USS Leyte Gulf Completes Last Deployment as Ticonderoga Class Nears End

The guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf returned to Naval Station Norfolk, on May 17, completing its final deployment after 37 years of active service. She was one of four vintage Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers, along with the USS Antietam, USS Cowpens, and USS Vicksburg, the Navy recently listed to transition to inactive status and which will be used as a primary means of cannibalization and equipment removal.

Named after one of World War II’s largest naval battles, “The...