CG 69 | USS VICKSBURG
Namesake:U.S. Civil War Battle of Vicksburg
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Historical Notes:Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, at Pascagoula, MS, USS VICKSBURG's keel was laid on May 30, 1990 and she was launched on September 7, 1991. USS VICKSBURG was sponsored by Tricia Lott, wife of the Honorable Trent Lott, United States Senator, Mississippi. On October 12, 1991, Mrs. Lott christened CG 69 as "VICKSBURG". The ship was commissioned on November 14, 1992. On her six month maiden deployment to the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas as a part of the USS SARATOGA joint task group, USS VICKSBURG operated as "redcrown" cruiser, an airspace deconfliction and command and control platform, in support of United Nations operations "Deny Flight", "sharp Guard" and "Provide Promise" off the coast of Montenegro. In May 1994, USS VICKSBURG participated, as part of the USS SARATOGA (CV 60) Battle Group, in the major annual spring NATO exercise "Dynamic Impact 94", a conventional major NATO exercise for maritime, amphibious, land based air and ground forces in the central and western Mediterranean area. The exercise was being held in the Western Mediterranean. USS VICKSBURG was on station in the Florida Straits in August 1994 for Operation Able Vigil. While deployed, USS VICKSBURG was tasked with providing support to the interdicting and transporting Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and assisting the U.S. Coast Guard which had the primary responsibility for Operation Able Vigil. As a precautionary measure, in September 1996, USS VICKSBURG was one of 13 Navy ships homeported at Naval Station Mayport, and sent to sea to avoid Hurricane Fran. The USS VICKSBURG left its homeport on April 29, 1997 for a six-month overseas deployment with the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) Battle Group (CVBG) to relieve the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) CVBG, which had been operating in the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Red Sea and Persian Gulf. The USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) Battle Group deployed in support of Operation Deliberate Guard and Operation Southern Watch. As part of that battle group, USS VICKSBURG took part, in July, in the 6th Fleet exercise Invitex involving 12 nations, and from September 23-October 7, in NATO'S Exercise Dynamic Mix. That exercise placed JOHN F. KENNEDY Battle Group units on opposing sides and was designed to increase task force and unit readiness as forces implemented NATO strategy and doctrine. In 1998, USS VICKSBURG experienced significant problems with AEGIS Baseline 6.1 and CEC 2.0 integration, which forced re-scheduling its deployments and caused a major rework of these computer programs. USS VICKSBURG took part in U.S. Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) '99 in the Western Baltic Sea in mid-1999. The exercise included 53 ships, submarines and aircraft from European allies and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations Poland, Germany, France, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and the United States. In the fall of 1999, USS VICKSBURG, participated solely in the modernized phase of the 40th annual UNITAS deployment to South America. During that deployment, it served as Flagship for the Commander, South Atlantic Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Commander, Destroyer Squadron Six. The 40th UNITAS was a three-week exercise was hosted by Brazil and included 23 ships from six countries, including the host, the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal and Spain. USS VICKSBURG took part in September 2000 in Underway No. 10", one in a series of tests leading to the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) Operation Evaluation (OPEVAL) scheduled for Spring 2001. The CEC system provides the capability to cooperatively engage targets by a warship using data from other CEC-equipped ships, aircraft, and land-based sensors, even in an electronic-jamming environment. It also provides a common, consistent and highly accurate air picture, allowing battle group defenses to act as one seamless system. The test, off Wallops Island, VA, simulated missile firings from some of the Navy's most technically advanced ships against unmanned drones. From February 9, 2001, to March 2, 2001, USS VICKSBURG took part in a technical evaluation (TECHEVAL) to test whether the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) was on track to a successful Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) in April and May of 2001. The TECHEVAL was conducted in two phases, the first off the coast of Puerto Rico and the second off Wallops Island, Va. The tests included live missile firings and tracking exercises from some of the Navy's most technically advanced ships. As part of the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Carrier Battle Group (CVBG), and in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, USS VICKSBURG set sail in support of defense and humanitarian efforts off the coast of New York. USS VICKSBURG, as part of the JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) Battle Group (CVBG) participated in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 02-1, with Phase I of the exercise running from January 19 through 26, 2002, and Phase II running from February 7-14. USS VICKSBURG deployed as part of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY Battlegroup, which relieved on March 8, 2002, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) Carrier Battle Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. USS VICKSBURG was tasked with helping protect the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) from threats in the sky, on the surface, or underwater. |
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Ship's Crest: The Shield:
Dark blue and gold are
the colors traditionally associated with the United States Navy. Red is
emblematic of sacrifice and valor. The blue and gray of the shield
recall the two sides involved in the Civil War. The four sections
underscore July 4, 1863, the date of the confederate surrender at
Vicksburg, MS. The Naval sword and musket, crossed to express strength,
signify the teamwork and the joint operations of the land and sea
forces at Vicksburg when the Union Navy transported General Ulysses S.
Grants Army inland under fire. The annulet symbolizes General Grants
siege of the city by closing the ring on the Confederate forces to win
the battle. The vertical missile symbolizes the firepower of the
current cruiser, USS VICKSBURG (CG 69). The border simulates the armor
plates of the Civil War gunboats and the part they played in the
battle; the seventeen black cannon balls pay tribute to the Unions 17th
Army Corps Commander who was victorious at Vicksburg, and was appointed
Commander of the Vicksburg District on July 4, 1863. |
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PHOTOS
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