USS Oklahoma City CLG-5

• Origin: USS Oklahoma City (CL-91) was originally a Cleveland-class light cruiser, commissioned in 1945, too late to see combat in World War II. • Conversion to Guided Missile Cruiser: In the late 1950s, she was converted to a Galveston-class guided missile light cruiser (CLG-5), equipped with the new Terrier surface-to-air missile system. • Flagship Role: After her conversion, Oklahoma City served as flagship for the U.S. Seventh Fleet, coordinating naval operations throughout the Western Pacific. • Vietnam War Service: The ship provided naval gunfire support during the Vietnam War, shelling enemy positions and supporting ground troops. • First Combat Missile Launch: On 19 December 1965, she became the first U.S. warship to fire a guided missile in combat, launching a Terrier missile at an enemy aircraft during the Vietnam War. • Distinguished Visitors: USS Oklahoma City hosted numerous dignitaries aboard, including the Emperor of Japan in 1975 after the end of the Vietnam War. • Operation Frequent Wind: In April 1975, Oklahoma City participated in the evacuation of Saigon, supporting Operation Frequent Wind, the final evacuation of American personnel from Vietnam. • Long Service Life: The ship served in the U.S. Navy for more than 30 years, from her commissioning in 1945 until her decommissioning in 1979. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, attempts to preserve Oklahoma City as a museum failed, and she was ultimately sunk as a target in 1999. • Legacy: The ship’s name lives on in the U.S. Navy; USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was commissioned in 1988 in honor of the cruiser.