USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)

USS "Bunker Hill" (CG-52) is a "Ticonderoga" class guided missile cruiser laid down by Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at Pascagoula, Mississippi on January 11 1984, launched on March 11 1985 and commissioned on September 20 1986. "Bunker Hill" operates out of San Diego, California.

"Bunker Hill" was the first "Ticonderoga"-class cruiser to be equipped with the Mk. 41 VLS in place of the previous ships' Mk. 26 twin-arm missile launchers, greatly improving the flexibility and firepower of the ships by allowing them to fire RGM-109 Tomahawk missiles.

After commissioning, "Bunker Hill" entered the Pacific Fleet via the Panama Canal and began short notice work-ups to deploy to the U.S. Seventh Fleet. "Bunker Hill" made her first deployment in July 1987, nearly one year ahead of schedule during which she provided an anti-air warfare umbrella inside the Persian Gulf for "Missouri" and other US flagged tankers and ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

In August 1988, "Bunker Hill" shifted homeports from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan joining the "Midway" Carrier Battlegroup for a four month deployment in the Seventh Fleet, for which she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. She was also awarded her first Battle Efficiency Award.

In November 1990, "Bunker Hill" sailed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and served as the multinational Air Warfare Commander (AAWC) and as one of the first ships to launch a Tomhawk Land Attack Cruise Missile against Iraqi targets. Following the conclusion of the Persian Gulf War, "Bunker Hill" participated in organizing and establishing Operation Southern Watch, the complex enforcement of the United Nations established no-fly zone over southern Iraq. "Bunker Hill" made a historical visit to the Russian city Vladivostok in 1993, and then one year later she made a port visit to Qingdao in the People's Republic of China.

In March 1996, she took station south of Taiwan to monitor missile tests by the People's Liberation Army.

In July 1998, "Bunker Hill" shifted homeports from Yokosuka, Japan back to San Diego. In Late 2000, "Bunker Hill" deployed with "Abraham Lincoln" Battle Group. She again participated in Operation Southern Watch and conducted boardings and inspections of over 40 merchant vessels in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. "Bunker Hill" also escorted "Tarawa" Amphibious Ready Group while conducting humanitarian operations off East Timor and training exercises in Kuwait. "Bunker Hill" acted as Air Defense Commander for the ARG where she designed and implemented innovative procedures for CG integration into an Amphibious Ready Group. Following the attack on "Cole", "Bunker Hill" sortied from Bahrain to provide support and protection to seven USN and USNS ships based there and subsequently remained at sea for 67 consecutive days. "Bunker Hill" returned from deployment in February 2001.

Since her commissioning, "Bunker Hill" has deployed six times to the Persian Gulf and has earned fifteen Battle "E" Awards, including the Golden Battle "E" in 1996 and 2006 which is given when a ship receives five such awards consecutively.As announced in March 2006, Lockheed Martin will be upgrading the Aegis defence system on 22 navy vessels; the "Bunker Hill" is the first slated for the upgrade.

In January 2007, the warship was sent to the coast of Somalia to conduct antiterrorist operations as part of the USS "Dwight D. Eisenhower" task force.

On 28 February 2008, "Bunker Hill" was awarded the 2007 Battle "E" award, it's 6th consecutive Battle "E". [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=35408] USS Bunker Hill was also awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for its role in aiding the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2007.

In Fiction

"Bunker Hill" was featured in Tom Clancy's 1986 novel, Red Storm Rising. "Bravo" was one of three "Aegis"-equipped ships to defend a merchant convoy, then an amphibious group to retake Iceland. She is instrumental in defending the ships against anti-ship missiles, and she assists the "USS Reuben James" and the "HMS Battleaxe" in conducting anti-submarine warfare.

In Full Metal Panic!, the "Bunker Hill" is the site of negotiations taking place between US Navy Rear Admiral Jenkins and Major Andrei Kalinin of Mithril; "Bravo" is later engaged by the hijacked Mithril amphibious assault submarine "Tuatha De Danaan", which fires Harpoon missiles with inert warheads at the "Bunker Hill".

*NVR

External links

* [http://www.bunker-hill.navy.mil/ Official site]
* [http://www.navysite.de/cg/cg52.html USS "Bunker Hill" webpage]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/CG-52 CG-52 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]