USS *Shiloh* (CG-67)

USS *Shiloh* (CG-67) was a *Ticonderoga*-class guided-missile cruiser of the United States Navy. Named for the pivotal American Civil War Battle of Shiloh, the ship was commissioned in 1992 and served for over three decades, primarily with the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Its service included numerous deployments to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean, participating in major operations and exercises before its decommissioning in 2024.

Service history

Following its commissioning ceremony at Portland, Maine, *Shiloh* was assigned to its homeport at Naval Base San Diego under the United States Pacific Fleet. Its early deployments included operations in the Persian Gulf enforcing U.N. sanctions against Iraq following the Gulf War. The cruiser later transited to Yokosuka, Japan, serving as part of Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet and frequently operating with the USS *Kitty Hawk* Carrier Strike Group. Notable events included a 1997 port visit to Qingdao, China, and participation in Operation Enduring Freedom in the North Arabian Sea. In 2017, *Shiloh* successfully intercepted a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile during a ballistic missile defense test near Hawaii as part of Flight Test Maritime (FTM)-14. The ship's final overseas deployment concluded in 2023 before it entered a pre-inactivation status.

Design and description

*Shiloh* was the 17th vessel of the *Ticonderoga*-class, a design based on the *Spruance*-class destroyer hull but equipped with the sophisticated Aegis Combat System. Constructed by Bath Iron Works in Maine, it was one of the later "Baseline 4" cruisers built with the improved AN/SPY-1B radar. The ship displaced approximately 9,600 long tons at full load and measured 567 feet in length, with a beam of 55 feet. Its gas turbine propulsion, featuring four General Electric LM2500 engines, provided a top speed in excess of 30 knots. The design incorporated the distinctive Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) fore and aft, which defined its formidable missile capacity.

Armament and systems

The cruiser's primary armament centered on its 122-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launching System for a mix of SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, and Tomahawk missiles. For anti-submarine warfare, it carried RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles and two Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedoes. Close-in defense was provided by two 5-inch/54 caliber Mk 45 guns, two 20 mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems, and, later in its career, two SeaRAM systems. Its core was the Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat System, integrating the AN/SPY-1 radar for simultaneous air and missile tracking. The ship also operated two SH-60B LAMPS Mk III helicopters from its flight deck and hangar.

Awards and recognition

Throughout its career, USS *Shiloh* earned numerous unit awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and multiple Battle Efficiency "E" awards. It was also a recipient of the Armed Forces Service Medal for its role in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Navy Expeditionary Medal for operations in the Persian Gulf. The ship and its crew were recognized with the COMNAVSURFPAC Bloodhound award for excellence in surface warfare.

Decommissioning and fate

USS *Shiloh* was officially decommissioned on 14 September 2024 in a ceremony at Naval Base San Diego. The ship had been placed in a commissioned, inactive status in 2023 to prepare for its final disposition. Following decommissioning, its hull designation, CG-67, was officially retired from the Naval Vessel Register. In accordance with U.S. law, specifically Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 633, the vessel is slated for potential donation as a museum or memorial. If no qualified organization is found, the ship will be dismantled through the Ship Recycling Program.

Category:Ticonderoga-class cruisers of the United States Navy Category:Ships built in Maine Category:1992 ships