In company with Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752), the cruiser departed for the Caribbean on 7 May, enroute to the Pacific. After a visit to Vancouver the following week, Chicago returned to San Diego to begin overhaul preparations. Air Force Tech. Chicago then departed the area for San Francisco for alterations, receiving upgraded Tartar missile systems and improved electronics. The cruiser remained at San Diego for the remainder of the year. The cruiser provided PIRAZ and screening duties for the carriers, and their constant air patrols, until 27 April when the ship departed for upkeep at Sasebo, Japan. USS Chicago (CG-11) [Guided Missile Cruiser] while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on May 22, 1969, deck logs show a utility boat went ashore for one hour with 8 crewmembers aboard Shop online for USS Chicago at VetFriends. Free shipping. Task group exercises with Midway (CV-41), "Multiplex 2-76" from 19 to 25 May and "Multiplex 3-76" in the South China Sea from 4 to 7 June, and port visits to Subic Bay and Keelung, occupied Chicago through June. Following a final PIRAZ cruise from 23 March to 17 April, Chicago departed Subic Bay on 1 May and arrived in San Diego on 15 May, via Guam and Pearl Harbor. For the next two months Chicago continued shakedown training, engineering, navigation, and seamanship drills as well as missile and electronic exercises. To avoid exposing F-4 Phantom fighters to North Vietnamese ground-based anti-aircraft defenses, these ships patrolling offshore were given a free-fire zone for Talos missiles to engage defending MiG fighters approaching the coast from Phc Yn and Kp airfields near Hanoi. After two days of operations with the destroyer England and submarine Darter, the cruiser moved back to San Diego to begin a regular schedule of training exercises. USS Anchorage (LSD-36) transported troops and supplies into Qui Nhon Bay during June 1970 and January 1972 USS Antelope (PG-86) [Patrol Gunboat] - vessels with this designation are associated with operating primarily or exclusively on Vietnam's inland waterways. During the first week of October the warship participated in another anti-air exercise, this time shooting down two high-speed, high-altitude drones with Talos and Tartar missiles. Missile shots and convoy exercises off Mindoro, a barrier exercise off Buckner Bay, and visits to Yokosuka, Keelung, and Hong Kong lasted until late November. Designed to provide long-range air, surface, and sub-surface defense for task forces, Chicago recommissioned at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard on 2 May 1964 and was assigned to Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Nine, Pacific Fleet. The day of May 10, 1972 I was stationed on the USS Chicago (code: Red Crown) that day. Local operations continued in the spring, including more missile evaluation tests through February 1966. The following day, Chicago operated as "a temporary seaplane carrier" when the battleship Iowa transferred her SC Seahawk floatplanes to the cruiser. Chicago departed Yokosuka on 17 November and resumed PIRAZ station from 20 November to 19 December. The cruiser, expanding air duties once again, soon became the primary source for MIG warning information, and assumed surveillance responsibility for the North Vietnamese-Chinese border. Three days later, on 7 November, the cruiser got underway for San Pedro, California. In February 1976, personnel in the Operations department underwent extensive team training in anti-air, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare in preparation for a fleet exercise in March. Arriving on 18 March, the cruiser conducted shakedown training and shore bombardment exercises off Culebra, Puerto Rico, before returning to Norfolk on 11 April. Sailing in rough seas the ship completed the non-stop voyage on 7 December. Picking up her helicopter detachment the cruiser departed the next day for duty with Task Force 77 on . Finally, after refresher training, fleet exercises, and weapons load-out, the cruiser departed for another WestPac deployment on 21 May 1974. Your ORIGINAL HOMETOWN and State are asked for because that confirms who you are in your shipmate's memories. Additional upkeep, tender availability, and type training continued through the new year as the cruiser prepared for another deployment. During the first week of October the warship participated in another anti-air exercise, this time shooting down two high-speed, high-altitude drones with Talos and Tartar missiles. Returning to San Diego on 4 March the ship underwent operational readiness, technical proficiency, boiler, electronics, and nuclear warfare acceptance inspections. Chicago spent her first six weeks preparing for sea duty before departing on 26 February for Norfolk. Twelve days later, the ship began additional Search and Rescue (SAR) duty in the Gulf. USS Chicago (CG-11) [Guided Missile Cruiser] while anchored in Da Nang Harbor on May 22, 1969, deck logs show a utility boat went ashore for one hour with 8 . Sgt. While fiscal year 1980 funding for a thorough overhaul and modernization was approved by Congress, an inspection classified the cruiser as unfit for further economical naval service, and on 1 March 1980, Chicago was decommissioned at San Diego. Returning to San Diego on 17 December, via Subic Bay and Pearl Harbor, the cruiser began preparations for inactivation. The cruiser provided PIRAZ and screening duties for the carriers, and their constant air patrols, until 27 April when the ship departed for upkeep at Sasebo, Japan. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1951 Cover - Tenth Annual Airpex - Chicago, Illinois at the best online prices at eBay! Stopping at Guam on 1 October to refuel, and Pearl Harbor on 9 October for a dependents cruise, the ship finally returned to San Diego on 16 October. A number of propulsion and electronic service inspections were also conducted. After a monthlong pre-deployment period, the ship departed on 30 May for her final cruise to the Western Pacific. New equipment and combat coordination procedures were also implemented, extending the cruiser's operational readiness date to 14 December. Designed to operate offensively with strike and amphibious forces, Chicago spent her transit time conducting various anti-air drills, gunnery exercises, and radar tracking training. Assigned to tender availability on 1 September, the ship received boiler and other repairs and inspections from Isle Royale before departing for another WestPac deployment on 11 October 1967. After a visit to Hong Kong from 16 to 21 December, the cruiser moved to Subic Bay for an import availability period completed on 3 January 1968. After refueling at San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 11 May, the ships spent three days conducting gunnery practice before departing for Colon, Canal Zone, on 15 May. By maintaining a complete air picture Chicago vectored damaged bombers around enemy missile sites, set up tanker rendezvous points for planes low on fuel, and directed helicopters on rescue operations. Arriving three days later, after avoiding the third typhoon of the deployment, the ship spent six days in that liberty port. Designed to counter the Soviet Navy's presence in Somalia and Aden on the Indian Ocean, the low-key port visits were intended to demonstrate that "the Indian Ocean is not a Russian lake". Two days later, while supporting mining operations off Haiphong Harbor, the cruiser came under heavy fire from enemy shore batteries but was able to open the range without suffering any damage. By maintaining a complete air picture, Chicago vectored damaged bombers around enemy missile sites, set up tanker rendezvous points for planes low on fuel, and directed helicopters on rescue operations. After repairs and upkeep the ship steamed for Guam on 16 March, arriving five days later to refuel, before arriving in Pearl Harbor on 31 March. Through 1965 CHICAGO prepared to return to full duty status, undergoing numerous sea trials and tests of new weapons systems. She was back off Vietnam from 23 May to 1 July, and again from 1-25 August, this time adding electronic . Veteran owned business since 2000. Added to the anti-aircraft screen, Chicago guarded the Task Group's carriers as they conducted air strikes against the Tokyo Plains area, Honshu, Japan, on 10 July. By hanging one plane over the side with the crane the crew was still able to launch an SC-1 from the catapult for spotting services. Chicago departed Subic Bay en route to San Diego on 24 February escorted by the frigate Knox. In mid-June, the cruiser began Talos fire control developmental testing with the Naval Electronics Laboratory. That operation, exercise "Valiant Heritage", took place from 211 March with forces from Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States. Chicago then departed the area for San Francisco for alterations, receiving upgraded Tartar missile systems and improved electronics. The map could help support veterans' claims for Agent. In 1966 CHICAGO began a series of five WestPac-Vietnam deployments. 1; 2; 3 More USS Chicago News. In March 1980 CHICAGO was decommissioned, and after a period in reserve in the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, WA, was sold for scrapping in December, 1991. On June 25, 2019, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 was signed into law. Two triple torpedo tubes, an ASROC launcher, two 5 in/38 cal guns, and two antisubmarine helicopters rounded out the cruisers' modifications. Returning to Subic Bay for two weeks of upkeep, the cruiser sailed for Hong Kong on 22 August. Launched on 20 August 1944 she was sponsored by Mrs. Edward J. Kelly, wife of the Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 10 January 1945, Captain Richard R. Hartung, USN, in command. In company with the destroyer Alfred A. Cunningham, the cruiser departed for the Caribbean on 7 May, en route to the Pacific Ocean. Arriving on station 3 October Chicago conducted PIRAZ and search coordination duties until 7 November when the ship steamed into Yokosuka for upkeep. With transit complete the next day the ships arrived at Pearl Harbor on 31 May. Supply replenishment, inspections, and a midshipmen's cruise in June and July, were followed by exercises, inspections, and a dependent-guest cruise into October. All Rights Reserved. Arriving in Juneau on 10 June, the ship paid an official visit to that city before returning to San Diego eleven days later. [6] Chicago, still serving as United States First Fleet flagship for Vice Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr., began the new year quietly, with team training at the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare school in San Diego. Repainting the exterior, and interior improvements lasted until 27 September when the cruiser got underway for home. Following another period of gunnery, day battle, anti-aircraft, and shore bombardment exercises off Kahoolawe Island, the cruiser departed for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, on 28 June. Communications security, nuclear safety, and operational readiness inspections, as well as final engineering checks, were completed by the end of August. Nearly all of its radars were out of action, and we headed for Subic Bay in the Philippines at our best speed, which was something over 30 knots. This, and later tests, examined guidance improvements and experimented with missile replenishment at sea. In both April and May Chicago conducted experimental Talos missile tests against surface targets to demonstrate missile versatility. After upkeep at Yokosuka, a visit to Hong Kong, and a typhoon evasion, the cruiser returned to the Gulf of Tonkin on 1 August to continue radar surveillance, electronic countermeasures, and missile screen duties. 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