USS Columbus (CG 12)

USS Columbus (CG-12) was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy, originally commissioned as CA-74 in 1945. After serving in the post-World War II era, she was extensively modernized and converted to a guided missile cruiser, re-designated CG-12 in 1959. USS Columbus served as a flagship and participated in various Cold War operations, including NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments. She was decommissioned in 1975 after nearly three decades of service.