USS Vicksburg (CG-69)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Vicksburg.

USS Vicksburg in June 2007
History
United States
Name	Vicksburg
Namesake	Siege of Vicksburg
Ordered	25 February 1988[1]
Builder	Ingalls Shipbuilding
Laid down	30 May 1990[1]
Launched	7 September 1991
Sponsored by	Tricia Lott, wife of United States Senator Trent Lott
Christened	12 October 1991
Acquired	21 September 1992
Commissioned	14 November 1992[1]
Decommissioned	28 June 2024
Renamed	8 December 1989, from Port Royal
Stricken	26 July 2024[1]
Homeport	Mayport (1992 - 2016) Norfolk (2016 - 2024)
Identification	MMSI number: 257406000 Call sign: NVMS Hull number: CG-69
Motto	Key to Victory
Status	Stricken, Final Disposition Pending
Badge
General characteristics
Class and 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	4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines 2 × controllable-reversible pitch propellers 2 × rudders
Speed	32.5 knots (60 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Complement	30 officers and 300 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems	AN/SPY-1A/B multi-function radar AN/SPS-49 air search radar (Removed on some ships) AN/SPG-62 fire control radar AN/SPS-73 surface search radar AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar AN/SQQ-89(V)1/3 - A(V)15 Sonar suite, consisting of: AN/SQS-53B/C/D active sonar AN/SQR-19 TACTAS, AN/SQR-19B ITASS, & MFTA passive sonar AN/SQQ-28 light airborne multi-purpose system
Armament	2 × 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems containing 122 × mix of: RIM-66M-5 Standard SM-2MR Block IIIB RIM-156A SM-2ER Block IV RIM-161 SM-3 RIM-162A ESSM RIM-174A Standard ERAM BGM-109 Tomahawk RUM-139A VL-ASROC 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon missiles 2 × 5 in (127 mm)/62 caliber Mark 45 Mod 4 lightweight gun 2 × Mk 38 25 mm Machine Gun Systems 2–4 × .50 in (12.7 mm) cal. machine gun 2 × Phalanx CIWS Block 1B 2 × Mk 32 12.75 in (324 mm) triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried	2 × MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS Mk III helicopters.

USS Vicksburg (CG-69) was a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser that served in the United States Navy. She was named for the Siege of Vicksburg fought during the American Civil War.^[2]

Vicksburg was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, at Pascagoula, Mississippi and commissioned on 14 November 1992.^[3] The ship first deployed in 1994 and last deployed in 2015. Vicksburg was decommissioned 28 June 2024 after spending 8 years in the Navy's Cruiser Modernization program.

Vicksburg was equipped with the Aegis Combat System and was capable of facing threats in the air, on the sea, ashore, and underneath the sea. She was also capable of carrying two SH-60 Sea Hawk Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS III) helicopters.

The previous Vicksburg was a Cleveland-class light cruiser during and after World War II. Vicksburg's crest has two stars on the streamer in the eagle's beak representing the two battle stars awarded to her predecessor.^[4]

History

1990s

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 was 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.^[3][5] Vicksburg was originally named Port Royal, but the name was changed before the keel was laid.^[6]

On her maiden cruise in 1994, Vicksburg was assigned to the USS Saratoga battle group, which was stationed off the coast of Montenegro. Vicksburg participated in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise, serving as an airspace command and control platform. In May 1994, Vicksburg participated in NATO's "Dynamic Impact 94" exercise in the western Mediterranean, and in August 1994 Vicksburg joined Operation Able Vigil, helping to intercept Cuban migrants crossing the Florida Straits.^[3] In September 1994, Vicksburg escorted USS Eisenhower to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy.^[7]

Vicksburg returned from a 6 month deployment in March 1996. During the deployment, Vicksburg participated in Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf. Vicksburg also performed Maritime Interception Operations to enforce UN sanctions that prohibited exports from Iraq. Vicksburg conducted over 85 boardings. At that time, the primary contraband was dates carried by 70–100 feet (21–30 m) dhows. Vicksburg visited Italy, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates during the deployment.^[8][9]

In 1997, Vicksburg deployed to the Mediterranean Sea with the USS John F. Kennedy carrier battle group (CVBG).^[10][11]

In 1998, Vicksburg and Hué City had problems integrating AEGIS Baseline 6 and Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), rendering the ships unavailable for service.^[12] The USS John F. Kennedy CVBG deployed in September 1999 without Vicksburg and Hué City.^[10]

In 1999, Vicksburg participated in BALTOPS '99 and UNITAS 40-99.^[13]

