Ticonderoga-class

Among the most powerfully armed ships ever built, the CG-47s are a superb mix of sensors, firepower, and command and control capabilities. In addition to their own mighty Aegis combat system, these ships have the ability to manage the total battlespace (air, space, surface, and subsurface) for a battle group or other task force commander. Though they took an extremely long time (almost 20 years) to come into the fleet, and had numerous developmental problems (mostly software developmental problems) with the Aegis combat system, these are the backbone of the fleet's surface striking power. They are extremely comfortable with regards to living accommodations, and have one of the best-proven engineering plants in the whole of the US Navy. Over the last decade, the 29 units of this class have seen extensive use around the world, including combat in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Gulf of Sidra. Significant upgrades are on the horizon, including continuing software upgrades, display improvements in the combat intelligence center, and an emerging theater anti-ballistic missile capability. If they have a weakness, it has to do with being based on the relatively elderly Spruance-class (DD-963) hull, which it fills out to capacity. This tends to make them roll in heavy seas, and makes them more vulnerable than the newer Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers. Nevertheless, these are the best escorts in the world today.

Structural/Powerplant

Based upon the existing Spruance-class (DD-963) DDs, the Ticonderogas are the last major US combatants utilizing large amounts of aluminum alloy in their superstructures. This is one of the reasons that Kevlar splinter armor has been incorporated over critical areas of the hull. They are powered by four LM-2500 geared gas turbines, driving twin screws for a maximum of 86,000 SHP (80,000 normal).

Weapons

Two Mk. 26 (44 weapons per) rail or Mk 41 (61 weapons per) vertical missile launch systems (firing SM-2 Standard SAMs, ASROC ASW missiles, and BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles (CG-52 and later)), Two Mk. 45 5"/127 mm dual purpose gun mounts, two Mk. 15 Phalanx 20 mm guns, four .50 caliber/12.7 mm machine guns, two quad RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, two triple Mk. 32 ASW torpedo launchers and two LAMPS I (SH-2G)/III (SH-60G) helicopters.

Countermeasures

SLQ-32(V)3 electronic warfare suites with radar warning reliever and jammer, four Mk 36 or Mk 50 SuperRBOC chaff/decoy launchers and two SLQ-25 Nixie anti-torpedo decoy/countermeasure systems.

Sensors

SPY-1 Aegis missile system radar, SPS-49(V)6 air search radar, SPS-55 surface search radar, SPS-64(V)9 navigation radar, four SPG-62 missile director radars, and SPQ-9A gun laying radar, SQS-53A bow mounted sonar and SQR-19 towed sonar array.