| USS Vicksburg (CG-69) | |
|---|---|
 USS Vicksburg (CG-69) in the Atlantic Ocean | |
| Career (USA) |  |
| Name: | USS Vicksburg |
| Namesake: | Battle of Vicksburg |
| Operator: |
 United States Navy |
| Ordered: | 25 February 1988 |
| Builder: | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 30 May 1990 |
| Launched: | 7 September 1991 |
| Acquired: | 21 September 1992 |
| Commissioned: | 14 November 1992 |
| Homeport: | Mayport, Florida |
| Motto: | Key to Victory |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2025[update] |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Ticonderoga-class cruiser |
| Displacement: | Approx. 9,600 long tons (9,800 t) full load |
| Length: | 567 feet (173 m) |
| Beam: | 55 feet (16.8 meters) |
| Draft: | 34 feet (10.2 meters) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 32.5 knots (60 km/h; 37.4 mph) |
| Complement: | 33 officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers, and approx. 340 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
|
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 2 × Sikorsky SH-60B or MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. |
USS Vicksburg (CG-69) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy. She is named for both the land Battle of Vicksburg fought during the American Civil War, and the city of Vicksburg, MS.
Vicksburg was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her keel was laid down on 30 May 1990 and she was launched on 7 September 1991. Vicksburg is sponsored by Tricia Lott, wife of United States Senator, Trent Lott. On 12 October 1991, Mrs. Lott christened CG-69 as Vicksburg. She was commissioned on 14 November 1992.[1]
With her guided missiles and rapid-fire cannons, Vicksburg is capable of facing threats in the air, on the sea, ashore, and underneath the sea. She is also capable of carrying two SH-60 Sea Hawk Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS III) helicopters.
CG-69 was originally named Port Royal, but was changed during construction. She is the only Ticonderoga-class vessel to have a formal name change. CG-73 was later named Port Royal.[2]
The previous Vicksburg was a light cruiser during and after World War II. CG-69's crest has two stars on the streamer in the eagle's beak representing the two battle stars awarded to her predecessor. The current commanding officer of the Vicksburg is Captain Logan Jones.
History[]
On her maiden cruise, the Vicksburg was assigned to the USS Saratoga's battle group, which was stationed off the coast of Montenegro. The Vicksburg participated in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise, serving as an airspace command and control platform. In May 1994, the Vicksburg participated in NATO's "Dynamic Impact 94" exercise in the western Mediterranean, and in August 1994 the Vicksburg joined Operation Able Vigil, helping to intercept Cuban migrants crossing the Florida Straits.[1]
In March 2003 she was assigned to Naval Surface Group Two.[3]
On 16 February 2007, Vicksburg was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award. [1]
She is currently part of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, which was led until December 2012 by USS Enterprise (CVN-65).
Future[]
The US Navy was planning to retire Vicksburg along with eight (8) other Ticonderoga class cruisers in fiscal year 2013 in line with U.S. Defense Department budget reductions.[4]
The ship was scheduled to be decommissioned on 31 March 2013.[5] Language inserted into the FY13 House of Representatives Defense Bill retains Vickburg and two other of her sister ships that were slated for decommissioning. Retaining the ships in the active fleet is not supported by the United States Secretary of Defense, and final outcome will be determined by the final FY13 Defense Bill negotiated with the United States Senate.[6] Vicksburg and two other Ticonderoga-class cruisers were retained under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.[7]
See also[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Park Service, United States Navy Ships Named After National Parks or Associated with National Park Sites, Accessed 9 March 2006.
- ↑ http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/CG69.htm
- ↑ http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/usa/surface.htm, accessed May 2012
- ↑ http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065931706&channel=defence&subChannel=naval
- ↑ http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/03/navy-11-ships-to-be-decommissioned-in-fiscal-2013-031412w/
- ↑ http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsus-navy-retain-four-ticonderoga-class-cruisers-service
- ↑ National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, p. 5.
External links[]
- Official web site
- USS Vicksburg webpage
- Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC)
- Globalsecurity.org – CG 69 Vicksburg
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Vicksburg (CG-69). |
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
| |||||||||||
The original article can be found at USS Vicksburg (CG-69) and the edit history here.