Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

When preparing for the battle, both Commanders had two critical factors to consider: guns and the wind. Captain Barclay was armed with mostly long guns; Commodore Perry used mostly carronades. Carronades needed fewer men, could be loaded and fired faster, and their heavier caliber gave Perry a 2-1 firepower advantage at close range, but they had less than half the range of long guns. To use his advantage, Perry would need the 'weather gauge', that is, have the wind at his back so he could choose the distance of battle. Perry's plan was for his two brigs LAWRENCE and NIAGARA to engage the two largest British ships, the DETROIT and the QUEEN CHARLOTTE. Barclay's strategy was to soften up the American brigs with his longer guns before Perry could get close enough to use his carronades.

When the nine American ships sailed from Put-in-Bay at 7:00 a.m., the wind advantage was with the British. Perry maneuvered his fleet, but was unable to gain the weather gauge. At almost 10:00 a.m., he decided to engage the enemy when the wind suddenly shifted to his favor. The British furled sails, hove to, and prepared to fight in line of battle.

Just before the battle opened, Perry hoisted his battle flag to the topmast. It was a large blue banner with the crudely inscribed words 'DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP'. These were the dying words of his friend, Captain James Lawrence, who was killed in battle in June, and for whom Perry's flagship was named. The DETROIT opened the battle at approximately 11:45 a.m. At 12:30, when Perry opened fire, he thought he had the advantage, but Jesse D. Elliot, Commanding Officer of the NIAGARA, mysteriously kept his ship out of the battle. The now unchallenged QUEEN CHARLOTTE also pounded the LAWRENCE, and by 2:30, four of every five men on the ship were killed or wounded, and all of her guns were out of action. Perry took a small boat to the undamaged NIAGARA and sailed toward the British line. The DETROIT and the QUEEN CHARLOTTE were badly damaged by American carronades. Barclay was wounded and every other British commander was killed or wounded. When they saw NIAGARA coming, the DETROIT and QUEEN CHARLOTTE tried to maneuver into better firing positions, rammed and locked together. Perry broke through the British line, raking the ships on both sides with heavy guns. It was over in only 15 minutes; the British struck their colors.

Following the battle, Perry sent his famous message: "We have met the enemy and they are ours."

The USS Lake Erie (CG 70) (right), USS Mount Hood (AE 29) (center), USS Cimarron (AO 177) (left) and USS Chosin (CG 65) (far left), conduct operations in the Pacific Ocean on 14 April 1997. The ships are part of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation battle group en route to the Persian Gulf to enforce no-fly zones and monitor shipping to and from the region.

At sea, 25 January 2002 - A Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) leaves the ships vertical launch system (VLS) during a combined Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy flight test, conducted in the continuing development of a Sea-Based Midcourse (SMD) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Test involved the launch of a developmental Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) equipped with a kinetic warhead (KW) interceptor controlled from the Aegis Cruiser, and an Aries target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The SM-3 acquired, tracked, and diverted toward the target, successfully demonstrating the SM-3 fourth-stage Kinetic Warhead (KW) guidance, navigation and control.

U.S. Navy Photo #020125-N-0000X-001 .

12 December 2003 - An SM-3 is launched from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie as part of the Missile Defense Agency's latest Ballistic Missile Defense System test to defeat a medium-range ballistic missile threat. The missile, part of the Aegis Weapon System, intercepted a target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai 11 December. This was the fourth successful intercept for Aegis BMD and SM-3. The test included evaluation of the long-range surveillance and tracking capabilities of two Navy ships as well as effective communications between the ships and command and control units.

U.S. Navy photo.

USS Lake Erie (CG 70) makes her way up the Willamette River in to Portland, OR, for the 97th Annual Rose Festival, 10 June 2004. 

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael Larson. United States Navy News Stand. Photo # 040610-N-6901L-003.

2 July 2004 - The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) proudly displaying its golden bow anchor, pierside at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The golden anchor symbolizes a high retention rate of shipboard personnel. The ship is participating in this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2004. RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This year’s exercise includes seven participating nations; Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom and United States. RIMPAC is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, while enhancing stability in the Pacific Rim region.

