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USS Higgins (DDG-76)
Encyclopedia
USS Higgins (DDG-76) is a Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
in the United States Navy
. She was commissioned in 1999 and named after William R. Higgins
(1945-1990), a United States Marine Corps
Colonel who was captured and held hostage in February 1988 by a pro-Iranian group allied with Hezbollah while serving on a United Nations
peacekeeping mission (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
, UNTSO) in Lebanon
. He was killed in captivity by July 1990.
helicopters undergoing relief operations for the 2010 Haiti earthquake
.
The ship's crest and shield were designed to honor the memory of Colonel William "Rich" Higgins
, USMC and to signify the power of the warship that bears his name.
The USS Higgins is one of the naval destroyer ships at San Diego Naval Base. The ship was built for Marine Colonel William “Rich” Higgins. Born in Danville, Kentucky, on January 15, 1945, Higgins earned his bachelor degree in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Higgins was a scholarship student in the Navy ROTC, and was commissioned to the Marines in 1967. He graduated from the Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the National War College, and the Air Force Command and Staff College. He was captured by a pro-Iranian terrorist group, and murdered in captivity. Higgins was declared dead on July 6, 1990. He was later buried at Quantico National Cemetery on December 30, 1991.
Crest:
The Higgins’ crest and shield were made to honor Colonel Higgins, and to show the power of the warship named after him.
The colors dark blue and gold in the crest are the colors of the Navy, the blue symbolizing the sea, and the gold representing excellence. The griffin in the shield, meaning bravery and intelligence, holds an axe that indicates the Higgins’ readiness and ability to fight in battles on land as well as overseas. The trident represents the modern weapon system the Higgins has, which gives her the ability to work in the air and undersea. The “V” on the shield signifies victory and recalls the “Combat V” medallion Col. Higgins earned. The white surrounding the shield means honesty, and the cloverleaf on the shield stands for good luck. The two wreaths on the crest stand for the military and civilian honors awarded to Col. Higgins. The “First to Fight” below the shield is the ship’s motto. The Naval Officer’s sword and the Marine Officer’s Mameluke show the friendship between the Navy and Marines at any time, and recalls Col. Higgins’ outstanding job as a Marine.
About the Ship:
President George Bush awarded Colonel Higgins the Presidential Citizen’s Award two years after the colonel died. Then, another two years later, the president named the ship (that was about to be built) after Colonel Higgins. It was built in 1996.
There are special terms sailors use to describe the size of the ship. For example, the “displacement” means the weight of a maximum load a ship can hold to make it able to float. The Higgins’ displacement is 8,230 tons. The length is 505 feet, or 6,060 inches. The “beam,” known as the width, is 59 feet or 708 inches. The “draft,” or the height, is 33 feet, or 396 inches.
Two hundred seventy-six people make up the entire Higgins crew. The crew includes both the officers and sailors.
The ship uses 4 General Electric (LM2500-30) gas turbine engines, a secondhand from a General Electric CF6 aircraft engine, and 2 propellers with five blades each. The USS Higgins’ speed is fifty-six and over kilometers (km) per hour.
The Higgins is considered in the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, or DDG’s. Its constructor is Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine.
The ship is just like any vehicle, it has to be fueled and refueled. When it is fully operated or on deployment, the ship has to refuel about every week. When we refuel our car, it takes only $40-$60, but refueling for the ship costs approximately $230,000.
Life on the Ship:
Life on the ship is not that different from the normal life at home. There are vending machines to buy sodas and snacks. There are fire-fighting suits in case of fire, and also for training drills. Abroad the Higgins, there are also bunks that are similar to ones at a normal house. Two gyms on each side of the ship let the sailors get exercise. Small gift shops on the ship enable sailors to buy things. The sailors also have physical education, English, and essay-writing classes, tests, quizzes, and television for entertainment.
