Ticonderoga Class Cruiser

Ticonderoga Class Cruiser

The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers. However, the increased combat capability offered by the Aegis combat system and the AN/SPY-1 radar system was used to justify the change of the classification from DDG (guided missile destroyer) to CG (guided missile cruiser) shortly before the keels of Ticonderoga and Yorktown were laid down.

Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers are multi-role warships. Their Mk. 41 VLS can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike strategic targets, as the Navy has in every conflict since the Tomahawk was introduced, or fire long range anti-aircraft Standard Missiles in an anti-aircraft role. Its LAMPS III helicopter support and sonar allow it to perform anti-submarine missions. Ticonderoga class ships are designed to be elements of carrier battle groups, amphibious assault groups, as well as performing missions such as interdiction or escort.

Of the 27 completed vessels, 19 were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding and eight by Bath Iron Works (BIW). All but one (Thomas S. Gates) of the ships in the class are named for noteworthy events in U.S. military history, and at least twelve; Ticonderoga, Cowpens, Anzio, Yorktown, Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, Antietam, San Jacinto, Lake Champlain, Philippine Sea, Princeton, Monterey, and Vella Gulf; share their names with World War II aircraft carriers.