Sun sets on more Ticonderoga-class cruisers
USS Hué City at Naval Station Norfolk on 22 September 2022. (Photo: USN)
Only two-thirds of the vessels in the Ticonderoga class remain in service with the USN after two more cruisers were decommissioned last week.
The USN on 22-23 September decommissioned two more Ticonderoga-class cruisers, leaving 18 in service out of an original total of 27.
USS Anzio and USS Hué City were taken out of service after 30 and 31 years respectively under USN plans to remove five cruisers in FY2022 (it originally wanted to divest seven).
USS Vella Gulf was the first to go on 4 August, followed by USS Monterey on 19 September.
Related Articles
Vigor contracted to modernise USN Ticonderoga-class cruisers
Waning buying power hits USN plans, CNO warns
USS Port Royal is scheduled to be decommissioned on 29 September.
Testifying on 17 June 2021 before the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, VAdm Jim Kilby, then the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities, outlined the financial reasons for decommissioning the vessels.
‘The cost to modernise Hue City and Anzio alone is $1.5 billion approximately,’ he said.
Similarly, Chief of Naval Operations Adm Mike Gilday noted in July 2021 that the Ticonderoga class costs about $5 billion per cruiser to own and operate over five years.
The vessels are also showing their age, he said: ‘We are seeing cracks, and we are seeing challenges in the material conditions of these ships that are to a certain degree unpredictable.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy’s $275 billion BBGN plan hinges on shipyard transformation]()
US Navy’s $275 billion BBGN plan hinges on shipyard transformation
The US Navy’s planned nuclear-powered warship carries a US$275 billion price tag, but the greater story lies in the industrial overhaul needed to build it, from AI-enabled design to digital twins and modular construction.
-
![Industry sees opportunity in Australia’s shift to networked undersea warfare]()
Industry sees opportunity in Australia’s shift to networked undersea warfare
Australia’s new defence innovation strategy indicates a shift from platform-centric to network-centric undersea warfare, with Ocius and Anduril Industries pointing to fast-growing opportunities for local industry.
-
![Asia-Pacific emerges as the largest export market for US-made USVs]()
Asia-Pacific emerges as the largest export market for US-made USVs
Asian customers have placed one of the largest known international purchases of US-built uncrewed surface vessels, highlighting accelerating regional demand for autonomous maritime capabilities and distributed naval operations.
-
![RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV]()
RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV
RTX told Shephard that the Hadalus UUV has been procured by the US Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research for operational experimentation as the company prepares additional demonstrations with the US Navy, NATO and AUKUS partners.
-
![The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement]()
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
