The retired U.S. aircraft carrier Oriskany sinks after the U.S. Navy blasted holes in it off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, sending the warship to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico as the world's largest intentionally created artificial reef, May 17
The retired U.S. aircraft carrier Oriskany sinks after the U.S. Navy blasted holes in it off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, sending the warship to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico as the world's largest intentionally created artificial reef, May 17, 2006. The 888-foot ship took about 37 minutes to sink below the surface. [After 25 years of service to the Navy in operations in Korea, Vietnam and the Mediterranean, ex-Oriskany will now benefit marine life, sport fishing and recreation diving off the coast of the Florida panhandle REUTERS/Jeffrey P. Kraus/U.S.

The U.S. Navy has announced that its guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville, also known as CG 62, will join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Yokosuka, Japan. The move reaffirms the U.S. Navy's long-range plan to secure the Asia-Pacific with the most advanced units.

Accordingly, Chancellorsville will leave San Diego port in the summer of 2015, reported Navy Recognition. The 567-foot Chancellorsville stations 340 enlisted personnel and 60 officers, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs. Functionally, guided missile cruisers are large combat vessels with multiple target response strike capability. The battle force role and multi-mission capability can support carrier battle groups, amphibious forces, and can also independently as flagships of surface action groups. Thanks to their extensive combat capability, these ships are designated as Battle Force Capable units, according to Navy site, navysite.de

Force Multiplier

The CG 62 had a recent upgrade and is fitted with the latest Aegis Baseline 9 combat system under the Navy's Cruiser Modernisation programme, making it one of the most capable ships. The Aegis Baseline 9 combat system includes state-of-the-art air, surface, and undersea warfare systems to support the carrier strike group. The ship, along with counterparts in the Japan Self-Defence Forces are expected to form the core capabilities of the alliance in meeting "common strategic objectives."

The ship suffered $30 million in damage in 2013 when an errant BQM-74 target drone hit the ship while the Combat System Ship Qualification Trials were at the coast of California. The Chancellorsville commemorates the Battle of Chancellorsville that took place in Chancellorsville, Virginia, during the American Civil War, reported Times of Santiego.

Pre-Emptive Striker

The Naval Technology reported that in October 2014, CG 62 showed its mettle with successful test-firing of two Raytheon Standard Missile-6 interceptors against anti-ship and cruise-missile targets in the Pacific. According to Raytheon Standard Missile-6 programme director Mike Campisi: "Advanced warning from another sensor or ship allows the U.S. Navy to take full advantage of SM-6's over-the-horizon capability. As a result, the war-fighter does not have to wait until the threat is knocking at the door to take it out. Targets are destroyed much sooner and one ship can defend a much larger area."

The CG 62 has an individualised radar system to trace the movement of targets and the SM-6 can deliver an extended range of protection against fixed or rotary-wing aircraft and cruise missiles. The missile is part of the U.S Navy's naval-integrated fire control-counter air that uses both active and semi-active guidance modes and advanced fusing techniques to defend against a range of air threats.

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