USS Cowpens (CG-63)

• Namesake: USS Cowpens (CG-63) is named after the Battle of Cowpens, a pivotal American victory during the Revolutionary War in 1781. It is the second U.S. Navy ship to bear this name. • Class & Type: Cowpens is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, designed for multi-role missions including air defense, surface warfare, and anti-submarine operations. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on March 9, 1991, at Charleston, South Carolina, and entered service during the post-Cold War era. • Nickname: Cowpens has the nickname “The Mighty Moo,” a nod to its connection to the Cowpens battle and the spirited nature of its crew. • First Combat Operations: USS Cowpens fired Tomahawk missiles during Operation Desert Fox in 1998, a U.S. and British military campaign against Iraq. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: In 2003, Cowpens was one of the first U.S. ships to launch Tomahawk missiles in the opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. • Humanitarian Mission: In 2013, Cowpens participated in Operation Damayan, aiding victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines by providing relief supplies and assistance. • Collision Avoidance: In December 2013, Cowpens narrowly avoided collision with a Chinese navy vessel in the South China Sea during a tense encounter, highlighting ongoing U.S.-China maritime tensions. • Records and Achievements: Cowpens was the first U.S. Navy warship to achieve 100% Tomahawk missile launch reliability during a deployment. • Planned Decommissioning: The ship has been listed for decommissioning several times due to age and cost, but as of 2024, it remains in service, reflecting both its capabilities and the evolving needs of the U.S. Navy.