USS Vicksburg (CG-69)
Template:Short description Template:Other ships Template:Use dmy dates
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsUSS Vicksburg (CG-69) was a Template:Sclass guided missile cruiser that served in the United States Navy. She was named for the Siege of Vicksburg fought during the American Civil War.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vicksburg was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, at Pascagoula, Mississippi and commissioned on 14 November 1992.<ref name = "NPS">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 Template:USS was a Template:Sclass light cruiser during and after World War II. VicksburgTemplate:'s crest has two stars on the streamer in the eagle's beak representing the two battle stars awarded to her predecessor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name = "NPS" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg was originally named Port Royal, but the name was changed before the keel was laid.<ref name="NVR">Template:Cite web</ref>
On her maiden cruise in 1994, Vicksburg was assigned to the Template:USS 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.<ref name = "NPS" /> In September 1994, Vicksburg escorted the aircraft carrier Template:USS to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 Template:Convert dhows. Vicksburg visited Italy, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates during the deployment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In 1997, Vicksburg deployed to the Mediterranean Sea with the Template:USS carrier battle group (CVBG).<ref name= "DANFS, JFK">Template:Cite DANFS</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1998, Vicksburg and Template:USS had problems integrating AEGIS Baseline 6 and Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), rendering the ships unavailable for service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Template:USS CVBG deployed in September 1999 without Vicksburg and Hué City.<ref name= "DANFS, JFK"/>
In 1999, Vicksburg participated in BALTOPS '99 and UNITAS 40-99.<ref name="Vicksburg History"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:ProQuest</ref> In 2001, Vicksburg and the rest of the Template:USS CVBG extensively tested the CEC system.<ref name= "DANFS, JFK"/> Following the September 11 attacks, the battle group supported Operation Noble Eagle.<ref name= "DANFS, JFK"/>
In February 2002, Vicksburg deployed with the Template:USS carrier battlegroup (CVBG), initially to the Mediterranean Sea. In March 2002, Vicksburg was part of the John F. Kennedy CVBG as she relieved the Template:USS CVBG, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.<ref name= "DANFS, JFK"/> 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.<ref name= "DANFS, JFK"/>
In March 2003, she was assigned to Naval Surface Group Two.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2004, Vicksburg and the Template:USS battlegroup returned from a six month deployment to the Middle East.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg returned in June 2006.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:ProQuest</ref> On 16 February 2007, Vicksburg was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was part of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, which was led by Template:USS until December 2012.
25 January 2008, Vicksburg returned to Mayport following a six month deployment to the Persian Gulf.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2009, she deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the Template:USS carrier strike group.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:EBSCOhost</ref>
2010s
In 2010, Vicksburg deployed for a three month Theater Security Cooperation Surge deployment to Northern Europe.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The ship conducted exercises with the Norwegian Navy and then participated in the Joint Warrior 10-1 multinational exercise.<ref name="Vicksburg History"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vicksburg deployed with the Template:USS CVBG in March 2012 on the carrier's final deployment.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:ProQuest</ref> Vicksburg visited Piraeus, Greece, in late March 2012.<ref name="Vicksburg History">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg conducted operations with the Template:Ship from 16–24 April 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg visited Bahrain at the end of May<ref name=MirrorJune6>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and again in August.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg visited Lisbon, Portugal on October 17, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg returned to Mayport in November 2012.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:ProQuest</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The ship was scheduled to be decommissioned on 31 March 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg and two other Ticonderoga-class cruisers were retained under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 the cruiser Template:USS as the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) flagship and to support theater security cooperation efforts in Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg relieved Leyte Gulf as SNMG2 Flagship in Naples on 20 December 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg and SNMG2 deployed to the Black Sea 4 March 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg and SNMG2 visited Varna, Bulgaria 7–8 March and Constanta, Romania around 16 March 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vicksburg and SNMG2 left the Black sea around 20 March.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April, Vicksburg and SNMG2 visited Faslane, Scotland along with Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Groups One and Two for Joint Warrior 15-1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May, Vicksburg and SNMG2 participated in the anti-submarine exercise Dynamic Mongoose.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The ship returned to Mayport on 11 July 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 VicksburgTemplate:'s modernization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020s
In January 2020, Vicksburg was sent to BAE Systems for an $175 million, 18-month Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Navy requested to decommission Vicksburg in its FY23 and FY24 budgets.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2024, the Navy announced plans to inactivate Vicksburg on 29 June 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The ship was decommissioned during a ceremony in Norfolk on 28 June 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the NVR, the ship was officially decommissioned and stricken on 26 July 2024.<ref name="NVR" /> The ship was towed from Norfolk to Philadelphia Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility by Template:MV starting on 4 September 2024.<ref>Template:Cite twitter</ref><ref>Template:Cite twitter</ref>
Gallery
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More than 600 Cubans on board Vicksburg arrive at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, 23 August 1994. -
Vicksburg cruising in the Arabian Gulf -
Vicksburg returns to Mayport, June 2006. -
Vicksburg in the Atlantic Ocean, 2012 -
Vicksburg escorts Theodore Roosevelt past the Rock of Gibraltar, April 2015. -
Vicksburg being maneuvered during a docking evolution at BAE Systems Shipyard in Norfolk, March 2020. -
USS Vicksburg decommissioning ceremony, 28 June 2024
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_cruises_through_the_Arabian_Gulf_during_sunrise.jpg)
_returns_to_Mayport_June_2006.jpg)
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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:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>File:USS Vicksburg Bridge wing sailors and awards 150210-N-IY633-009.jpg 10 February 2015.</ref> | ||||||||
- CNO Afloat Safety Award (LANTFLT) - (2006)
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
- [USS Vicksburg heading to Philadelphia Naval Yard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeAVgIz8fDE]