These
large combat vessels serve many purposes. They can be used for anti-air,
anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, making them versatile components of
the battle group. They can be used to support amphibious forces, other battle
groups and can be operated independently of the battle group. The cruisers are
equipped with Tomahawk anti-submarine missiles as well as Tomahawk missiles,
giving them additional long-range strike capacity.
General Characteristics, Ticonderoga ClassPower Plant: 4 General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 2 shafts, 80,000
shaft horsepower total. Length: 567 feet Beam: 55 feet Displacement: 9,600 tons full load Speed: 30 plus knots Aircraft: Two SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS) in CG 47-48; Two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS III) Cost: About $1 billion each Crew: 24 Officers, 340 Enlisted Armament: MK26 missile launcher (CG 47 through CG 51) or MK41 vertical
launching system (CG 52 through CG 73), Standard Missile (MR); Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC); Tomahawk ASM/LAM; Six
MK-46 torpedoes (from two triple mounts); Two MK 45 5-inch/54 caliber
lightweight guns; Two Phalanx close-in-weapons systems Date Deployed: 22 January 1983 (USS Ticonderoga)