Namesake:
Not yet available
When the Department of Navy announced in February 1980 that the lead
ship of a new class of AEGIS-equipped, guided missile cruisers would be
called TICONDEROGA, it marked the fifth time in U.S. Navy history that
a ship would bear that historic name.
The newest
ship was named, not after the great stone
fortress itself, but in commemoration of the capture of Fort
Ticonderoga on 10 May 1775 by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys.
The first ship named TICONDEROGA (1814 - 1825) was a 17-gun schooner of
Commodore MacDonough's Flotilla in the victorious Battle of Lake
Champlain on 11 September 1814. The second TICONDEROGA (1863 - 1881)
was a steam sloop-of-war which served with distinction during the Civil
War. A former German cargo ship was transformed into the third
TICONDEROGA (1917 - 1918), which served the Naval Overseas
Transportation Service during World War I. The fourth ship was the
famed aircraft carrier, affectionately known as "The Big T," which
served from 1944 to 1973, earning 17 Battle Stars for service during
World War II and the Vietnam War. The carrier also received three
awards of the Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit
Commendation for service during the Vietnam War.
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Historical Notes:
Authorized in Fiscal Year 1978, TICONDEROGA's keel laying ceremony
occurred on 27 January 1980. Over the next three years, Combat Systems
Engineers and Computer Technicians, as well as riveters, welders and
Propulsion Engineers worked together as members of a unique team to
create this formidable warship.
On 25 April 1981, TICONDEROGA was launched, and for the first time was
afloat in her natural environment. The following month, on 16 May 1981,
the then First Lady, Mrs. Nancy Reagan, the ship's sponsor, accompanied
by military and civilian dignitaries, christened TICONDEROGA, with some
9,000 people in attendance.
TICONDEROGA was built in sections, called modules, which allowed
improved access to all areas of the ship during construction. The
modules were then moved together to form the hull of the ship, and the
deckhouse sections were then lifted aboard. For launching, the ship was
moved several hundred yards across land to the floating dry dock, which
was used to actually launch the ship.
An extensive test and check-out effort and outfitting period was then
undertaken as the mighty hull was brought to life. TICONDEROGA men
arrived in Pascagoula in July 1981 and crew training, certification and
systems check-out were underway. Sea trials were held in May, August,
and November of 1982. During the first trial, TICONDEROGA's propulsion
systems were stringently tested, passing with flying colors. The new
cruiser accomplished a four-hour run at full power, achieving a speed
in excess of 30 knots.
On its second trial, TICONDEROGA and her Navy crew accomplished an
unprecedented "Navy First." She flexed her muscles for the first time,
6 months prior to commissioning, by successfully firing every weapon
system on board. This included two Anti-Surface Harpoon Blast Test
Missiles, 11 Surface-to-Air Blast Test Missiles, 5"/54-Caliber Gun
Ammunition, CIWS and, finally, two Standard Surface-to-Air Missiles
against drone air targets off Eglin Missile Range. The latter was a
complete success, and the TICONDEROGA, "the First and Formidable," had
truly accomplished a "first" with TICONDEROGA men manning and firing
the combat system in cooperation with Ingalls' employees and civilian
contractors.
TICONDEROGA was delivered to the Navy on 13 December 1982. Following
commissioning, she moved to Norfolk, her home port. During the next
year, CG 47 was scheduled to participate in extensive Combat System and
Engineering Exercises, as well as intensive single ship and Battle
Group readiness evolutions. She returnd to Pascagoula in the Summer for
a six-week Post-Shakedown Availability.
USS TICONDEROGA took part, in May 1995, in an 11-day exercise, called
Destined Glory '95, The exercise took place in the western
Mediterranean south of Sardinia and included more than 20 ships and
thousands of troops from the NATO countries of Greece, Italy,
Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, U.K. and the U.S. This marked the first
time, NATO countries conducted a fully integrated amphibious exercise
in an air, land and sea training environment. USS TICONDEROGA was in
the Mediterranean as part of the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group,
having left its homeport on March 22.
It deployed with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT and other battle group ships to
the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, the
enforcement of the no-fly zone over Iraq. It then deployed back to the
Adriatic to take station for Operation Deny Flight, the U.N.-mandated
no-fly zone over Bosnia. The THEODORE ROOSEVELT reported on station May
26.
USS TICONDEROGA relocated to Pascagoula, MS, in 1996, after being
tasked primarily with supporting operations in the Caribbean and South
America.
USS TICONDEROGA was the first production Smart Ship cruiser fielded in
the summer of 2000, undergoing the upgrade at Naval Station Pascagoula.
After fourteen long months of installations and ship alterations,
TICONDEROGA completed sea trials. The crew next prepared for various
readiness and operational inspections. Light Off Assessment (LOA) was
conducted in late May prior to sea trials and Engineering Department
put in numerous off-duty hours preparing the ship's
engineering spaces. Sea trials with the new SMART SHIP program went
smoothly on June 1st and 2nd without any major problems.
USS TICONDEROGA took part in the mid-October 2000, Atlantic phase of
the 41st annual "Unitas" Task Group deployment. The purpose of "Unitas"
is to conduct multi-lateral naval operations including traditional
at-sea exercises and inport activities with participating naval forces
in support of U.S. foreign policy in South America. During the Atlantic
phase, the TICONDEROGA made a stop at the port city of Ushuaia, located
in the Patagonia region on the southern tip of Argentina, which it
departed from on October 4th. The vessel later visited Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, October 23, 2000, as part of a four U.S. Navy ships contingent.
After a holiday vacation, the crew of America's First Aegis
Cruiser returned to sea in late January to mid-February 2001.
TICONDEROGA served as flagship for DESTROYER SQUADRON SIX, its
immediate superior in charge, and completed a Group Sail with several
other ships in the squadron. Events included tactical maneuvering,
seamanship exercises, communications drills, and electronic warfare
exercises to prepare for upcoming deployments. Each ship had the
opportunity to fire a Standard missile to maintain combat readiness
standards. The missile launches were the highlight of the Group Sail.
TICONDEROGA's crew next prepared for INSURV, a mandated
inspection that occurs on board each U.S. Navy ship every five years.
The inspection is a material and systems readiness assessment to prove
how well a crew has maintained their ship. Many crewmembers have
dedicated numerous off-duty hours to ensure all navigation,
engineering, electronic, and combat systems equipment are ready for the
inspection.
In the following months, TICONDEROGA was to loosen all lines and deploy
in support of U.S. Southern Command operations. USS TICONDEROGA
participated in Teamwork South, a series of challenging naval exercises
in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean with Guided Missile Frigate RODNEY M.
DAVIS (FFG 60), twelve Chilean warships and the British Destroyer HMS
EDINBURGH (D 97). The exercise was completed in mid-July 2001 and
included a live fire Sink Exercise (SINKEX) on the ex-USS LA MOURE
COUNTY (LST 1194) unmanned hulk target, which had been decommissioned
after an accident off the coast of Chile the previous year and whose
use as a target was determined to outweigh the cost of potential
repairs.
Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. Inc., Mobile, AL, was awarded
a $7,990,455 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded
contract for the drydocking selected restricted availability of USS
TICONDEROGA. As of January 2002, work was to be performed in Mobile,
AL, and was completed by June 2002. |