Weapons:
There are many weapons on the Higgins. They include one 50 cal. (caliber) lightweight gun, a light machine gun, 2 CIWS guns, Highly Explosive Electronically Timed (or HE-ET) and Kinetic Energy Electronically Timed (or KE-ET) 5” (5 inch) projectiles, one 25MM remote controlled machine gun, eight harpoon missiles, two torpedo launchers, Tactic Tomahawk missiles (also known as TACTOM missiles), and 110 missile launchers in all; 42 missile launchers in the front of the ship, 68 launchers in the back. Some of these weapons are controlled by monitors in the CIC, or Combat Information Center in the bridge. The 50 cal. and light machine gun are mounted on the left and right of the ship. The torpedoes are used to fight submarines or other ships. There are six of them abroad the Higgins. The harpoon missiles cross each others like an “X”; four missiles point left, another four point right. The CIWS (Close In Weapon System) is an anti-missile weapon that can shoot 60 rounds per second, but is short-ranged. With its radar, it can spot enemy missiles and bullets. The 25MM gun can be controlled by monitors or humans, so it can be used in any time of battle without injuring anyone. When the monitor is broken the sailors use it themselves.
FAQ:
• How do they get electricity?
To obtain electricity, the GTG, or Gas Turbine Generator, burns some of the ship’s fuel to create electricity.
• What do the sailors do when the ship is damaged?
When the ship is out at sea and it is damaged but not serious, there are machines that will pump excess (extra) water out from the ship. There are lifeboats for the crew if the ship’s damage is serious. The ship will also destroy all data on the ship will so enemies can’t use it.
• How do sailors get food?
There is a 6 month supply of food inside the giant fridge. Each time the ship stops at a new place, it gets more food.
• How do the sailors get water for bathing and drinking?
Sea water is processed through two reverse osmosis watermakers which provide up to 24,000 gallons of potable water per day for bathing and drinking.
• Where do the sailors sleep?
There are separate resting and sleeping sections for the male and female, called Berthing Areas. To sleep, there are bunk beds called rack beds with a small curtain.
• Where and what do they eat?
Sailors eat in the mess deck. They eat pretty much the same food as they would at home.
• Do they wash/dry dishes themselves?
No, they use a special machine for washing/drying dishes.
• How does the restroom work?
The vacuum toilets use mostly air to flush, and the waste goes to the VCHT (Vacuum, Collection, Holding, and Transfer) tank. It collects the wastes until the tank is full, and the sewage is disposed of at sea, or pumped to the deck connection and shore facilities when in port.
• How do sailors communicate and warn each other?
To talk to or warn the crew, there are announcers everywhere. The announcer can announce to different rooms at any time.
• How do the sailors talk to other people at home?
There isn’t any signal to make calls. Instead, sailors use satellite power to call. Cell phone using is usually not allowed on the ship while it is active, except on some occasions. It confuses equipment that is on the ship, like a plane.
• What are antennas used for?
Antennas are used for seeking targets and receiving signals. Each has a different use.
• Where is the ship controlled?
The bridge is where you can control the ship, check the speed, and see what is near the ship with the radar.
• What do they use to search?
Lights on the ship are for signaling other ships or searching. When the crew spots a friendly helicopter, there is a place for it to land on the ship.
Important Dates
Some important dates are listed below with the reasons why they are important:
February 17, 1994: The ship is named
November 14, 1996: The keel is laid (construction started)
Oct. 4, 1997: The USS Higgins is launched to its homeport
April 24, 1999: USS Higgins is commissioned (this means it has been given the order that it is in a state of readiness for active duty)
June 1999: Higgins arrives in San Diego
Arleigh Burke class destroyer
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. She was commissioned in 1999 and named after William R. Higgins
William R. Higgins
William Richard "Rich" Higgins was a United States Marine Corps colonel who was captured in 1988 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was held hostage, tortured and eventually murdered by his captors.-Biography:William Higgins was born in Danville, Kentucky on...
(1945-1990), a United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Colonel who was captured and held hostage in February 1988 by a pro-Iranian group allied with Hezbollah while serving on a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping mission (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is an organization founded on 29 May 1948 for peacekeeping in the Middle East. Its primary task was providing the military command structure to the peace keeping forces in the Middle East to enable the peace keepers to observe and maintain the...
, UNTSO) in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. He was killed in captivity by July 1990.
2010 Haiti earthquake relief
The ship performed logistical support for United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
helicopters undergoing relief operations for the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
.
