USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) is a modern American missile cruiser. The keel for this unit was laid in 1984, the launch took place in August 1985, and the entry into service with the US Navy took place in 1987. 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.
The USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) is one of the 27 built and 22 active cruisers belonging to 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 Mobile Bay (CG-53). The vessel was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. It belongs to the development line of the Ticonderoga class called Baseline 2. This means that at the time of launching it had VLS Mk. 41, could fire Tomahawk missiles and used better data transmission and fire control systems. Shortly after entering service, the USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) took an active part in the actions against Iraq in 1990-1991, supporting - with success - aircraft carriers operating in this area and firing Tomahawk missiles. In 1992, the cruiser again operated in the Persian Gulf. In the 1990s, the unit participated in many, also international, sea maneuvers. In 2003-2004, USS Mobile Bay supported the American attack on Iraq and the subsequent actions of the coalition forces in that country. The unit is still in active service.
