USS Vincennes (CG-49)

• Namesake Heritage: USS Vincennes (CG-49) was the third U.S. Navy ship named after the Revolutionary War battle of Vincennes, reflecting a long-standing naval tradition. • Ticonderoga-class Cruiser: Vincennes was a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, utilizing the highly advanced Aegis Combat System for air defense. • Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on July 6, 1985, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. • Iran Air Flight 655 Incident: On July 3, 1988, USS Vincennes mistakenly shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 civilians aboard—a tragic and controversial event in naval history. • Combat Experience: USS Vincennes participated in Operation Earnest Will, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War, often under threat from Iranian forces. • Technological Milestone: Vincennes was one of the first cruisers equipped with the upgraded Baseline 1 Aegis combat system, offering improved tracking and engagement capabilities. • Multiple Deployments: The cruiser undertook several deployments to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, supporting U.S. interests and allied operations. • Humanitarian Missions: In addition to combat roles, Vincennes participated in rescue and humanitarian missions, including assisting Vietnamese boat people in the South China Sea. • Decommissioning: USS Vincennes was decommissioned on June 29, 2005, after twenty years of service, and later scrapped in 2011. • Legacy and Lessons: The Iran Air 655 incident led to significant changes in U.S. Navy rules of engagement and improvements in identification procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.