Crest
William R. Higgins
William Richard "Rich" Higgins was a United States Marine Corps colonel who was captured in 1988 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was held hostage, tortured and eventually murdered by his captors.-Biography:William Higgins was born in Danville, Kentucky on...
, USMC and to signify the power of the warship that bears his name.
- Dark blue and gold are traditional colors of the Navy, symbolizing the sea and excellence.
- The griffin, denoting valor and intelligence, holds an axe that indicates HIGGINS’ readiness and ability to engage in land-based hostilities.
- The griffin and the trident symbolize ’ modern weapon systems HIGGINS possesses, which gives her the versatility of air combat and undersea engagements.
- The shield’s “V” signifies victory and recalls the Combat “V” earned by Colonel Higgins.
- White denotes integrity; gold symbolizes excellence.
- The cloverleaf on the shield stands for good fortune.
- The crest’s anchor represents the Navy.
- Two wreaths symbolize the many military and civilian honors awarded Col. Higgins and signify unusual achievement.
- The Naval Officer’s sword and the Marine Corps Officer’s Mameluke emphasize the long-standing tradition of cooperation between the Navy and Marine Corps in both peacetime and war, and recall Col. Higgins’ outstanding service to his country as a Marine.
The USS Higgins is one of the naval destroyer ships at San Diego Naval Base. The ship was built for Marine Colonel William “Rich” Higgins. Born in Danville, Kentucky, on January 15, 1945, Higgins earned his bachelor degree in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Higgins was a scholarship student in the Navy ROTC, and was commissioned to the Marines in 1967. He graduated from the Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the National War College, and the Air Force Command and Staff College. He was captured by a pro-Iranian terrorist group, and murdered in captivity. Higgins was declared dead on July 6, 1990. He was later buried at Quantico National Cemetery on December 30, 1991.
Crest:
The Higgins’ crest and shield were made to honor Colonel Higgins, and to show the power of the warship named after him.
The colors dark blue and gold in the crest are the colors of the Navy, the blue symbolizing the sea, and the gold representing excellence. The griffin in the shield, meaning bravery and intelligence, holds an axe that indicates the Higgins’ readiness and ability to fight in battles on land as well as overseas. The trident represents the modern weapon system the Higgins has, which gives her the ability to work in the air and undersea. The “V” on the shield signifies victory and recalls the “Combat V” medallion Col. Higgins earned. The white surrounding the shield means honesty, and the cloverleaf on the shield stands for good luck. The two wreaths on the crest stand for the military and civilian honors awarded to Col. Higgins. The “First to Fight” below the shield is the ship’s motto. The Naval Officer’s sword and the Marine Officer’s Mameluke show the friendship between the Navy and Marines at any time, and recalls Col. Higgins’ outstanding job as a Marine.
About the Ship:
President George Bush awarded Colonel Higgins the Presidential Citizen’s Award two years after the colonel died. Then, another two years later, the president named the ship (that was about to be built) after Colonel Higgins. It was built in 1996.
There are special terms sailors use to describe the size of the ship. For example, the “displacement” means the weight of a maximum load a ship can hold to make it able to float. The Higgins’ displacement is 8,230 tons. The length is 505 feet, or 6,060 inches. The “beam,” known as the width, is 59 feet or 708 inches. The “draft,” or the height, is 33 feet, or 396 inches.
Two hundred seventy-six people make up the entire Higgins crew. The crew includes both the officers and sailors.
The ship uses 4 General Electric (LM2500-30) gas turbine engines, a secondhand from a General Electric CF6 aircraft engine, and 2 propellers with five blades each. The USS Higgins’ speed is fifty-six and over kilometers (km) per hour.
The Higgins is considered in the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, or DDG’s. Its constructor is Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine.
The ship is just like any vehicle, it has to be fueled and refueled. When it is fully operated or on deployment, the ship has to refuel about every week. When we refuel our car, it takes only $40-$60, but refueling for the ship costs approximately $230,000.
