The USS Shiloh (CG-67) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in the United States Navy. It is named after the Battle of Shiloh, a major engagement of the American Civil War fought in April 1862. As a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, Shiloh is equipped with the Aegis Combat System, making it a critical asset for air defense, ballistic missile defense (BMD), anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and strike operations.
History
USS Shiloh was laid down on August 1, 1987, at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. It was launched on September 8, 1989, and commissioned into service on July 20, 1992.
Throughout its operational history, USS Shiloh has primarily served in the Pacific Fleet. Its early deployments included operations in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, participating in various multi-national exercises and patrols aimed at maintaining regional stability.
In 2006, USS Shiloh became forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of Carrier Strike Group 5 (CSG 5), operating with the USS George Washington (CVN-73) and later the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). This forward deployment significantly enhanced the Navy's capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the realm of ballistic missile defense, as Shiloh frequently participated in BMD-focused patrols and exercises.
Notable deployments and operations have included:
- Operation Southern Watch: Enforcement of the no-fly zone over southern Iraq in the 1990s.
- Various Pacific Patrols: Conducting presence operations, maritime security, and training exercises with allied navies across the Indo-Pacific.
- Ballistic Missile Defense: A key component of the U.S. Navy's regional BMD strategy, conducting numerous patrols to detect, track, and potentially intercept ballistic missile threats.
- Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief: Participating in efforts such as those following natural disasters, including Operation Tomodachi after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
In 2020, USS Shiloh concluded its forward-deployed service in Japan and returned to the United States, changing its homeport to San Diego, California.
Characteristics
USS Shiloh belongs to the Flight II variant of the Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
- Displacement: Approximately 9,800 long tons (10,000 tonnes) full load.
- Length: 567 feet (173 meters).
- Beam: 55 feet (16.8 meters).
- Draft: 34 feet (10.2 meters).
- Propulsion: Four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, driving two controllable-reversible pitch propellers, producing 80,000 shaft horsepower (60 MW).
- Speed: In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).
- Crew: Approximately 30 officers and 300 enlisted personnel.
Armament:
- Vertical Launching System (VLS): Two Mk 41 VLS modules, each with 61 cells (total 122 cells), capable of launching a mix of:
- RIM-66 Standard (SM-2MR) for fleet area air defense.
- RIM-161 Standard (SM-3) for ballistic missile defense.
- RIM-174 Standard (SM-6) for extended-range air defense.
- BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles for land attack.
- RUM-139 VL-ASROC anti-submarine rockets.
- Naval Guns:
- 2 × Mark 45 5-inch/54 or 5-inch/62 caliber lightweight guns.
- Close-in Weapons System (CIWS):
- 2 × Phalanx CIWS Block 1B for close-range anti-missile/anti-aircraft defense.
- Torpedoes:
- 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 or Mk 50 torpedoes.
Sensors and Processing Systems:
- Aegis Combat System: The core of the ship's combat capability, integrating radar, command and control, and weapons systems.
- AN/SPY-1B/D Multi-function Radar: Phased array radar providing extensive air and surface search, tracking, and missile guidance capabilities.
- AN/SPS-49 Air Search Radar: Long-range 2D air search radar.
- AN/SPS-55 Surface Search Radar: For detecting surface contacts.
- Sonar: AN/SQQ-89(V) for anti-submarine warfare, including a hull-mounted sonar and the capability to operate with SQQ-28 LAMPS III for helicopter sonar data.
Aircraft Carried:
- Typically operates with two SH-60 Seahawk (or MH-60R) LAMPS III helicopters for anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and utility duties.
Homeport
- Current: San Diego, California.
- Previous: Yokosuka, Japan (2006-2020), San Diego, California (1992-2006).
Status
USS Shiloh (CG-67) remains an active, commissioned warship in the United States Navy.