Marine Detachment USS Columbus (CG-12)

Marine Detachment USS Columbus (CG-12) was a specialized unit of United States Marines assigned to the guided missile cruiser USS Columbus, which served from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s. The detachment’s primary duties included providing security for the ship, manning the ship’s secondary batteries, and performing ceremonial functions. Marines aboard the Columbus often participated in Cold War-era deployments, including Mediterranean cruises and NATO operations, projecting American naval power and presence. The Marine Detachment was eventually disbanded when the Navy phased out such units from most surface combatants in the late 1970s.