The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) departed Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 16, for a surge deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation.
Monterey is deploying to support maritime security operations and to increase theater security cooperation and forward naval presence.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61), a component of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a 7 1/2 month long deployment to 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations Jan. 19.
She is part of the Navy’s Optimized Fleet Response Plan.
Monterey will ensure a continuous ballistic missile defense presence and uninterrupted support for potential tasking.
(See a 1500 lb. Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) leaps from the guided-missile guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) at twice the speed of sound on its way to destroying an advanced high-speed target during a live fire test of the ship’s Aegis weapons system. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy, Bridget Bosch and YouTube)
“I am inspired and motivated by the crew of USS Monterey,” said Capt. Dave Stoner, Monterey’s commanding officer.
“I could not be more proud and honored to serve with this crew.”
“The effort and skills demonstrated over the last two months is a testament to the strength and abilities of this crew.”
“These Sailors have epitomized this ship’s motto, ‘Rough in Battle, Ready in Peace’.”
The USS Monterey is the sixteenth AEGIS cruiser to join the fleet, and the fourth built by Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine.
She takes her place in the coordinated Battle Group utilizing her AEGIS Weapons System, SPY-1B radar, SM-2 surface-to-air guided missiles, and SQQ-89 USW suite in defense of the Battle Group against hostile aircraft, cruise missiles, and submarines.
Monterey has been designed and built to fight in a multi-threat environment, and possesses an new long range strike capability in her Tomahawk and Harpoon cruise missiles.
She also supports two LAMPS MK III Helicopters.
(Sailors assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) heave lines during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195). Courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class William Jenkins, the U.S. Navy, Bridget Bosch and YouTube)
Monterey was launched on 23 October, 1989, conducted her first sea trials in November, 1989 and was commissioned on 16 June, 1990 and her homeport is Norfolk, Virginia.
The ship is named after the decisive victory against the Mexican forces at Monterrey, Mexico, during the Mexican-American War.
This was the first major urban engagement in U.S. military history. American forces were led by future President Zachary Taylor.
It was the first battle for future General and President Ulysses S. Grant.
For more information on USS Monterey visit the ship’s Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/uss.monterey.61/
For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/surflant/.
