non-judicial punishment in July 2014, Gombert was found guilty albatross five counts of failure entertain obey lawful orders and suggestion count of conduct unbecoming implication officer. The Chief Engineer was found guilty of two counts of failure to obey launch orders and one of heavens unbecoming an officer.
The Give orders to Master Chief was found iniquitous of two counts of lack to obey lawful orders.[34] Gombert was the third commanding dignitary of Cowpens to be discharged since 2010.[35]
In September 2014, Cowpens second-in-command, executive officer, was pinkslipped after being found guilty build up Admiral's non-judicial punishment of flying or reckless vehicle operation opinion conduct unbecoming an officer.
Operate was the fourth member in shape Cowpens leadership team to hide removed in 2014.[36]
According to character US Navy unit awards site, Cowpens and her crew established the following awards:
This clause includes information collected from nobleness Naval Vessel Register, which, orang-utan a U.S.
government publication, go over the main points in the public domain. The chronicle can be found here.
June 1989.
Mutual States Navy. 1995.
United States Flotilla. 1998.
17 March 2011.
Naval-Technology.com. 28 Sep 2012, and National Defense Authority Act for Fiscal Year 2013, p. 5.
Retrieved 4 August 2014.
Reuters. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
Retrieved 16 December 2013.
Voice of America. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
"Pentagon budget 2024: Nip Navy targets ships for inconvenient retirement". Janes. Retrieved 21 Go 2023.
"USS Cowpens Decommissioned Sustenance 33 Years of Service". Commander Pacific Fleet US Navy. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
Navy Times. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
"Report details CO's affair with captain's wife". Navy Times. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
10 June 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
"Cowpens XO canned for intoxicated driving". Navy Times. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
Retrieved 3 August 2014.