수상전투함 CG-72 USS 벨라 걸프 퇴역

[위종민]

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/05/uss-vella-gulf-becomes-first-of-five-ticonderoga-class-cruisers-to-decommission-this-year

CG-72 USS 벨라 걸프가 29년간 운용된 뒤 지난 8월 4일 퇴역했습니다. 

올해 벨라 걸프를 포함한 타이콘데로가급 순양함 5척이 퇴역할 예정입니다. 

타이콘데로가급은 CG-47부터 CG-73까지 총 26척이 취역됐으며, 벨라 걸프를 포함해 현재까지 5척 (CG-47 ~ CG-51, CG-72)이 퇴역한 상태입니다. CG-47~CG-51은 Mk.26 2연장 발사기 장착함으로 벨라 걸프는 VLS 장착함 중 최초로 퇴역한 함정입니다. 

USS Vella Gulf Becomes First of Five Ticonderoga-Class Cruisers to Decommission This Year - USNI News

View all posts by Heather Mongilio →

2-3 minutes

---

Sailors and former shipmates stand in formation during the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) decommissioning ceremony, Aug. 4, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. US Navy Photo

Nearly 29 years ago, USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) sat in the waters around Norfolk, Va., waiting to be commissioned into the Navy.

The ship sat in the same waters Thursday, this time for its decommissioning ceremony as its current crew and plankowners said goodbye to the ship.

When Vella Gulf commissioned, every sailor wanted to be on an Aegis-class cruiser, said Capt. Constantine Xefteris, the ship’s first commanding officer. Those cruisers set the standard for performance.

“I don’t care whether you’re playing a sport, whether you’re playing a musical instrument, whether you’re playing chess, you want to be the best,” Xefteris said. “You want to play with the best, and you want to play against the best. And Aegis cruisers were just simply the best.”

During its time in the Navy, Vella Gulf deployed multiple times, visiting Malta, Cyprus, Italy, Scotland, Israel, to name a few, said Capt. Mike Desmond, the ship’s current commanding officer.

“When all systems were a go, operating as designed, she was arguably the most reliable, capable and lethal warship on the planet,” he said. “And certainly the most fun to sail.”

Vella Gulf had two COVID-19 deployments, Desmond noted.

That includes a deployment with Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in February 2021. However, Vella Gulf was shortly sidelined due to mechanical issues.

The ship also deployed with the Eisenhower CSG in 2020, sailing to the Middle East and Europe, said Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander of Naval Surface Forces Atlantic.

“Two hundred and five days straight underway. Nobody came out. Nobody left,” McLane said, referencing the period when the Navy halted port calls to prevent spread of COVID-19.

Vella Gulf is one of five cruisers that will be decommissioned in Fiscal Year 2022. The ship will get towed to the Navy’s Inactive Ship’s facility in Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 11. It will be placed in Logistical Support Asset status.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticonderoga-class_cruiser#Ships_in_class

Ticonderoga-class cruiser - Wikipedia

[백선호]

8월 4일 아침 뉴스에서 SPS-49 자리에 SPS-48이 달린 CG-47형을 봤는데 아무리 다시 찾아 보려고 해도 나오지 않네요...

[위종민]

seaforce.org에서 CG-47부터 CG-73까지 사진을 다 훑어봤는데 안 보이네요. CG는 아닐 것 같은데..

[백선호]

어쩌면 대만해군 Kidd를 Tico로 착각했을 수도 있었을 것 같네요...^^;;;