The US Navy announced on August 4 that it decommissioned the first of five Ticonderoga-class cruisers it will retire in 2022. It is the Vella Gulf (CG-72), which served for 29 years. After its withdrawal, the ship will go into LSA (Logistical Support Asset) status.
The US Navy's original request was to retire seven Ticonderogas in 2022, but the request was eventually approved for five ships. Ships expected to be retired are CG-72 "Vella Gulf" (in service since September 1993), CG-61 "Monterey" (in service since June 1990), CG-57 "Lake Champlain" (in service since August 1988), CG-66 "Hué City" (in service since September 1991), CG-68 "Anzio" (in service since May 1992).
The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser is the second U.S. Navy warship to be named for the battle following the Commencement Bay-class escort carrier USS Vella Gulf (CVE 111). The first Vella Gulf was commissioned on April 9, 1945 and with the war over, the ship decommissioned on Aug. 9, 1946. the Vella Gulf participated in NATO strikes in 1999 against Serbia in an effort to stop government-sanctioned human rights abuses against ethnic Albanians in the Kosovo region.
In 2017, the Vella Gulf joined Carrier Strike Group 11 to support strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
