【By Observer News, Mountain Cat】

According to a report by the U.S. "Stars and Stripes" newspaper on September 26 local time, the U.S. Navy held a retirement ceremony this Thursday (September 25) in Norfolk, Virginia, for two "Ticonderoga"-class guided missile cruisers, namely CG-58 "Philippine Sea" and CG-60 "Normandy". According to photos from the scene, the "Philippine Sea" had already removed its AN/SPY-1 radar and some antenna equipment before being decommissioned.

The CG-58 "Philippine Sea" (top image) and CG-60 "Normandy" (bottom image) at the retirement ceremony Social Media

The "Philippine Sea" and "Normandy" were both named after famous battles in World War II and were built at Bath Iron Works in Maine. The "Philippine Sea", as the 12th ship of the "Ticonderoga" class, was laid down on April 8, 1986, launched on July 12, 1987, and commissioned on March 18, 1989, serving for a total of 36 years and 191 days until its retirement; the 14th ship "Normandy" was laid down on April 7, 1987, launched on March 19, 1988, and commissioned on December 9, 1989, with a service period of 35 years and 290 days.

The "Philippine Sea" during sea trials in December 1988 Social Media

The "Normandy" at the launching ceremony at Bath Iron Works in March 1988 Social Media

Between March and May 1999, the "Philippine Sea" participated in NATO's military action against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, firing cruise missiles at targets within the country. In October 2001, it also fired cruise missiles in the "Operation Enduring Freedom" against Afghanistan. The "Normandy" set sail for the Gulf in December 1990, just one year after its commissioning, to participate in the "Desert Shield" and "Desert Storm" operations against Iraq. During this period, it fired 26 cruise missiles, reportedly making it the first U.S. Navy ship to engage in combat immediately after commissioning since World War II.

The "Philippine Sea" in the Adriatic Sea during NATO's bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in March 1999, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles into Yugoslavia at night Social Media

The "Normandy" firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iraq during the "Desert Storm" operation in 1991 Social Media

Last September, the retirement of the 8th ship CG-54 "Antietam" reduced the number of "Ticonderoga"-class ships in the U.S. Navy to nine. After the retirement of the "Philippine Sea" and "Normandy", the number of "Ticonderoga"-class guided missile cruisers in the U.S. Navy has fallen below the number of the currently active Type 055 large guided missile destroyers. The remaining seven are the 13th ship CG-59 "Princeton", the 16th ship CG-62 "Robert Smalls", the 18th ship CG-64 "Gettysburg", the 19th ship CG-65 "Chosin Reservoir", CG-67 "Shiloh", CG-70 "Erie Lake", and CG-71 "St. George's Sound". According to the U.S. Navy's plan, the CG-67 "Shiloh" and CG-70 "Erie Lake" will also be retired later this year, reducing the number of "Ticonderoga"-class ships to five.

Originally, all "Ticonderoga"-class ships were planned to be retired in batches in fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, by the end of last year, the U.S. Navy announced that it would extend the service life of the three cruisers "Gettysburg", "Chosin Reservoir", and "St. George's Sound". These three cruisers have just completed their life extension modifications and modernization upgrades during the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, and they will now be retired in fiscal year 2029.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554700862250844672/

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