SHIELD
Per saltire Azure and Argent (Gray), a missile palewise Argent surmounted by a Navy sword and musket saltirewise Proper all interlaced by an annulet Gules and within a bordure Or pellety.
CREST
Above a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure, a double warded key bow to base and a trident saltirewise Or supporting an eagle displayed foreshortened Proper grasping in his beak a scroll Gules fimbriated and charged with two mullets Argent, all debruising in base the battlements of a stylized earthen wall Proper issuing out of a bar wavy per fess Argent.
MOTTO
On a scroll Azure edged Or the motto "KEY TO VICTORY" inscribed in Gold letters.
SEAL
The coat of arms emblazoned in full color upon a white oval enclosed by a blue collar edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the inscription "USS VICKSBURG" above and "CG 69" below in gold letters.
SHIELD
Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy. Red is emblematic of sacrifice and valor. The blue and gray of the shield recall the two sides involved in the Civil War. The four sections underscore July 4, 1863, the date of the Confederate surrender at Vicksburg. The Navy sword and musket, crossed to express strength, signify the teamwork and joint operations of the land and sea forces at Vicksburg when the Union Navy transported General Ulysses S. Grant's Army inland under fire. The annulet symbolizes General Grant's siege of the city by closing the ring on the Confederate forces to win the battle. The vertical missile symbolizes the firepower of the current cruiser, USS VICKSBURG (CG 69). The border simulates the armor plates of the Civil War gunboats and the part they played in the battle; the seventeen black cannon balls pay tribute to the Union's 17th Army Corps commander who was victorious at Vicksburg and was appointed Commander of the Vicksburg District on July 4, 1863.
CREST
The American eagle in flight symbolizes the reunification of the states involved in the Civil War. The eagle carries a streamer containing the two battle stars of the previous cruiser, USS VICKSBURG (CL 86), received for service in World War II. The key held in the eagle's right talon represents President Abraham Lincoln's statement that ". . . Vicksburg is the key . . . the war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket." The trident in the eagle's left talon is symbolic of sea power with its three tines representing the anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the present ship. The trident also honors the three previous vessels named "VICKSBURG." The embattled wall above the wavy lines recalls the high fortresses of the City of Vicksburg along the east bank of the Mississippi River and also represents defense, strength and the combat capabilities of USS VICKSBURG (CG 69).