U.S. Navy photo #040702-N-4304S-006 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Bradley J. Sapp.

Pacific Ocean, 24 February 2005 - A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) leaves the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) en route to intercept a short-range ballistic missile target, launched minutes earlier from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The intercept, which occurred some 100 miles from the island of Kauai, was the latest Missile Defense Agency test of its sea-based midcourse program. The program, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, has had five intercepts in the last six attempts.

U.S. Navy photo #050224-N-0000X-002

17 November 2005 - Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test today. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

U.S. Navy Photo

17 November 2005 - Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test today. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

U.S. Navy Photo

17 November 2005 - Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test today. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

U.S. Navy Photo

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 04 September 2007 - The crew of guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) mans the rails as the ship returns home following a four-month deployment to the Western Pacific. While deployed, the ship took part in Exercise Talisman Saber and escorted aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

U.S. Navy photo #070904-N-4965F-002 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 7 December 2007 - Sailors stationed aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) man the rails and render honors to USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor survivors as part of a pass-in-review during a joint U.S. Navy/National Park Service ceremony commemorating the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,500 distinguished guests and the general public joined Sailors, Pearl Harbor survivors and their families and friends on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor for the annual observance.

U.S. Navy photo #071207-N-4965F-006 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 20 February 2008 - A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. President George W. Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas.

U.S. Navy photo #80220-N-XXXXX-025

PACIFIC OCEAN, 20 February 2008 - A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. President George W. Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas.

U.S. Navy photo #080220-N-XXXXX-032

PACIFIC OCEAN, 20 February 2008 - A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. President George W. Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas.

U.S. Navy photo #080220-N-XXXXX-036

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) passes the Battleship Missouri Memorial as she makes her way pier side at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Lake Erie fired a modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February, which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo # 080222-N-4965F-549 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returns to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after firing a single modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo #080222-N-4965F-553 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returns to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after firing a single modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo #080222-N-4965F-564 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returns to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after firing a single modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo #080222-N-4965F-564 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 26 June 2008 - The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) arrives at Naval Station Pearl Harbor for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008. RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational exercise and is scheduled biennially by the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Participants include the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

U.S. Navy photo #080626-N-6674H-048 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick.

Pacific Ocean, 29 July 2008 - Navy ships from the United States, Canada and Japan steam in formation during a Rim-of-the-Pacific 2008 group exercise off the coast of Oahu. Ships pictured from front to back: USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Lake Erie (CG 70), JDS Setogiri (DD 156), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), HMCS Regina (FFG 334) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)

U.S. Navy photo #080729-N-7883G-085 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 13 February 2013 - A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1A interceptor is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the Pacific Ocean. The SM-3 Block 1A successfully intercepted a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii.

U.S. Navy photo #/130213-O-ZZ999-208

PACIFIC OCEAN, 15 May 2013 - A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B interceptor missile is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the mid-Pacific. The SM-3 Block 1B successfully intercepted a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands in Kauai, Hawaii. Lake Erie detected and tracked the target with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar. The event was the third consecutive successful intercept test of the SM-3 Block IB missile.

U.S. Navy photo #130515-D-ZZ999-005

YOKOSUKA, JAPAN 28 February 2014 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), homeported in Pearl Harbor, enters Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a scheduled port visit. Lake Erie is underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

U.S. Navy photo #140228-N-TU910-538 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Abby Rader

YOKOSUKA, JAPAN 28 February 2014 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), homeported in Pearl Harbor, enters Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a scheduled port visit. Lake Erie is underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

U.S. Navy photo #140228-N-TU910-514 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Abby Rader

WATERS TO THE SOUTH OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA, 17 March 2014 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) performs maneuvers with the Republic of Korea Navy class two destroyer ROKS Wang Geon (DDH-978) and other Republic of Korea Navy ships in waters off the coast of the Korean peninsula. Lake Erie is underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

U.S. Navy photo #140318-N-ZZ999-005 courtesy of the Republic of Korea Navy/Released