The US Navy has decommissioned the cruiser USS Lake Champlain after 35 years of service - the warship was a carrier of Tomahawk missiles, survived an explosion and a collision with a fishing vessel

The US Navy has retired the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). It had given 35 years of service as part of the US Navy.

Here's What We Know

USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) is the 11th cruiser of the Ticonderoga class and the third ship to be named in honour of the War of 1812. It was laid down in March 1986 at Ingalls Shipbuilding's Mississippi shipyard.

On 12 August 1988, USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) entered the United States Navy. The ship was decommissioned on September 1, 2023. During her 35 years of service, various stories happened to the cruiser.

In the early 1990s, USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) was able to rescue sailors in the northern part of the Philippine Sea. The ship was also used to evacuate people in the Philippines during the eruption of the Pinatubo volcano.

In late autumn 2007, the missile cruiser experienced an explosion. It occurred while the ship was being serviced in a dry dock in San Diego. The cause of the explosion was the ignition of gases inside the fuel compartment, due to which six people were injured.

Another unpleasant situation happened to USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) 10 years later. The missile cruiser collided with a fishing vessel 18-21 metres long. The incident occurred in international waters off the coast of Asia. Both ships escaped without major damage and were able to continue on their own.

USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) is equipped with the Mk 41 vertical launch system and was a carrier of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Mk 41 can also launch Standard family anti-aircraft missiles and RUM-139A VL-ASROC missiles for anti-submarine warfare.

Source: US Navy