USS PRINCETON CG-59

USS Princeton (CG-59) is a modern American missile cruiser. The keel for this unit was laid in 1986, the launch took place in October 1987, and entry into service with the US Navy took place in 1989. The total length of the ship is 173 meters with a width of 16.8 meters. Full displacement comes to approx. 9,600 tons and maximum speed to approx. 32-33 knots. The on-board armament of the ship includes, among others: two 61-rail Mk. 41 VLS, 8 RGM-84 Harpoon rocket launchers, two single 127 mm guns, two 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx sets, and two 533 mm triple torpedo tubes. The unit is based on two Sikorsky SH60 / MH60 helicopters. USS Princeton (CG-59) is one of the 27 built and 22 active cruisers of the Ticonderoga class. Units of this type were designed and built on the one hand to significantly increase the combat capabilities of the US Navy, and on the other - to replace the Virginia class cruisers. The Ticonderoga ships differ from their predecessors in many ways. First of all, they have a classic drive, based on four gas turbines, instead of an atomic drive - as in the Virginia class - which significantly reduces their operating costs. In addition, they have a completely changed interior architecture and the shape of superstructures, making the external appearance of cruisers of this class similar to the destroyers of the Spruance class. Thirdly, cruisers of this type have the revolutionary AEGIS network combat system, cooperating with the AN / SPY-1 radar, which provided them with unprecedented possibilities to control the airspace and counter air targets. Ships of this class also have extensive anti-submarine (ZOP) and surface anti-submarine capabilities. They are also adapted to serve as the flagship units of ship groups. One of the Ticonderoga-class ships is the USS Princeton (CG-59). The vessel was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It belongs to the development line of the Ticonderoga class called Baseline 3. This means that already at the time of launching it had the AN / SPY-1B radar, which is much more resistant to interference than the previous version, and used new UYK-43 and UYK-44 computers. It also had VLS Mk. 41. The ship, shortly after entering service, made a courtesy visit to Vladivostok in 1990. Shortly thereafter, the unit took an active part in the actions against Iraq in 1990-1991. In February 1991, the unit was seriously damaged as a result of entering a sea mine. Currently, the ship's home base is the San Diego base. USS Princeton is still in active service.