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 missile s . 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 redoubt s 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 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 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 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 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 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 , " 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 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 skiff s , 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 .