2000s

In May 2000, Lockheed Martin announced that Vicksburg and Hué City completed a series of live missile firing exercises. The tests came after two years of integration and testing and paved the way for further test efforts with the entire battlegroup. Five test targets were engaged including low and high altitude threats and severe electronic countermeasures. The test also included a demonstration of engage on remote (EOR) which allowed one ship to complete an engagement against a target solely using data from a second ship.^[14] In 2001, Vicksburg and the rest of the John F. Kennedy CVBG extensively tested the CEC system.^[10] Following the September 11 attacks, the battle group supported Operation Noble Eagle.^[10]

In February 2002, Vicksburg deployed with the John F. Kennedy carrier battlegroup (CVBG), initially to the Mediterranean Sea. In March 2002, Vicksburg was part of the John F. Kennedy CVBG as she relieved the USS Theodore Roosevelt CVBG, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.^[10] On 16 June 2002, off the coast of Oman, Vicksburg launched an SH-60B helicopter from HSL-42, Det 7, to assist Stolt Spray. The tanker was standing by to assist the foundering motor vessel al Murthada, but monsoon conditions prevented its assistance. Vicksburg’s helicopter transferred al Murthada’s distressed mariners, who had been adrift for eight days, to Stolt Spray for further transportation.^[10]

In March 2003, she was assigned to Naval Surface Group Two.^[15] In December 2004, Vicksburg and the John F. Kennedy battlegroup returned from a six month deployment to the Middle East.^[16]

Vicksburg departed on a surge deployment to the middle east on 26 January 2006. In February, Vicksburg became the first US Navy ship to refuel from a new Defense Fuel Supply Point in Djibouti.^[17] Vicksburg returned in June 2006.^[18] On 16 February 2007, Vicksburg was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.^[19] She was part of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, which was led by USS Enterprise (CVN-65) until December 2012.

25 January 2008, Vicksburg returned to Mayport following a six month deployment to the Persian Gulf.^[20] In February 2009, she deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group.^[21]

2010s

In 2010, Vicksburg deployed for a three month Theater Security Cooperation Surge deployment to Northern Europe.^[22] The ship conducted exercises with the Norwegian Navy and then participated in the Joint Warrior 10-1 multinational exercise.^[13][23]

Vicksburg deployed with the Enterprise CVBG in March 2012 on the carrier's final deployment.^[24] Vicksburg visited Piraeus, Greece in late March 2012.^[13][25] Vicksburg conducted operations with FS Cassard (D 614) April 16–24, 2012.^[26] Vicksburg visited Bahrain at the end of May^[27][28] and again in August.^[29] Vicksburg visited Lisbon, Portugal on October 17, 2012.^[30] Vicksburg returned to Mayport in November 2012.^[31]

The US Navy was planning to retire Vicksburg along with eight other Ticonderoga class cruisers in fiscal year 2013 in line with US Defense Department budget reductions.^[32] The ship was scheduled to be decommissioned on 31 March 2013.^[33] Language inserted into the FY13 House of Representatives Defense Bill retained Vicksburg and two other of her sister ships that were slated for decommissioning. Retaining the ships in the active fleet was not supported by the United States Secretary of Defense, but the outcome was determined by the final FY13 Defense Bill negotiated with the United States Senate.^[34] Vicksburg and two other Ticonderoga-class cruisers were retained under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.^[35]

In 2014, the cruiser participated in Joint Warrior 14-2, a United Kingdom-led multinational exercise in British coastal waters. The training was designed to provide allied forces a multiwarfare environment to prepare for global operations. On 4 December 2014, Vicksburg departed Naval Station Mayport to relieve USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) as the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) flagship and to support theater security cooperation efforts in Europe.^[36] Vicksburg relieved Leyte Gulf as SNMG2 Flagship in Naples on 20 December 2014.^[37] Vicksburg and SNMG2 deployed to the Black Sea 4 March 2015.^[38] Vicksburg and SNMG2 visited Varna, Bulgaria 7–8 March and Constanta, Romania around 16 March 2015.^[39][40] Vicksburg and SNMG2 left the Black sea around 20 March.^[41] In April, Vicksburg and SNMG2 visited Faslane, Scotland along with Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Groups One and Two for Joint Warrior 15-1.^[42][43] In May, Vicksburg and SNMG2 participated in the anti-submarine exercise Dynamic Mongoose.^[44] The ship returned to Mayport on 11 July 2015.^[45]

On 1 July 2016, Vicksburg was transferred from Carrier Strike Group Twelve to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and entered the Navy's Cruiser Modernization program. The ship's homeport was changed to Norfolk and the crew was reduced from 350 to less than 50.^[46] In 2017, BAE Systems announced it was awarded a special selected restricted availability (SSRA) contract for up to $42.9 million. The work was planned for April to September 2017 at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair and was part of Vicksburg's modernization.^[47]

