Gules, between three arrowheads radiating from center Or an annulet Argent enclosing a cross throughout Or, all within a bordure Azure charged with nineteen mullets Argent.
Out of a wreath Or and Gules in front of a chevron rompu Gules a griffin's head erased Or.
Two anchors saltirewise fouled Argent.
On a scroll Azure doubled Or the inscription "VICTORY IS OUR TRADITION" in gold letters.
The coat of arms as blazoned in full color upon a white oval enclosed by a gold chain and bearing the inscription "USS YORKTOWN CG 48" in dark blue letters.
The annulet and gold cross allude to a telescopic gun sight and recognize the birth of modern naval gunnery in the second USS Yorktown with the first successful test of a telescopic gun sight in 1892. The gold arrowheads resemble flight symbols and refer to the role played by the third and fourth USS Yorktowns in World War II as aircraft carriers. The arrowheads also refer to missiles and, with the annulet, symbolize the evolution of the modern sophisticated AEGIS Combat System which incorporates offspring of that first telescopic sight. The arrowheads radiate in all directions, indicating the multifaceted striking ability of the AEGIS System. The red shield indicates the wartime service of the previous Yorktowns. There are nineteen stars on the blue border representing the nineteen battle stars of the previous ships named Yorktown. The red, white and blue colors of the design are the National colors, while the gold of the arrowheads and cross denote excellence.
The crest typifies the essence of the Yorktown heritage and spirit. The red chevron rompu symbolizes the successful siege of Cornwallis' troops at the Battle of Yorktown. The griffin symbolizes the courage, daring, endurance, alertness and ability proven by General Washington at the Battle of Yorktown and by the performance of the four previous Yorktowns-a heritage and spirit that will be borne by the newest USS Yorktown (CG 48).