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USS Cowpens CVL 25 |
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The first USS Cowpens was a WWII aircraft carrier (CVL-25),
converted from a light cruiser to an aircraft carrier under the
pressure of war.
The "Mighty Moo" was launched on January 17, 1943, exactly 162
years after the Battle of Cowpens. It served in the Fast
Carrier Task Force in the Pacific from 1943-45.
During the 22 ˝ months that the USS Cowpens served in the war in
the South Pacific, she flew 10,634 flights, participated in
2,452 action sorties, destroyed 108 enemy planes in the air,
destroyed 198 enemy planes on the ground, dropped 657 tons of
bombs, fired 3063 rockets, and sank 39 ships. |
George Dean Martin, owner of a drugstore in Cowpens, wrote to
President Franklin D Roosevelt suggesting that an aircraft
carrier be named for the nearby famous Revolutionary War battle,
Cowpens.
In those days, carriers were named for battles, so the ship was
named USS Cowpens.
The USS Cowpens was decommissioned on Jan 13, 1947.
It was awarded twelve Battle Stars and a Navy Unit Commendation
for service during World War II. |
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USS Cowpens CG 63 |
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On March 3, 1989, the US Navy launched the second USS Cowpens
CG-63, an Aegis guided missile cruiser of the Ticonderoga
class.
Also known as “The Thundering Herd”, the USS Cowpens is one of
Seventh Fleet’s finest ships and the epitome of the best of the
21st century United States Navy.
Since commissioning in March 1991, USS Cowpens has set a
multitude of records, including an unprecedented run of six
consecutive Battle Efficiency awards. |
The USS Cowpens is part of the forward deployed
naval force in Yokosuka, Japan and part of the
USS George Washington Battle Group.
USS Cowpens Official Navy Site
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