USS Mobile Bay (CG-53)

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USS "Mobile Bay" (CG-53) is a "Ticonderoga" class guided-missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy. She is named for the naval Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War in 1864. She is currently homeported in San Diego, California.

With her guided missiles and rapid-fire cannons, she is capable of facing and defeating threats in the air, on the sea, on shore, and underneath the sea. She carries the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile and played an integral part in the strikes on Iraqi targets during the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. She also carries two Seahawk LAMPS multi-purpose helicopters, but mainly for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). She is also capable of conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations, and carries a fully trained boarding team.

After participating in "SPRING TRAINING-93" off the coast of Australia, she made an historic visit to the Russian seaport of Vladivostok in September of 1993. Accompanying her was the USS Bunker Hill (CG-52). [GlobalSecurity.org [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/cg-53.htm website] ]

She provided air defense cover for the INTERFET intervention in East Timor in 1999, though the U.S. requests for screening "Mobile Bay" necessitated a considerable degree of effort by other ships of the force. Most recently she has returned from a 2006 deployment to the Western Pacific where she acted as the Air Defense Commander for the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.

Awards

On 16 February 2007, "Mobile Bay" was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award. [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27895]

References

External links

* [http://www.mobile-bay.navy.mil Official Navy web site]
* [http://www.navysite.de/cg/cg53.html USS "Mobile Bay" webpage]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/CG-53 CG-53 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]