USS Cape St. George CG-71

• Name and Namesake: USS Cape St. George (CG-71) is named after the Battle of Cape St. George, a decisive World War II naval engagement fought on November 25, 1943, between US and Japanese forces off New Ireland in the Pacific. • Class and Type: She is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, equipped with the advanced Aegis Combat System for air defense. • Commissioning: USS Cape St. George was commissioned on 12 June 1993 in Norfolk, Virginia. • First Digital Ship: She earned the distinction of being the first US Navy ship to be fully designed and constructed using computer-aided design (CAD). • Operation Iraqi Freedom: In March 2003, during the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets in Iraq. • Engagement with Pirates: On March 18, 2006, USS Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez engaged and defeated Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, capturing two suspects and killing one. • Technological Upgrades: She was among the first cruisers to receive the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), greatly enhancing her ability to share targeting data with other ships and aircraft. • Homeport: Her homeport shifted from Norfolk, Virginia to San Diego, California, reflecting evolving mission requirements in the Pacific. • Humanitarian Missions: USS Cape St. George has participated in multiple humanitarian and disaster relief operations, including tsunami relief in Southeast Asia. • Decommissioning: The ship was officially decommissioned on 31 March 2023, after nearly 30 years of distinguished service.