Cruisers - CG

Last updated: 09 Jan 2017

Point of Contact
Naval Sea Systems Command

Office of Corporate Communication
Washington, D.C. 20376

Description
Large multi-mission surface combatant.

Modern U.S. Navy guided-missile cruisers perform primarily in a Battle Force role. These ships are multi-mission Air Warfare (AW), Undersea Warfare (USW), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and Surface Warfare (SUW) surface combatants capable of supporting carrier battle groups, amphibious forces or operating independently and as flagships of surface action groups. Cruisers are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles giving them additional long range strike warfare capability. Some Aegis Cruisers have been outfitted with a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability.

Background
Technological advances in the Standard Missile coupled with the Aegis combat system in the Ticonderoga class cruisers have increased the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) capability of surface combatants to pinpoint accuracy from wave-top to zenith.

Under the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress directed modernization in accordance with the "2-4-6" plan, which allowed the Navy to modernize two Cruisers a year, remain under modernization for no more than four years and allow no more than 6 ships to undergo modernization at any one time.

The lead ship of the class, USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) through USS Thomas S. Gates (CG51) have been decommissioned. Over the next several years, many Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruisers will undergo a structured modernization to ensure they reach their projected 35-year service life. The Cruiser Modernization program aims to improve the CG 47 Ticonderoga class by modernizing the computing and display infrastructure and the Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) systems. Weapons and sensor sets will also be improved, in order to upgrade their anti-submarine capabilities, add short range electro-optical systems that can monitor the ship's surroundings without the use of radar emissions, as well as routine machinery upgrades to improve all areas of ship functionality. USS Cowpens (CG-63) and USS Gettysburg (CG- 64) began modernization in fiscal year 2015. USS Vicksburg (CG- 69) and USS Chosin (CG- 65) began modernization in fiscal year 2016. USS Anzio (CG-68) and USS Cape St. George (CG- 71) begins modernization in fiscal year 2017.

General Characteristics, Ticonderoga Class

Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding: CG 47-50, CG 52-57, 59, 62, 65-66, 68-69, 71-73; Bath Iron Works: CG 51, 58, 60-61, 63-64, 67, 70.

Date Deployed: January 22, 1983 (USS Ticonderoga)

Unit Cost: About $1 billion each.

Propulsion: 4 General Electric LM 2,500 gas turbine engines; 2 shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower total.

Length: 567 feet.

Beam: 55 feet.

Displacement: 9,600 long tons (9,754.06 metric tons) full load.

Speed: 30 plus knots.

Crew: 30 Officers, 300 Enlisted.

Armament: MK41 vertical launching system Standard Missile (MR); Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) Missile; Tomahawk Cruise Missile; Six MK 46 torpedoes (from two triple mounts); Two MK 45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight guns; Two Phalanx close-in-weapons systems.

Aircraft: Two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS III).

Ships:

USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), San Diego, CA

USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), San Diego, CA

USS Antietam (CG 54), Yokosuka, Japan

USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), Norfolk, VA

USS San Jacinto (CG 56), Norfolk, VA

USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), San Diego, CA

USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), Mayport, FL

USS Princeton (CG 59), San Diego, CA

USS Normandy (CG 60), Norfolk, VA

USS Monterey (CG 61), Norfolk, VA

USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), Yokosuka, Japan

USS Cowpens (CG 63), San Diego, CA

USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Norfolk, VA (TEMP)

USS Chosin (CG 65), San Diego, CA

USS Hue City (CG 66), Mayport, FL

USS Shiloh (CG 67), Yokosuka, Japan

USS Anzio (CG 68), Norfolk, VA

USS Vicksburg (CG 69), Norfolk, VA (TEMP)

USS Lake Erie (CG 70), San Diego, CA

USS Cape St. George (CG 71), San Diego, CA

USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), Norfolk, VA

USS Port Royal (CG 73), Pearl Harbor, HI

Point of Contact
Naval Sea Systems Command

Office of Corporate Communication
Washington, D.C. 20376