2020s

In January 2020, Vicksburg was sent to BAE Systems for an $175 million, 18-month Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).^[48] In May 2022, Vicksburg was reported to be 85% completed with its modernization and was expected to be complete by summer 2023. According to Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), "Since 2020, the Navy has awarded nearly $500 million in contracts to upgrade the cruiser."^[49]

The Navy requested to decommission Vicksburg in its FY23 and FY24 budgets.^[50] Navy Undersecretary Erik Raven stated that this was due to the ship's "material condition, life remaining, cost, ... time to upgrade ... and the warfighting value."^[51]

In March 2023, the Navy submitted to Congress a list of 11 ships it sought to retire, including Vicksburg which has been in the modernization program since 2016.^[52] According to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in April 2023, Vicksburg and Cowpens “will never see another deployment, regardless of how much money we put into them.” The Navy reported that costs of the modernization have increased to $500 million.^[53]

In March 2024, the Navy announced plans to inactivate Vicksburg on 29 June 2024.^[54] In early 2024, all modernization work had ceased on Vicksburg. By 11 April 2024, Vicksburg had been stripped of topside gear and antennas and towed from BAE Systems shipyard to NS Norfolk for decommissioning.^[55] The ship was decommissioned during a ceremony in Norfolk on 28 June 2024.^[56] According to the NVR, the ship was officially decommissioned and stricken on 26 July 2024.^[1] The ship was towed from Norfolk to Philadelphia Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility by MV Gary Chouest starting on 4 September 2024.^[57][58]

Gallery

• 
  More than 600 Cubans on board Vicksburg arrive at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, 23 August 1994.
• 
  Vicksburg returns to Mayport, June 2006.
• 
  Vicksburg escorts Theodore Roosevelt past the Rock of Gibraltar, April 2015.
• 
  Vicksburg is maneuvered during a docking evolution at BAE Systems Shipyard in Norfolk, March 2020.
• 
  USS Vicksburg decommissioning ceremony, 28 June 2024

Awards

Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device			Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (4)			Battle Effectiveness Award with E device (9)
National Defense Service Medal (2)			Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2)			Southwest Asia Service Medal (1)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal			Global War on Terrorism Service Medal			Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal			Sea Service Ribbon (6)			NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
Source:[59][60][61]

In popular culture

• Vicksburg is featured prominently in the 2012 naval thriller, Fire of the Raging Dragon, by Don Brown.

