1984 USS VINCENNES. An Aegis guided-missile cruiser, USS Vincennes was the
third ship of the Ticonderoga class, the most powerful anti-aircraft ships afloat.
THE US NAVYS AEGIS SHIPS
The Aegis system mated very powerful computers and radar systems with a new generation of missiles, and integrated the identification of targets, the launching of missiles and their tracking and guidance. At the systems heart was the SPY-1 radar, a fixed-array system that gave full 360-degree coverage instantaneously.
VINCENNES AND HER WEAPONS
Like most of her class, based on the Spruance hull and machinery, USS Vincennes was built by Litton Industries. She was launched on 14 January 1984 and commissioned on 6 July 1985. Her standard displacement was 6560 tons, while at deep load she displaced 8910 tons. She was equipped with two Mk 26 missile launchers loaded with a total of 68 Standard SM2 surface-to-air missiles and 20 ASROCs; the rest had two Mk 41 vertical launchers and were able to accommodate Tomahawk cruise missiles. Vincennes and the other early Ticonderogas mounted launchers for Harpoon anti-ship missiles, two 5in (127mm) Mk 45 DP guns, two Phalanx close-in weapons systems (CIWS) and six tubes for Mk 46 lightweight torpedoes. They also operated a pair of SH-2 or SH-60 LAMPS helicopters.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Guided-missile cruiser
Machinery: 2-shaft General EtectiicLM2500 gas turbines, del. 80,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 171.6m (563ft); beam, 168m (55ft)
Draught: 9.5m (3lft) standard
Speed: 30 knots (56.6km/h)
