USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Lake Champlain.

USS Lake Champlain
History
United States
NameLake Champlain
NamesakeBattle of Lake Champlain
Awarded16 December 1983
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
Laid down3 March 1986
Launched3 April 1987
Acquired1 June 1988
Commissioned12 August 1988
Decommissioned1 September 2023[1]
HomeportNB Kitsap-Bremerton
Identification
MottoIngenuity Daring Discipline[2]
StatusOut of service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeTiconderoga-class cruiser
DisplacementApprox. 9,600 long tons (9,800 t) full load
Length567 feet (173 m)
Beam55 feet (16.8 meters)
Draft34 feet (10.2 meters)
Propulsion
Speed32.5 knots (60 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Complement30 officers and 300 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS Mk III helicopters.

USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser in the United States Navy. She is the third US Naval ship to be named Lake Champlain, in honor of Battle of Lake Champlain, which took place during the War of 1812.

Lake Champlain was laid down 3 March 1986, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 3 April 1987, and commissioned 12 August 1988, at Intrepid Pier at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. She then steamed to her homeport of San Diego, via Cape Horn, South America, losing part of her hurricane bulwark in heavy seas.[3]

Ship history

Deployments

She has been to the Persian Gulf on multiple occasions, first as a part of Operation Desert Shield, then later following Desert Storm.[1]

On 25 January 1990 in the northern Philippine Sea, Lake Champlain rescued 14 sailors from MV Huazhu and transported the survivors to Subic Bay.[1][4] She aided in the evacuation of the Philippines during the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption while transiting to the Persian Gulf.[1]

Lake Champlain was assigned to Carrier Group One.[citation needed] The ship completed 17 major deployments.[1]

2007 explosion

On 10 November 2007 an explosion occurred in the ship's hull during routine maintenance in a San Diego dry dock. Six workers were injured, one of them critically. The explosion was caused when flammable gases ignited inside the fuel-tank compartment where the workers were working.[5][6] The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the incident.[7] OSHA cited NASSCO, a Navy contractor in charge of the work, for seven serious safety violations and two minor safety violations at the site.[8] The explosion occurred one day after NASSCO subcontractor Técnico Corporation fired a safety inspector who was responsible for measuring oxygen levels in enclosed worksites. The inspector subsequently filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging that he was a whistleblower who was fired after warning superiors that additional safety measures were needed on the ship.[6]

2017 collision

On 9 May 2017, a South Korean fishing vessel, approximately 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) in length, collided with the port side of Lake Champlain while the ship was underway and conducting routine operations in international waters off Asia. No injuries were reported.[9][10] Lake Champlain had attempted to contact the fishing vessel, but it didn't have a radio.[9] The fishing vessel did not respond to Lake Champlain's emergency whistle. Both the cruiser and the fishing vessel were undamaged enough to be able to sail away under their own power.[10]

2023 end of service

Lake Champlain was decommissioned during a ceremony at San Diego Naval Base on 1 September 2023.[1] She remains with the Navy as they plan to use her as a Logistics Support Asset.[11]

Awards

  • Lake Champlain conducting an emergency breakaway maneuver after completing an underway replenishment.
    Lake Champlain conducting an emergency breakaway maneuver after completing an underway replenishment.
  • Lake Champlain leaving Pearl Harbor
    Lake Champlain leaving Pearl Harbor
  • Lake Champlain missing part of the hurricane bow, c.1988.
    Lake Champlain missing part of the hurricane bow, c.1988.
  • Lake Champlain with hurricane bow, 2004.
    Lake Champlain with hurricane bow, 2004.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "USS Lake Champlain Decommissions After 35 Years of Distinguished Service" (Press release). United States Navy. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Official ships history: "Ingenuity, Daring, Discipline" – The Motto of LAKE CHAMPLAIN". lake-champlain.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ^ Martin, R.K. (22 February 1990). "1989 Command History" (PDF). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ^ Kristensen, E. K. (1 October 1991). "1990 Command History" (PDF). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Navy Vessel Explosion Injures Six People". Los Angeles Times. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Shipyard explosion blamed on gas buildup". sandiegouniontribune.com. 28 December 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. ^ Liewer, Steve (24 November 2007). "OSHA Investigating Explosion Aboard Navy Ship". San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego.
  8. ^ "Officials Confirm Violations That Led To Ship Fire". 10news.com. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b "A Look at Earlier Collisions Involving Navy Vessels". The New York Times. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Korean fishing boat collides with San Diego Navy warship". sandiegouniontribune.com. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2023.(subscription required)
  11. ^ "Navy Plans To Rid Itself Of Cruisers In Just Five Years". The War Zone. The Drive. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2023.

Public Domain This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Lake Champlain (CG-57).