See also

• Aegis Combat System

Notes

1. US Navy (29 July 2024). "Naval Vessel Register". Retrieved 29 July 2024.
2. "USS Vicksburg - Namesake". USS Vicksburg. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
3. "United States Navy Ships Named After National Parks or Associated with National Park Sites". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2006.
4. "USS Vicksburg - Crest". USS Vicksburg. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
5. "USS Vicksburg - History". USS Vicksburg. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
6. "USS Vicksburg". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
7. "HCS-4 Red Wolves Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadron US Navy".
8. "Military News". The Gettysburg Times. 24 May 1996. p. 14.
9. Guillebeau, Neil. "Stand by for Boarding!" (PDF). All Hands (June 1996): 31–32.
10. "John F. Kennedy I (CVA-67)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
11. "USS Vicksburg (CG-69)". navysite.de. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
12. Stutz, Michael (16 July 1998). "Navy Software Dead in the Water". Wired.
13. "CG-69 History". USS Vicksburg CG-69. UScarriers.net. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
14. "Lockheed Martin Announced Today: Two Aegis-Equipped Cruisers Successfully Complete Test of Baseline 6 Phase 1 System in Prep for CEC Evaluations". PR Newswire. 26 May 2000. ProQuest 448102120.ProQuest 448102120
15. "World Navies Today: US Navy Aircraft Carriers & Surface Combatants". 10 March 2003. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
16. "Florida carrier group returning home". Ocala StarBanner. Associated Press. 7 December 2004.
17. Thompson, Cassandra (27 February 2006). "New Fueling Station Opens in Djibouti".
18. Lewis, Ken (12 June 2006). "Vicksburg returns from Mideast". Florida Times Union. Jacksonville, FL. p. B-1. ISSN 0740-2325.ProQuest 414534227
19. "Surface Force Ships, Crews Earn Battle "E"". 19 February 2007. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012.
20. "USS Vicksburg returns home". 25 January 2008.
21. Schoettler, Jim (22 February 2009). "Tearful farewells at Mayport as USS Vicksburg deploys". Florida Times-Union, The (Jacksonville, FL).EBSCOhost 2W62W61792301837
22. "Fire for Effect". Issuu. Surface Warfare Magazine - Fall 2010. 30 January 2014. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
23. Smith, MC2 Nikki (14 April 2010). "DESRON 24, U.S. ships arrive off the coast of Scotland for Joint Warrior". Military News. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
24. Lessig, Hugh (7 March 2012). "USS Enterprise to Deploy on Final Voyage". Daily Press. Newport News, VA. p. A.3.ProQuest 926593483
25. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman (28 March 2012). "Enterprise, Vicksburg Wrap Up Port Visit to Piraeus, Greece". NNS120402-08. Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
26. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nick C. Scott, USN (10 May 2012). "Vicksburg Conducts Multinational Operations". NNS120510-17. Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
27. MC3 Nick C. Scott (6 June 2012). "USS Vicksburg On Deployment: Vicksburg visit". MC3 Nick C. Scott. Jacksonville.com. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
28. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nick C. Scott, USN (2 June 2012). "Vicksburg Visits Bahrain". NNS120601-10. Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
29. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nick Scott, USN (2 September 2012). "USS Vicksburg Completes Bahrain Port Visit". NNS120902-01. Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
30. Scott, Nick (19 October 2012). "Vicksburg Arrives in Lisbon, Portugal". Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
31. "USS Vicksburg's homecoming". Florida Times Union. Jacksonville, FL. 6 November 2012. p. B.1.ProQuest 1253119057
32. "Defence Security Report". Archived from the original on 7 November 2011.
33. "FY13 Projected Ship Inactivation Schedule". Bureau of Naval Personnel. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
34. "US Navy to retain four Ticonderoga-class cruisers in service". Naval-technology.com. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
35. "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013" (PDF). p. 5.
36. "USS Vicksburg Deploys to Support NATO". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014.
37. "USS Vicksburg Relieves USS Leyte Gulf as SNMG2 Flagship". mc.nato.int. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
38. "NATO ships deploy to Black Sea for training". NATO. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
39. "NATO Maritime Group visits Varna, Bulgaria, during Black Sea deployment". NATO. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
40. "NATO ships visit Romanian port during Black Sea drills". NATO. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
41. "News: SNMG2 completes operations in the Black Sea". NATO. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
42. "News: NATO Standing Naval Forces arrive in Scotland for Exercise Joint Warrior". NATO. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
43. "News: NATO Ships Complete Participation in Exercise Joint Warrior". NATO. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
44. "News: Anti-submarine warfare exercise 'Dynamic Mongoose' starts off Norwegian coast". NATO. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
45. "USS Vicksburg Returns To Mayport". Florida Times-Union. 15 July 2015.
46. "Vicksburg Ceremony Signals New Phase". Florida Times-Union. 13 July 2016.
47. "BAE Systems to modernize cruiser USS Vicksburg under $42 million Navy contract". baesystems.com. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
48. "U.S. Navy awards BAE Systems $175 million for guided-missile cruiser modernization". baesystems.com. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
49. Shelbourne, Mallory (18 May 2022). "Cruiser USS Vicksburg Nearly Finished with Modernization Program, Set For Decommissioning". USNI News.
50. Shelbourne, Mallory (13 March 2023). "FY2024 Budget: Navy Request Calls for 9 New Ships, Asks to Shed 2 Littoral Combat Ships, 6 Other Ships". USNI News.
51. Fabey, Michael (15 March 2023). "Pentagon budget 2024: US Navy targets ships for early retirement". Janes. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
52. "Why has the Navy spent at least $175M on an old ship that may never return to sea?". NBC News. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
53. Ziezulewicz, Geoff (3 October 2023). "The Navy's continuing cruiser debacle". Navy Times. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
54. VADM J. E. Pitts (11 March 2024). "NAVADMIN 050/24 FY24 PROJECTED SHIP INACTIVATION SCHEDULE (UPDATED COPY)". MyNavyHR. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
55. Cavas, Chris (9 June 2024). "U.S. Navy's Cruiser Countdown". Naval News. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
56. "Guided-missile destroyer USS Vicksburg decommissioned in Norfolk". Stars and Stripes. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
57. @WarshipCam (4 September 2024). "Former USS Vicksburg (CG 69) Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser being towed out of Norfolk, Virginia by MV Gary Chouest en route to Philadelphia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
58. @WarshipCam (9 September 2024). "Former USS Vicksburg (CG 69) Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser with her new "home" next to former USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) aircraft carrier at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) in Philadelphia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
59. Yarnall, Paul R. (creator); Bateman, Tom (maintainer) (29 May 2019). "NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive USS Vicksburg". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
60. "Photos from June 21, 2015, during an open house aboard USS VICKSBURG (CG 69) at Naval Base Kiel, Germany". Retrieved 17 March 2023.
61. File:USS Vicksburg Bridge wing sailors and awards 150210-N-IY633-009.jpg 10 February 2015.

External links

• Official website - Archived 2023-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
• Official website early 2000s Archived 24 September 2004 at the Wayback Machine
• USS Vicksburg webpage at NavySite

 This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.