Nearly every U.S. Navy ship has a motto, usually found on the ship’s crest. The crest and motto provide heraldic symbolism that represents the best qualities of the ship, its crew, and its mission. But how these mottos are selected is not widely known.
Where Mottos Originated
Mottos date back many centuries, to the early days of heraldry. Generally, a motto was selected by a family, clan, or feudal lord to represent its motivation or intention; they were phrases or words of significance to the group. Often they were incorporated into a badge or emblem and were thus visible to the world. In early days, the motto often served in battle as a war cry, an aid to morale during combat, and a way to identify fellow soldiers in dark or confusing conditions (an early form of Identification Friend or Foe).
Most U.S. Navy ship mottos are in English, but Latin mottos still are well represented. Of the Navy’s active-duty commissioned warships, more than 50 have Latin mottos. Other languages also are represented, including French (three ships), Hawaiian (two ships), and German and Spanish (one ship each). These figures do not include Military Sealift Command ships, auxiliary ships, and reserve ships, which also bear mottos.
Mottos in the Navy
Navy ships, bases, and other commands have individually designed heraldic emblems, such as a crest or seal. Unlike many other nation’s navies, U.S. Navy ships may not paint or otherwise display the ship’s heraldry on their exteriors.
While some ships had such insignia during the interwar period, World War II brought them into widespread use. Some designs were created by ship’s personnel; others were created by professional artists, including by animation houses at the movie studios. The approach back then essentially was anything goes; many designs even featured cartoon characters. Insignia use declined after the end of World War II but made a resurgence during the Korean War.
After the Korean armistice, crests gained official recognition, and approval responsibility was assigned to the major fleet commanders. In 1956, the Navy published Naval Instruction 5030.2B, which encouraged ships to design their own crests and established a procedure for receiving official approval. The current Navy guidelines are contained in Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5031.1C, Appendix C. Naval Air Systems Command has separate procedures for its units and aircraft.
How a Ship Gets Its Motto
Prospective commanding officers of new ships are responsible for designing the crest and submitting it to the Department of the Navy for approval. They can get technical help from The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH), a U.S. Army organization that provides its expertise to many U.S. government organizations.
A TIOH staff member interviews the prospective commanding officer about the ship, crew, and mission, the ship’s namesake, if any, and any predecessor ships bearing the same name. TIOH then conducts its own research, including a review of its historical files, and proposes a “first suggested design” of the crest. After two or three exchanges for input and changes, the crest is finalized.
Usually, the designated first commanding officer selects the motto, although TIOH will alert the officer if the motto has been used before. Usually the motto is included in the crest design, but this is not a strict rule; some ship mottos are not written on the crest.
The ship’s crest belongs to the ship and her crew; there is no official central repository for these images, and the crest does not change unless the ship is recommissioned with a different name.
The ship’s motto connects with the ship and crew and what they do. The motto colors the actions and accomplishments of a Navy ship; these are words of consequence and importance.
Selected Warship Mottos
CARRIERS
Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69): I Like Ike
Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72): Shall Not Perish
Harry S. Truman (CVN-75): The Buck Stops Here
AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS
Mount Whitney (LCC-20): Vox Maris (Voice of the Sea)
Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6): I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight
Iwo Jima (LHD-7): Uncommon Valor
Green Bay (LPD-20): Statum Bello Invictus Moneo
(Stand and Fight, Remain Unvanquished)
New York (LPD-21): Strength Forged through Sacrifice. Never Forget
Anchorage (LPD-23): Nil Fato Relinquemus
(We Leave Nothing to Chance)
Portland (LPD-27): First Responders, Brave and Determined
America (LHA-6): Bello Vel Pace Paratus
(Ready for War or Peace)
Germantown (LSD-42): Folgen Sie Unseren Fusspuren! (Follow in Our Footsteps!)
Fort McHenry (LSD-43): Domus Fortium
(Home of the Brave)
Gunston Hall (LSD-44): Defending the Constitution
Pearl Harbor (LSD-52): Nation’s Battle Cry
DESTROYERS
The Sullivans (DDG-68): We Stick Together
Hopper (DDG-70): Aude et Effice (Dare and Do)
John Paul Jones (DDG-53): In Harm’s Way
Chung-Hoon (DDG-93): Imua e na koa kai (Go Forward Sea Warriors)
Halsey (DDG-97): Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit Often
Gridley (DDG-101): Ignis Ubi Paratus (Fire When Ready)
Stockdale (DDG-106): Return with Honor
William P. Lawrence (DDG-110): Never Give In!
LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS
Freedom (LCS-1): Fast, Focused, Fearless
Little Rock (LCS-9): Back with a Vengeance
SUBMARINES
Olympia (SSN-717): Este Paratus (We Are Ready)
Pittsburgh (SSN-720): Heart of Steel
Newport News (SSN-750): Magni Nominis Umbra
(Under the Shadow of a Great Name)
Pasadena (SSN-752): Anytime, Anywhere
Scranton (SSN-756): On Time, On Track, On Target
Asheville (SSN-758): From the Mountains to the Seas
Santa Fe (SSN-763): Fight Hard, Play Hard
Boise (SSN-764): A One Ship Fleet
Hartford (SSN-768): Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead
Seawolf (SSN-21): Cave Lupum (Beware the Wolf)
Virginia (SSN-774): Sic Semper Tyrranis
(Thus Always to Tyrants)
Texas (SSN-775): Don’t Mess with Texas!
New Mexico (SSN-779): Defendemos Nuestra Tierra (We Defend Our Land)
California (SSN-781): Silentium Est Aureum
(Silence Is Golden)
Minnesota (SSN-783): Ex Septentrio, Virtus
(From the North, Power)
North Dakota (SSN-784): Strength from the Soil, Reapers of the Deep
Michigan (SSGN-727): Tuebor (I Will Defend)
West Virginia (SSBN-736): Montani Semper Liberi
(Mountaineers Are Always Free)
Kentucky (SSBN-737): Thoroughbred of the Fleet
CRUISERS
Mobile Bay (CG-53): Full Speed Ahead
Lake Champlain (CG-57): Ingenuity, Daring, Discipline
Chancellorsville (CG-62): Press On
MINE COUNTERMEASURES SHIPS
Sentry (MCM-3): Iron Men in Wooden Ships
Champion (MCM-4): We Accept the Challenge
Ardent (MCM-12): Igneus et Fervens (Fiery and Fervent)
PATROL SHIPS
Typhoon (PC-5): E Malacia ad Fulmina
(From a Calm Sea, a Flash of Lightning)
Sirocco (PC-6): Virtue, Speed, Ferocity
Firebolt (PC-10): Charge Hard, Strike Fast
SUBMARINE TENDER
Frank Cable (AS-40): The Warship that Fixes Warships