Life on the Ship:
Life on the ship is not that different from the normal life at home. There are vending machines to buy sodas and snacks. There are fire-fighting suits in case of fire, and also for training drills. Abroad the Higgins, there are also bunks that are similar to ones at a normal house. Two gyms on each side of the ship let the sailors get exercise. Small gift shops on the ship enable sailors to buy things. The sailors also have physical education, English, and essay-writing classes, tests, quizzes, and television for entertainment.
Weapons:
There are many weapons on the Higgins. They include one 50 cal. (caliber) lightweight gun, a light machine gun, 2 CIWS guns, Highly Explosive Electronically Timed (or HE-ET) and Kinetic Energy Electronically Timed (or KE-ET) 5” (5 inch) projectiles, one 25MM remote controlled machine gun, eight harpoon missiles, two torpedo launchers, Tactic Tomahawk missiles (also known as TACTOM missiles), and 110 missile launchers in all; 42 missile launchers in the front of the ship, 68 launchers in the back. Some of these weapons are controlled by monitors in the CIC, or Combat Information Center in the bridge. The 50 cal. and light machine gun are mounted on the left and right of the ship. The torpedoes are used to fight submarines or other ships. There are six of them abroad the Higgins. The harpoon missiles cross each others like an “X”; four missiles point left, another four point right. The CIWS (Close In Weapon System) is an anti-missile weapon that can shoot 60 rounds per second, but is short-ranged. With its radar, it can spot enemy missiles and bullets. The 25MM gun can be controlled by monitors or humans, so it can be used in any time of battle without injuring anyone. When the monitor is broken the sailors use it themselves.
FAQ:
• How do they get electricity?
To obtain electricity, the GTG, or Gas Turbine Generator, burns some of the ship’s fuel to create electricity.
• What do the sailors do when the ship is damaged?
When the ship is out at sea and it is damaged but not serious, there are machines that will pump excess (extra) water out from the ship. There are lifeboats for the crew if the ship’s damage is serious. The ship will also destroy all data on the ship will so enemies can’t use it.
• How do sailors get food?
There is a 6 month supply of food inside the giant fridge. Each time the ship stops at a new place, it gets more food.
• How do the sailors get water for bathing and drinking?
Sea water is processed through two reverse osmosis watermakers which provide up to 24,000 gallons of potable water per day for bathing and drinking.
• Where do the sailors sleep?
There are separate resting and sleeping sections for the male and female, called Berthing Areas. To sleep, there are bunk beds called rack beds with a small curtain.
• Where and what do they eat?
Sailors eat in the mess deck. They eat pretty much the same food as they would at home.
• Do they wash/dry dishes themselves?
No, they use a special machine for washing/drying dishes.
• How does the restroom work?
The vacuum toilets use mostly air to flush, and the waste goes to the VCHT (Vacuum, Collection, Holding, and Transfer) tank. It collects the wastes until the tank is full, and the sewage is disposed of at sea, or pumped to the deck connection and shore facilities when in port.
• How do sailors communicate and warn each other?
To talk to or warn the crew, there are announcers everywhere. The announcer can announce to different rooms at any time.
• How do the sailors talk to other people at home?
There isn’t any signal to make calls. Instead, sailors use satellite power to call. Cell phone using is usually not allowed on the ship while it is active, except on some occasions. It confuses equipment that is on the ship, like a plane.
• What are antennas used for?
Antennas are used for seeking targets and receiving signals. Each has a different use.
• Where is the ship controlled?
The bridge is where you can control the ship, check the speed, and see what is near the ship with the radar.
• What do they use to search?
Lights on the ship are for signaling other ships or searching. When the crew spots a friendly helicopter, there is a place for it to land on the ship.
Important Dates
Some important dates are listed below with the reasons why they are important:
February 17, 1994: The ship is named
November 14, 1996: The keel is laid (construction started)
Oct. 4, 1997: The USS Higgins is launched to its homeport
April 24, 1999: USS Higgins is commissioned (this means it has been given the order that it is in a state of readiness for active duty)
June 1999: Higgins arrives in San Diego
External links
- Official site
- Naval Vessel Register - DDG-76
- USS Higgins Commanding Officer Relieved. Story Number: NNS070508-04. 8 May 2007