USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51)

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About USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51)

USS **Thomas S. Gates (CG-51)** was a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy on December 22, 1987. Named after Thomas S. Gates, the 7th Secretary of Defense, the ship served as a multi-role warship capable of air defense, surface warfare, and strike operations. Throughout her service, Thomas S. Gates participated in numerous deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, and counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean. After nearly two decades of service, she was decommissioned on December 15, 2005.

Unit Members

Danny Harper

U.S. Navy (1979-1999)

USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51)View Profile

Allen Mason

U.S. Navy

USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51)View Profile

Photos

U.S. Air Force • 1965

basic training

U.S. Army • 1966

Congrats Marine Jason Cote

U.S. Navy

Army of Occupation

U.S. Navy • 1953

About USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Namesake: USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) was named after Thomas S. Gates, Jr., the 7th United States Secretary of Defense (1959-1961), who also served as Secretary of the Navy. • Class & Type: She was a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, part of a pioneering class equipped with the Aegis Combat System. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 22 December 1987 at Bath, Maine, after being constructed by Bath Iron Works. • First of Her Kind: Thomas S. Gates was the first cruiser built from the keel up with the vertical launching system (VLS), marking a significant technological leap over earlier ships. • Panama Canal: In 1989, she became the first Aegis cruiser to transit the Panama Canal, highlighting her operational flexibility in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters. • Operation Desert Storm: The ship played an important role in the Gulf War, providing air defense and conducting Tomahawk missile strikes against Iraqi targets in 1991. • Drug Interdiction: In 1997, Thomas S. Gates participated in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, seizing illicit drugs and deterring traffickers. • International Cooperation: The ship frequently took part in multinational exercises, including NATO operations and joint drills with navies from Europe, South America, and the Middle East. • Decommissioning: The ship was decommissioned on 15 December 2005, after nearly 18 years of service, and was later towed to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for storage. • Legacy: USS Thomas S. Gates was notable for her advanced technology and operational versatility, setting the standard for future Aegis-equipped warships and leaving a lasting legacy in the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet.