The US Navy has held decommissioning ceremonies for Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Lake Erie (CG 70) and USS Shiloh (CG 67).
USS Lake Erie was honored at Naval Base San Diego on September 25, marking the end of 33 years of service. Commissioned on July 24, 1993, the cruiser played a role in the development and operational testing of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, including early ballistic missile intercepts.
During its service, Lake Erie operated across the Pacific, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean and Caribbean. Its missions included Operation Southern Watch, the withdrawal of peacekeepers from Somalia during Operation United Shield, and Operation Burnt Frost in February 2008, when the ship intercepted and destroyed a malfunctioning US satellite. In 2017, the cruiser also supported Operation Inherent Resolve and provided humanitarian assistance in Sri Lanka following severe flooding and landslides.
The ship concluded its operational service in June 2026 after 11 months of sustained operations in the US 4th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Southern Spear, a US Southern Command-led mission targeting illicit maritime activity.
USS Shiloh was honored at a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on September 30, marking the end of 34 years of commissioned service. Commissioned on July 18, 1992, the cruiser was the 21st ship of the Ticonderoga class and spent 17 years as a forward-deployed naval vessel based in Yokosuka, Japan, after arriving there in August 2006.
Shiloh participated in combat operations, humanitarian assistance missions and multinational exercises across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The cruiser launched Tomahawk land-attack missiles during Operation Desert Strike in 1996 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002. In early 2005, it also supported Operation Unified Assistance, providing humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the December 2004 tsunami off Aceh, Indonesia.
The ships’ retirements reflect the Navy’s transition away from older Ticonderoga-class cruisers as it moves toward more modern warfare capabilities. Shiloh will be transferred to the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington, where it will enter Logistic Support Asset status. The navy has not specified a subsequent disposition for USS Lake Erie.
Credit: Petty Officer 1st Class Claire Alfaro/US Navy