The Ticonderoga class missile cruisers is a warship used around the world by the U.S. Navy.
Variety of Missiles
The Ticonderoga class missile cruisers have been in service with the U.S. Navy since 1983. In 2011, there were 22 of the ships in active duty. The cruisers use advanced radar systems and carry a variety of missiles, including Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, standard Surface-to-Air missiles, and Anti-Submarine Missiles. In total, each Ticonderoga class cruiser has 122 launch tubes for missiles. This makes the ships one of the U.S. Navy’s most deadly warships.
The Ticonderoga class ships were originally planned to be naval destroyers. However, the vessels’ advanced radars and payload led the U.S. Navy to classify the ships as "guided missiles cruisers." All of the ships in the Ticonderoga class are named for significant events in U.S. military history such as "Valley Forge" and "Yorktown."
Homeland Defense
In 2003, the U.S. Navy began a program to upgrade and modernize the aging Ticonderoga class missile cruisers. The ships have been given a total service life of 35 years, and there are plans to decommission the ships in the years 2018 – 2020.
However, the missile cruisers are now used primarily for homeland defense. The U.S. Navy has assigned the ships for missions primarily in American coastal waters. The Ticonderoga class ships often act as command vessels for destroyer squadrons operating along the U.S. Pacific and Atlantic coasts.