USS Antietam CG54

• Namesake: USS Antietam (CG-54) is named after the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, fought during the Civil War in 1862. • Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on June 6, 1987, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. • Ticonderoga-class Cruiser: Antietam is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, equipped with the Aegis Combat System and capable of multiple warfare missions. • Homeport: The ship has been homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, serving as a key forward-deployed asset in the Asia-Pacific region. • Desert Shield/Desert Storm: USS Antietam participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the early 1990s, providing air defense for carrier battle groups in the Persian Gulf. • First Vertical Launch System (VLS): It was the first U.S. Navy cruiser to be equipped from the keel up with the Vertical Launch System, enhancing its missile strike capabilities. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship has participated in multiple humanitarian missions, such as disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. • Grounding Incident: In January 2017, USS Antietam ran aground near Yokosuka, resulting in a fuel spill and requiring significant repairs. • Women at Sea: Antietam was among the early surface combatants to integrate female sailors into its crew, advancing gender integration in the U.S. Navy. • Decommissioning: As of 2023, the Navy announced plans to decommission USS Antietam in the near future, marking the end of over three decades of distinguished service.