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 11 January 1984, launched on 11 March 1985 and commissioned on 20 September 1986. Bunker Hill is homeported at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego, California.

Bunker Hill was the first Ticonderoga-class cruiser to be equipped with the Mk. 41 Vertical Launching System (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.

Ship's Coat of Arms
The sea dragon is an awesome beast that is both vigilant and fierce. Grasping a flaming sword, the sea dragon symbolizes the naval prowess and attack capability of today's USS Bunker Hill. The flaming sword also represents the revolutionary capability of the vertical launching system first introduced in Bunker Hill. The stars commemorate the eleven battle stars the former USS Bunker Hill (CV 17) earned in the Pacific theater during World War II. Blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and are symbolic of the sea and excellence. The two white bars in the chief represent American courage and purpose as displayed at the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 June 1775. The red bars symbolize the British assaults on the colonists' entrenchment and the curve below alludes to the hill that the British took at great cost. Battle of Bunker Hill proved to be a rallying point for the Americans, since afterwards the British faced full scale war. The colonists were formidable opponents at Bunker Hill. The entrenchments or redoubts they built are symbolized by the scarlet hill and battlements. The muskets with bayonets recall the weapons of that battle and the powder horn refers to the New Englander's stand until their ammunition supply was exhausted. The anchor is symbolic of maritime traditions and excellence of achievement.

1980s
After commissioning, the Bunker Hill entered the Pacific Ocean via the Panama Canal and began short notice work-ups to deploy to the U.S. Seventh Fleet. She made her first deployment in July 1987, nearly one year ahead of schedule.

During READIEX 87-5, BUNKER HILL first operate with Battle Group Sierra which consisted of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 1, USS Missouri (BB-63), USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9), USS HOEL (DDG-13), USS CURTS (FFG 38), and USS KANSAS CITY (AOR 3). She deployed as part of Battle Group SIERRA (Task Group 30.7). Following an upkeep period at Subic Bay in the Philippines, Bunker Hill became Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator for Battle Group Sierra (TG 70.10), now en route to the North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

During the deployment she provided an anti-air warfare umbrella inside the Persian Gulf for USS Missouri (BB-63) and other US-flagged tankers and ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

In August 1988, Bunker Hill's homeport was shifted from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan joining the USS Midway (CV-41) Carrier Battlegroup. She then deployed with the Midway group for four months with the Seventh Fleet, for which she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. She was also awarded her first Battle Efficiency Award.

1990s and 2000s
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 Tomahawk 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, during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, she took station south of Taiwan to monitor missile tests by the People's Liberation Army.

In July 1998, Bunker Hill's homeport was shifted from Yokosuka, Japan back to San Diego. In Late 2000, Bunker Hill deployed with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) 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 the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) 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 USS Cole (DDG-67), 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. In March 2006, it was announced that Lockheed Martin will upgrade the Aegis system on 22 navy vessels; the Bunker Hill is the first slated to receive the upgrade.

In March 2003 Bunker Hill was assigned to Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3.

In January 2007, the Bunker Hill was sent to the coast of Somalia to conduct antiterrorist operations as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) task force. She was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for this role.

On 28 February 2008, Bunker Hill was awarded the 2007 Battle "E" award, her 6th consecutive Battle "E". 

From 1 October 2009, Bunker Hill was assigned to Carrier Strike Group One, whose flagship was the USS Carl Vinson.

2010s
In January 2010, USS Bunker Hill headed toward Haiti, part of the US Navy's force providing disaster relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

In February 2011, Bunker Hill along with the USS Momsen broke up a pirate attack on a tanker while patrolling the Gulf of Oman. The ships chased away two skiffs, eventually sinking both after they had returned to their mothership.

In 2011-2012 the ship deployed with Carrier Strike Group One. On 22 October 2012, Bunker Hill began a five-month Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) maintenance period at the BAE Systems Inc. shipyard in San Diego, California.